History of the university

The parliament of Baden-Württemberg decides to establish the University of Konstanz.

The state government appoints the members of the foundation committee. In 1965, the founding committee of the University of Konstanz settles on the concept of the reform university. The aim is to combine several academic disciplines. Innovative study, teaching and research formats replace traditional university structures. Departments take the place of institutes, shoring up the university’s belief that teaching benefits from and should be developed with an eye on research.

Ministerpresident Kurt Georg Kiesinger appoints the first eight professors of the university in the council hall of the city of Konstanz:

Hans Aebli, Waldemar Besson, Ralf Dahrendorf, Hans Robert Jauß, Franz Georg Maier, Herbert Nesselhauf, Wolfgang Preisendanz und Hansgert Peisert.

Official founding date for the University of Konstanz (Senate vote on 28 February 1966)

The first student is enrolled: "It didn't start off with research and teaching but with moving furniture and packing boxes", recalls Nikolaus Kämpfe, the first student to be enrolled at the University of Konstanz. As the first student and a student assistant, he helped with the move into the University of Konstanz's Centre for Educational Research.

In 1966, the University of Konstanz starts its work in a wing of the Inselhotel.

On 21 June 1966, the foundation stone for the University of Konstanz was laid on the Gießberg and the first lecture was held in the Inselhotel Konstanz.

The first doctorate is awarded at the University of Konstanz.

The first habilitation (post doctoral qualification) is earned at the University of Konstanz. Dr. Wolfgang Zapf is the first member of the university to be authorized to teach at a university.

The early days involve but a handful of professors and about 200 students – a temporary set-up in the Sonnenbühl area of Konstanz.

Construction work on the University of Konstanz’s Gießberg campus begins in 1967: Chemistry building, dining hall, administration building, humanities lecture halls, Audimax, library administration and information centre, book section G, east section - humanities.

From the very beginning, it is conceived both as a living and working space, an idea that is reflected in the architecture.

The University Library at the Giessberg site opens.

A centrally located and easily accessible library is an intrinsic part of the original concept of the reform university.

The dining hall at the Giessberg site and the cafeteria in the entrance area on level 05 are opened for business.

Construction of the sports facilities begins.

The cluster of excellence "Cultural Foundations of Integration" is approved.

In the framework of the German Excellence Initiative for the promotion of science and research at German universities, the University of Konstanz is selected as a University of Excellence. The University was recognised twice by the international selection committee for its Institutional Strategy "Model Konstanz - Towards a Culture of Creativity" as well as the Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology.

Second funding phase of the German Excellence Initiative:

The University of Konstanz successfully completes its maximum goal in the second phase of the German Excellence Initiative with its institutional strategy, one cluster of excellence and two Graduate Schools. With the four grant approvals (as compared to three), the University of Konstanz is able to utilize even more resources than in the first phase of the German Excellence Initiative.

The campus is characterised by short distances as well as a pleasant interplay of work spaces and rest areas. In place of large lecture halls, the University of Konstanz houses a huge variety of smaller seminar rooms. The university library is centrally located and freely accessibly. An extensive “percent for art programme” adds to the uniqueness of the ensemble.

Until this day, the university buildings are subject to reconstruction and expansion.