History of the University of Innsbruck

The history of the University of Innsbruck dates back to 1562, when a Jesuit grammar school was established in Innsbruck. Building on this, Emperor Leopold I founded a university on 15 October 1669 and secured its funding by imposing a special tax on the salt from Hall, the "Haller Salzaufschlag". Eight years later, in 1677, the foundation charter followed, which provided for four faculties.

The history of the following centuries was chequered. The university was dissolved and reopened twice. From 1826, the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Law were finally re-established by Emperor Franz I and the other faculties were gradually added. Further expansion of the university took place in 1969, when the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture began teaching, and in 1976, when the Faculty of social and Economic Sciences emerged from the Faculty of Law and Political Science. With the introduction of the Universities Act in 2002, the university was organised into fifteen smaller faculties. At the same time, the Faculty of Medicine was transformed into an independent Medical University.

350 years of the University of Innsbruck

Archive: 340 years of the University of Innsbruck

On the occasion of its 350th anniversary anniversary, the University of Innsbruck is taking an unreserved look at its complex and chequered past. In particular, an unsparing confrontation with the events of the Nazi era and their aftermath has long been neglected. The university and its members were involved in inhuman ideologies and practices in many different ways - and not only during the "Third Reich".

The assembly hall mosaic
On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the Leopold Franzens University, we are creating a memorial from the traces of various pasts, as they will be revealed to us in autumn 2018 as things heard, spoken and documented, but above all as images.

The "Memorial" of the University of Innsbruck
To mark its 350th anniversary in 2019, the University of Innsbruck invited Vorarlberg artist Wolfgang Flatz to create an artistic intervention on the memorial following a competition.

Persecuted - expelled - murdered
The cases of academics and students who were victimised at their university and by its representatives are documented and briefly outlined here.

Revocation of academic titles during the Nazi era
During the National socialist era, the awarding of titles was inextricably linked to the racist legislation of the German Reich.

Christoph-Probst-Lecture
With the Christoph Probst Lecture established in 2020, the University of Innsbruck wants to commemorate its short-lived medical student Christoph Probst every year.

Personalities

Dealing with problematic honours
Over the years, those responsible at the University of Innsbruck have honoured a whole series of people who, from today's perspective, can no longer be considered worthy.

Promotion sub auspiciis praesidentis
Particularly successful students were honoured with doctorates under the auspices of the Federal President