The University Duisburg-Essen (German: Universität Duisburg-Essen) is a public university in Duisburg and Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and a member of the new founded University Alliance Metropolis Ruhr.[4] It was founded in 1654 and re-established on January 1, 2003 as a merger of the Gerhard Mercator University of Duisburg and the University of Essen. Until 1994 the name of the Gerhard Mercator University was Comprehensive University of Duisburg. With its 12 departments and more than 39,000 students, the University Duisburg-Essen is among the 10 largest German universities. Many international students study at the University Duisburg-Essen and give the cities of Duisburg and Essen an international atmosphere.