Culture
Otto-Friedrich-University
The Otto-Friedrich-Universität with its 350 year-history is particularly important to the city. It is one of the oldest universities of Bavaria and the youngest one at the same time. Founded in 1647 as "Academica Bambergensis", it has about 8,500 students nowadays. After its expansion to 4 faculties by prince bishop Friedrich Karl von Schönborn in the 18th century, the university was closed down in 1803 in the course of the secularisation. Nevertheless, theological and philosophical courses of studies continued in other facilities. In 1972 it was refounded as a polytechnic and in 1979 it was renamed.
Since October 1st 1979, the university bears the name "Otto-Friedrich-Universität", which was used in the 18th century. The part "Otto" refers to prince bishop Melchior Otto von Salzburg, bishop of Bamberg, who founded the "Academica Bambergensis" in 1647 on the basis of a Jesuit educational establishment. "Friedrich" stands for patron prince bishop Friedrich Karl von Schönborn, who founded a Faculty of Law in 1735 and thus, opened the Academica the way to the status of university. By bearing the name of its founder and patron, the university places itself into the tradition of old universities.
 The campus were not set up far from the city center contrary to many other young universities. Many faculties, facilities and institutes are situated right in the heart of the Old Town. Many buildings are even historical sites under special protection that were refitted to meet the requirements of modern university operation.
Some faculties needed more spacious facilities due to the higher number of students and were therefore placed outside the Old Town in the Feldkirchenstrasse. The Faculty for Social Sciences, the Faculty of Economics and the school for social work are located there.
The university offers the traditional humanities and cultural studies with the subject areas philosophy, theology, philology and history. Moreover it has a main emphasis on social sciences with the subject areas sociology, psychology and educational theory as well as many subjects in economics. In courses of studies like commercial information technology, communication studies or European management, students are educated for occupations of the future. A European degree European Master of Business (EMBSs) can be gained in all subjects of economics. Furthermore, many courses of studies distinguish themselves by their internships.
Address of the university administration:
Kapuzinerstrasse 16, 96045 Bamberg, Germany
 University of Bamberg
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