University of Konstanz

The University of Konstanz, a young reform and campus university, places innovation and collaboration at its core. Located at the intersection of Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, it is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany. It is committed to cutting-edge research, excellence in teaching and learning, and maintaining a strong international orientation across all university areas. 

The university’s motto “creative.together” reflects its community’s dedication to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and continuously and critically questioning existing standards and norms in pursuit of progress. The University of Konstanz firmly believes that innovation and progress thrive when people with diverse backgrounds and ideas collaborate in an inclusive and supportive environment that nurtures everyone’s unique potential.

The University of Konstanz strives to provide such an environment for its researchers, students, staff, and national and international partners from academia, industry, government, and the public. Its goal is to evolve in alignment with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, both institutionally and in its research and teaching. 

Some highlights:

• Research profile: The University of Konstanz conducts research at the highest international level. One of its greatest strengths lies in unlocking potential by bringing together researchers with common interests and research agendas, regardless of their disciplinary backgrounds. The university has five research priorities: “Human | Data | Society”, “Collective Behaviour”, “Cultural Dynamics and Social Transformation”, “Molecular Principles of Life”, and “Inequality and Conflict”. These profile areas emphasise interdisciplinary research and are continuously developed through close collaboration across departments, both within and beyond individual faculties. Two additional emerging fields of research contribute to the dynamic profile-building process of the University of Konstanz.
• Excellent teaching and study inspired by research: The University of Konstanz is home to 10,500 students across around 100 different study programmes in mathematics, natural sciences, humanities, law, economics and public administration. Many of these programmes are interdisciplinary, and several are international programmes. The University of Konstanz is deeply committed to research-based teaching, integrating current research findings and up-to-date methods into teaching and study. Infrastructural platforms additionally enhance the teaching environment. The Binational School of Education (BiSE), as a cross-institutional collaborative centre for teaching and research, coordinates and continually develops teacher education at the University of Konstanz, working closely with other institutions for teacher education and partner schools.
• Advancement of early career researchers: The University of Konstanz strives to be a European leader in promoting early career researchers. Its Zukunftskolleg, a unique Institute for Advanced Study in Germany, provides them with an interdisciplinary working environment with excellent research conditions and maximum freedom. The university’s concept Attractive and Reliable Career Paths for Excellent Researchers aims to improve the structural framework for academic careers in Germany. Key principles include greater reliability of academic career paths, early career guidance for postdoctoral researchers, and targeted support for career decisions. The Code of Practice for Postdoctoral Researchers further underscores the university’s commitment to promoting new talent. 
• Equal opportunity: The University of Konstanz is committed to gender equality and equal opportunity for all and offers comprehensive family support. Its services and performance in these areas have been commended on several occasions and are unique in Germany. The university's Kinderhaus childcare centre, for example, provides space for up to 140 children aged 6 months to 6 years. Additional equal opportunity measures include an innovative approach to managing the appointment process, specifically promoting the recruitment of renowned women in research. The Konstanzia Programme provides tailored support for female early career researchers. Furthermore, the university has implemented an Inclusive Leadership Policy, Guidelines to Combat Discrimination, and an online self-learning tool for reflecting on unconscious bias.