The University of Graz (German, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz), a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest university in Austria.

Karl-Franzens-Universität, also referred to as the University of Graz, is the city's oldest university, founded in 1585 by Archduke Charles II of Austria. For most of its existence it was controlled by the Catholic church, and was closed in 1782 by Emperor Joseph II in an attempt to gain state control over educational institutions. Joseph II transformed it into a lyceum where civil servants and medical personnel were trained. In 1827 it was re-instituted as a university by Emperor Francis I, thus gaining the name Karl-Franzens-Universität, meaning Charles Francis University. Over 22,000 students are currently enrolled at this university.

Ludwig Boltzmann was professor at the Karl-Franzens Universität twice (1869-1873 and 1876-1890) developing his statistical theory of heat. Nobel Laureate Otto Loewi taught at the University of Graz from 1909 until 1938. Victor Franz Hess (Nobel prize 1936) graduated in Graz and taught here (1920-1931, 1937-1938). Erwin Schrödinger was briefly chancellor of the University of Graz in 1936.

Well-known professors

• Ludwig Gumplowicz, taught administration 1897 - 1909
• Ludwig Karl Schmarda, founder of the school's Zoological Museum (circa 1851)
• Ludwig Boltzmann, Professor of Mathematical Physics (1869-1873), Physics (1876-1890)
• Walther Nernst, Nobel prize laureate (1920, chemistry)- (1886)
• Fritz Pregl, Nobel prize laureate (1923, chemistry) – (1913-1930)
• Julius Wagner von Jauregg, Nobel prize laureate (1927, medicine) – (1889-1893)
• Erwin Schrödinger, Nobel prize laureate (1933, physics), Professor of Theoretical Physics (1936-1938)
• Otto Loewi, Nobel prize laureate (1936, medicine) – (1909-1938)
• Victor Franz Hess, Nobel prize laureate (1936, physics), Professor of Physics, (1920-1931, 1937-1938)
• Karl von Frisch, Nobel prize laureate (1973, medicine) – (1946-1950)

Organization

• Faculty of Catholic Theology
• Faculty of Arts and Humanities
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Natural Sciences
• Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences
• Faculty of Environmental and Regional Sciences and Education

See also

• University Library of Graz
• List of colleges and universities
• Graz
• Utrecht Network

External links

• University of Graz Website
• Video portrait of University of Graz
• Coimbra Group (a network of European universities)
• Karl Franzens Universität Graz for foreign students on iAgora - Reviews by former Erasmus and other international students in Graz on iAgora.
• Study in Austria: A Guide
• Institute of Geography and Regional Science - Karl-Franzens University Graz
• University of Graz - History from the Catholic Encyclopedia
• Pictures from Graz