Manuela Arias

University of Augsburg

The University of Augsburg campus is one of the most congenial places to study in Germany. Situated near the city centre of Augsburg, the campus is spacious without being overwhelming. The modern buildings, functional and yet architecturally appealing, blend into a landscaped park with grassy areas, a lake, fountains and several sculptures by contemporary artists. The concentration of the academic buildings on one site simplifies the day-to-day working of the university while encouraging communication. The individual faculties, the administration offices (including the Student Service Centre), the refectory, cafeterias, bars, and the libraries are all conveniently close together. This is a place where people study, teach, carry out research, and live. There is a sense of what "university" really means: a sense of community, cooperation and solidarity between the lecturers and the researchers on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the students who benefit from the research through the teaching they receive. The University of Augsburg was founded in 1970. It is one of the new, modern universities in Bavaria, and with approximately 20,000 students it is of a manageable size. It attracts students from far beyond its immediate catchment area. About 20% of the German students come from outside Bavaria, and at 10% its share of foreign students is larger than at comparable universities. There are currently exchange programmes with more than 130 universities worldwide. Foreign academics and students are warmly welcomed to all institutes of higher education in Augsburg. Since 1999 Augsburg offers a successful MBA program. With this program, University of Augsburg established itself as the front runner of integrating the Master of Business Administration as a post-graduate program into the German market of higher education. Many other universities followed.