Clausthal University of Technology is an academic research and education institution. The history of the university goes back to 1775 when it was founded as a mining academy in the Harz mountains of Lower Saxony, Germany. Nowadays the university 3 faculties providing degrees in natural sciences, energy and economics and mathematics and computer science respectively. As of winter semester 2008, the university accomodates about 3200 students, out of which about 36% are foreigners.