Founded in the 17th century by the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, Kiel University is renowned for academic excellence and its affiliation with the prestigious Kiel Institute for the World Economy. It’s officially named Christian-Albrechts-Universitätzu Kiel and nurtures well over 20,000 students at any given time. Scholarly institutions, museums and fine art galleries throughout Kiel reflect the university’s influence in the region.
The University grounds flourish with at least 14,000 plant species, exotic trees, a dune habitat and subtropical forest housed in the Botanischer Garten Kiel, a botanical garden and arboretum that’s open to the public daily. Visitors take up rowing, surfing and kayaking in the Kiel Canal or River Eider on the outskirts of town, and the university itself offers a range of activities at its sailing centre. The Maritime Museum, housed in a former fish market, displays model ships, naval art and nautical instruments, while the U-Boat Museum in Laboe harbours a genuine World War II-era U-995 submarine.
A major railway station and three ports lie within 5 kilometres of the University, with regular connecting service to the campus via bus or taxi. Travellers arriving by air into Hamburg, the nearest international airport, have access to rental cars or direct shuttle buses bound for Kiel. Bicycle rentals across the city and near the university campus supply an alternative mode of transport and are perfect for pedalling the canal lanes and exploring the numerous bike trails in Kiel.
The University of Kiel opened under the original name of Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis on 5 October 1665, with just 140 students specialising in areas such as theology, medicine, philosophy and law. Destruction of Kiev during World War II was extensive due to its naval port and submarine production facilities, and the university suffered considerable damage. Rebuilding efforts after the war managed to save a handful of original structures from its school of medicine.