Research and Teaching at the University of Bonn

The University of Bonn is one of 15 Universities of Excellence in Germany with eight Clusters of Excellence - 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

Early-Career Researchers

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 emerging leaders.

The Argelander Program

Knowledge and Technology Transfer

Through knowledge transfer, we ensure that our research reaches and benefits various sectors, while our technology transfer efforts help move innovative ideas into practical use. Our outreach programs further extend these contributions, engaging with the community to share insights and drive positive change.

Transfer

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

Wanja Wiese Awarded Heisenberg Grant

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has accepted Privatdozent Wanja Wiese from the University of Bonn to its Heisenberg Programme. This provides five years’ worth of funding that enables researchers to complete high-quality projects and thus further enhance their academic and scientific reputation. A philosopher and mathematician, Wiese studies the possibility of consciousness in artificial systems and now stands to receive funding of up to €570,000.

What makes forest protection work?

A new study from the Institute for Food and Resource Economics at the University of Bonn shows that the success of nature conservation measures depends partly on the credible enforcement of environmental laws. The study “Enforcement drives conservation policy impacts at the Brazilian agricultural frontier“ has now been published in the academic journal "Global Environmental Change" and was led by Dr. Javier Miranda, University of Bonn, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. David Wuepper, University of Bonn, and Prof. Dr. Jan Börner, University of Bonn.

Europe’s Digital Dependence Is Rising—the U.S. and China Pull Ahead

Dependence on digital technologies in the European Union continues to grow—despite all calls for greater digital sovereignty. Between 2010 and 2023, Europe’s “Digital Dependence Index” (DDI) rose by 0.5 percentage points, while China reduced its dependence by nearly 11 percentage points and the U.S. by 6 percentage points. A major weakness lies in digital platforms, where European countries are almost entirely dependent on foreign providers. This is according to a policy study by the Vodafone Institute and the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) at the University of Bonn.

How deeply do spiders sleep?

Humans and vertebrates go through various stages of sleep, including REM (rapid eye movement) sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and muscle twitches. Can a similar sleep state be observed in spiders? Researchers from the Institute of Organismic Biology at the University of Bonn investigated this in the Australian jumping spider Portia fimbriata.

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

Support 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