About
University College Freiburg
Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) and University Colleges are new to German higher education. By taking up and adapting concepts from North America and the Netherlands, the University of Freiburg is breaking new ground.
University College Freiburg (UCF), founded in 2012 at the University of Freiburg, is situated in the historical buildings of the Alte Universität where the artes liberales were taught centuries ago as the cornerstone of university education. Today, Alte Universität is home to new explorations in higher education, including a Bachelor Program in Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).
We invite you to explore our website and to learn more about UCF and our colleagues, programs, and projects.
Structure
UCF is a central institution at the University Freiburg University under the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Michael Schwarze. The UCF Directorate is responsible for strategic decision-making and integration into the University. Member are:
- Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Dr. Daniel Leese
- UCF Director of Outreach, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Joachim Gehrke
- Prof. Dr. Veronika Lipphardt, Professorship in Science and Technology Studies
- Prof. Dr. Frieder Vogelmann, Professorship in Epistemology and Theory of Science and LAS Dean of Studies
- UCF Managing Director, Paul Sterzel
- Dr. Simon Büchner, elected UCF Teaching Staff member
- an Executive Organizer of the UCF Student Council
The UCF Advisory Board advises and supports UCF in establishing and further developing interdisciplinary and internationally oriented teaching programs at the University of Freiburg. Advisory Board members are representatives from civil society, business, and politics as well as from our students’ future work areas:
- Dr. Ralph Fürderer (Chief Technical Officer of the Hager Group)
- Prof. Dr. Barbara Ischinger (former Director for Education and Skills at the OECD)
- Dr. Annette Julius (General Secretary of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes)
- Prof. Dr. Sabine Rollberg (former chief editor for WDR / Arte)
- Daniel Zeiler (Chairman of the Board of the Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau)
The Liberal Arts and Sciences Program falls under the responsibility of the LAS Board of Studies, chaired by the Dean of Studies. Please see here on our website for more information about the Board of Studies.
Liberal Arts and Sciences in Deutschland
On September 30 and October 1, seven Liberal Arts and Sciences programs and initiatives from all across Germany convened at University College Freiburg. The workshop aimed at establishing an LAS network in and for the German higher education context. For two days, academic and administrative staff from Berlin, Gießen, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Lüneburg, Nürnberg, and, of course, Freiburg got to know each other, discussed basic concepts and challenges of LAS, and identified areas for future collaboration. Stay tuned for more!
- Bard College Berlin
- Universität Gießen – College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Universität Hamburg – Institut für Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Karlsruher Institut für Technologie – Fakultät für Geistes und Sozialwissenschaften
- Leuphana Universität Lüneburg – Studium Individuale
- Technische Universität Nürnberg – Department for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- Universität Freiburg – University College Freiburg
Since 2012, UCF has established an international network of academic and non-academic partners.
- For student exchange and academic collaboration, UCF has partnerships with higher education institutions around the world. Please see our Study Abroad section for more information.
- UCF is an active member of international higher education networks focusing on Liberal Arts and Sciences, e.g., ECOLAS (Consortium of European Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences).
- Via the University of Freiburg, UCF is a member of EPICUR (European Partnership for Innovative Campus Unifying Regions) and of the regional university network EUCOR – The European Campus.
- As an institution and for projects at UCF, we have received funding and support from many institutions and initiatives, including: Alumni Freiburg e.V., Baden-Württemberg Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst, Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, Baden-Badener Unternehmergespräche, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, C. H. Beck Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Max Kade Foundation, Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau, Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft, Verband der Freunde der Universität Freiburg e.V.
If you are interested in collaborating with and/or supporting UCF, please contact us at:
Drawing from the German research university and the student-centered spirit of American Liberal Education, UCF and our Liberal Arts and Sciences Program (LAS) bring together two academic traditions that shaped research and education worldwide. 300 engaged students from over 40 countries study at UCF. The quality of our education and alumni has garnered recognition from graduate programs and employers around the world. And we have raised awareness with other universities, the press, and funding institutions in Germany and beyond. Students have been awarded stipends from the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes or the DAAD. We have received third-party funding and private donations, including the Max Kade Foundation and the C.H. Beck Stiftung.
We can only succeed with your support!
Donations made towards research, teaching, and cultural activities at UCF are eligible for tax deductions. Donations from US-based institutions and individuals can be made through the Friends of Freiburg – Alumni North America. Beyond general purpose donations, you can support specific people and projects at UCF:
About 80% of our students study abroad for a semester or a year, and UCF hosts incoming exchange students. We welcome donations of all kinds towards international mobility and learning:
- Support for international mobility costs such as visa applications ($150–300), language proficiency tests ($150–300), international flights, health insurance and textbooks ($300–500 per semester)…
- International Mobility Scholarship (travel costs & living expenses per semester): $7,500
- Scholarships for students at UCF (living costs, accommodation, tuition…): $17,000 per year
- Student projects, excursions, conferences – help us establish a fund to support remarkable student activities that reach beyond the LAS curriculum: $10,000
At UCF, we seek to broaden and enhance our pool of Teaching Fellows for the LAS Program also beyond Freiburg and Germany.
- Post-Doc Teaching Fellowship: $55,000 per semester
- Professorial Teaching Fellowship: $75,000 per semester
The LAS curriculum is by design open to new academic fields and instructors and offers flexibility in teaching formats, catering to short-term options such as eight-week blocks or intensive two-week courses. Additionally, we are exploring longer-term formats, such as a multiannual rotating visiting professorship or the establishment of a new professorship at UCF.
UCF is situated in the Alte Universität, one of the University’s most historic and atmospheric buildings. We strive to improve our learning and teaching facilities, including labs, a library, or guest accommodation, to introduce more 21st century to a 16th century setting. Our most ambitious aspiration is to renovate the vacant loft of Alte Universität – a perfect setting for UCF and a prominent landmark for the University, situated right in the heart of Freiburg.
UCF has a strong institutional and intellectual foundation at the University of Freiburg. And we are committed to the German model of publicly funded research and higher education. However, UCF is not only an innovative higher education institution. We aim to make an impact on higher education in Freiburg and beyond.
For more detailed information or if you are interested in visiting UCF, please contact us at:
