University of Vienna

The University of Vienna is a public research university located in Vienna, Austria.

The University of Vienna was founded in 1365 by Duke Rudolph IV of Austria. It is the oldest university in the modern German-speaking world and among the largest institutions of higher learning in Europe. The University of Vienna played a major role in the development of Austrian culture and society during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It was home to many famous scholars, including the astronomer Johannes Kepler and the philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. The university also played a leading role in the Austrian Enlightenment. During this period, the university was a center of new ideas and intellectual debates. Some of the most famous Enlightenment scholars who taught at the University of Vienna included the historian Joseph von Sonnenfels and the economist Adam Smith.

In the 19th century, the University of Vienna became a center of the Austrian School of economics. The founders of this school, including Carl Menger, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk, and Friedrich von Wieser, all taught at the university. The University of Vienna also played a major role in the Austrian Revolution of 1848. Students and professors from the university played a leading role in the protests and demonstrations that led to the overthrow of the Habsburg monarchy. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the University of Vienna continued to be a major center of learning and research. Some of the most famous scholars who taught at the university during this period included the physicist Erwin Schrödinger and the psychologist Sigmund Freud.

During World War II, the University of Vienna was closed by the Nazi regime. Many of the university's professors and students were persecuted by the Nazis. After the war, the university was reopened, and it has since regained its status as one of the leading universities in the world. The University of Vienna is a prestigious institution with a long and rich history. It is a great place to study for students from all over the world.

Based on the QS World University Rankings of 2025, University of Vienna is positioned as the #137 top university in the world, which makes it the #1 top university in Austria. The university's global rank decreased by 7 points from last year.