University of Zurich

University of Zurich
Universität Zürich
Seal of the University of Zurich
Latin: Universitas Turicensis
Established 1833 (1525)
Type Public University
Budget 1.069 bn Swiss francs (US$1.03 bn)
President Prof. Dr. Andreas Fischer
Academic staff 7,170 (2008)
Undergraduates 9,785 (2008)
Postgraduates 5,093 (2008)
Location Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland
Campus Urban
Affiliations LERU
Website www.uzh.ch

The University of Zurich (UZH, German: Universität Zürich), located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students.[1] It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy. Currently, the university has faculties of arts, economics, law, medicine, science, theology and veterinary medicine, offering the widest range of subjects and courses at any Swiss higher education institution.[2]

Contents

History

The University of Zurich was founded on April 29, 1833[3], when the existing colleges of theology (founded by Huldrych Zwingli in 1525), law and medicine were merged together with a new faculty of Philosophy. It was the first university in Europe to be founded by the state rather than a monarch or church. The university allowed women to attend philosophy lectures from 1847, and admitted the first female doctoral student in 1866. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was added in 1901, the oldest such faculty in the world. In 1914, the university moved to new premises designed by the architect Karl Moser on Rämistrasse 71.[4]

Campus

The university is scattered all over the city of Zurich. There are several libraries available for use by members of the university, including Zurich Central Library, with over 5 million volumes.[5]

Museum

The Institute and Museum for the History of Medicine is part of the university.[6]

Academics

Faculties

Main building as seen from the south
Irchel Campus, newer and more remotely located buildings of the University of Zurich

Its best-performing faculties in terms of research quality are the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science, all of which rank in the top ten of Europe's universities. The University of Zurich as a whole also ranks in the top ten of Europe and in the top fifty worldwide. Notably in the fields of bioscience and finance, there is a close-knit collaboration between the University of Zurich and the ETH (Federal Institute for Technology, just across the road).

Rankings

46th globally and 11th in Europe.
53rd globally and 12th in Europe.
85th globally and 26th in Europe.
32nd globally and 10th in Europe.

Language policy

Most courses are taught in Standard German ("Hochdeutsch"), but use of English is increasing in many faculties. In some highly competitive and international programs, such as the Master of Science in Quantitative Finance, all lectures are delivered in English.

Notable faculty

Notable fellows of the university

Student life

The university's Academic Sports Association (ASVZ) offers a wide range of sports facilities to students of the university.

Alumni

Alumni of the University of Zurich include 6 Nobel Prize laureates.[10]

Year Field Laureate
1901 Physics Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
1902 Literature Theodor Mommsen
1913 Chemistry Alfred Werner
1921 Physics Albert Einstein
1937 Chemistry Paul Karrer
1949 Medicine Walter Rudolf Hess

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Studierende an den universitären Hochschulen: Basistabellen" (xls). Bundesamt für Statistik BFS. 2008. http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/15/06/data.Document.80560.xls. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  2. ↑ "Profile: At a glance". University of Zurich. 2008. http://www.uzh.ch/about/portrait/portrait_en.html. Retrieved 2008-04-26. 
  3. ↑ "Dies academicus". University of Zurich. August 5, 2009. http://www.uzh.ch/about/portrait/dies_en.html. Retrieved January 31, 2010. 
  4. ↑ Ganz, Michael T.; Stucki, Heinzpeter (2008), History in brief, University of Zurich, http://www.uzh.ch/about/portrait/history_en.html, retrieved January 31, 2010 
  5. ↑ University of Zurich (April 4). Stadt Zürich [map], 1:1000. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  6. ↑ Website of the Institute and Museum for the History of Medicine, University of Zurich
  7. ↑ "The Top 100 Global Universities". Newsweek. August 13, 2006. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14321230/print/1/displaymode/1098/. Retrieved January 31, 2010. 
  8. ↑ "THE - QS World University Rankings 2009 - top universities". Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings. http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2009/results. Retrieved January 31, 2010. 
  9. ↑ "The 377 leading higher education institutions in 2009". INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL RANKING of HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. Mines ParisTech. 2008. http://www.ensmp.fr/Actualites/PR/EMP-ranking.html#7. Retrieved January 31, 2010. 
  10. ↑ "Nobel Prize laureates". University of Zurich. July 20, 2009. http://www.uzh.ch/about/portrait/nobelprize_en.html#2. Retrieved January 31, 2010. 

External links

League of European Research Universities

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