University of Innsbruck

The University of Innsbruck is a public research university in Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol.

The history of the University of Innsbruck dates back to 1562, when a Jesuit grammar school was established in Innsbruck by Peter Canisius. This school was financed by the salt mines in Hall in Tirol and was re-chartered as a university on October 15, 1669, by Emperor Leopold I with four faculties: theology, philosophy, law, and medicine.

The university was initially named the Leopoldina after its founder, but in 1826 it was renamed the Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck to honor Francis I, Emperor of Austria, who had founded the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Law.

In the following years, the university underwent a number of changes. It was dissolved and reopened twice, and the number of faculties varied over time. However, in the late 19th century, the university began to expand rapidly, and new faculties were established in the natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering.

During World War II, the university was closed by the Nazi regime. It reopened in 1945 after the war and has continued to grow and develop ever since. Today, the University of Innsbruck is one of the leading universities in Austria and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of fields.

The university has played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of Tyrol for over 350 years. It is a major center for education and research and continues to attract students and scholars from all over the world.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2024, University of Innsbruck is positioned as the #362 top university in the world, which makes it the #3 top university in Austria.