Research and Teaching at the University of Bonn

The University of Bonn is one of eleven Universities of Excellence in Germany with six Clusters of Excellence - as of January 2026, eight clusters - more than any other university in Germany. Our seven faculties cover a broad range of disciplines. These strong disciplines are supplemented by six cross-faculty, interdisciplinary “Transdisciplinary Research Areas” (TRAs) that create spaces for exploration and innovation where key scientific, technological and social challenges are addressed.

Transdisciplinary Research Profile

The research profile of our University of Excellence is based on our six Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs), and is further strengthened by six Clusters of Excellence, countless collaborative projects and outstanding researchers.

TRAs and Research Profile

Frau Professor Margherita Disertori vom Hausdorf Center for Mathematics hält eine Mathematikvorlesung vor Studierenden.

Teaching Profile

We aim to create a passion for science in young people and help them develop their individual professional and personal skills as best possible. The overall orientation of study and teaching at the University is based on ten principles.

Study and Teaching Principles

Researchers and Teachers

The University provides a range of services to help increase the time available for research and teaching. These range from providing advice on submitting applications and handling third-party funded projects, all the way to consulting on teaching methods. Learn about our Welcome Center and funding lines for international exchange, among other things.

Services Offered

Doctoral Students and Postdocs

We want to give talented early-career researchers the opportunity to perform independent research and help them achieve their goals both within and outside academia. The Argelander Program provides orientation, cross-disciplinary training and funding for early-career researchers.

The Argelander Program

Knowledge and Technology Transfer

enaCom Transfer Center sees itself as an intermediary, translator and catalyst between science and stakeholders outside the scientific community. Its work focuses on making research results obtained at the University of Bonn available for the benefit of society.

Transfer Center enaCom

Quality Assurance

Academic integrity and high quality teaching are our top priorities. Learn about our quality assurance measures, Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice and your contact persons.

Quality Research and Teaching

Latest Research and Teaching News

The Fascinating World of Beetles

Over 400,000 beetle species have been described to date, making them the largest order of any liv-ing thing. Each individual one triggers spontaneous emotions in us: some people will let out a loud, shrill scream if they see a black beetle, while most will find ladybirds especially charming. When you have someone taking as close a look as photographer Carolin Bleese has done and a researcher as besotted with beetles as is Professor Dr. Nicholas Gompel from the Institute of Organismic Biology at the University of Bonn, then you get some completely new angles on the humble beetle. Running until August 31, 2025, the new special exhibition in P26 entitled “Fascinating Beetles” will display the images that have resulted from the collaboration between the two.

Decoding Complex Structures Through Mathematics

The German Research Foundation approved a new Collaborative Research Center (CRCs) at the University of Bonn. 19 principal investigators and their working groups will study the mathematical structures underlying complex phenomena in areas of criticality. The spokesperson of the CRC is Leibniz Prize winner Professor Angkana Rüland of the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics—Cluster of Excellence. The Collaborative Research Center will receive nearly four years of DFG funding of approximately seven million euros.

Cornelia Richter Becomes the First Female Bishop in the History of the Protestant Church of Austria

As of January 1, 2026 Professor Cornelia Richter, Chair of the Senate and Professor at the University of Bonn Faculty of Protestant Theology, will be the first female bishop to serve as head of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (A.B.) in Austria. An afternoon synod held Friday, May 23, the Theology professor from Bad Goisern was elected to the office of Bishop by an overwhelming majority of convened delegates from all over Austria. University of Bonn Rector Michael Hoch congratulated the Senate Chair on her election.

Most successful University in the competition, having received eight Clusters of Excellence

A huge success for the University of Bonn: today, all six of the University of Bonn's existing Clusters of Excellence were selected for further funding in the nationwide Excellence Competition. In addition, both newly applied Bonn cluster initiatives will receive funding from the federal and state governments. This means that Bonn will be represented by a total of eight clusters in the coming funding period - more than at any other university in Germany.

Clusters of Excellence

200+

Degree Programs

699

Professors

Our Research Profile

The research profile of our University of Excellence is defined by six Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs), each of which has at least one Cluster of Excellence at its core. The TRAs focus our research on key future scientific, technological and social issues. Outstanding researchers, strong disciplines and a cooperative research culture have always formed the basis of our research profile.

Transdisciplinary Research Areas

The six Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs) at the University of Bonn create spaces for innovation in research and teaching.

Excellence Strategy

“We invest in people. We foster networks. We create impact.” Our strategy for excellence in research and teaching.

Find out more

Clusters of Excellence

The University of Bonn has six Clusters of Excellence — eight as of January 2026 — more than any other university in Germany.

Our Clusters

Promotion of Early-Career Researchers

We offer many support services for doctoral students and postdocs to promote early independent research.

Argelander Program

Research Networks

Innovative top-level research in many national and international partnerships and collaborative projects sets us apart.

Collaborative Research

Outstanding Researchers

The outstanding research performed by our researchers is shown by the many awards that have been received.

Awards and Prizes