Zeppelin Universität | |
 | |
| Motto | "Bridging Business, Culture and Politics" |
|---|---|
| Type | Private –Research |
| Established | June 2003; 22 years ago (2003-06) |
| Affiliation | AACSB,EFMD,TPC,IBH |
| President | Klaus Mühlhahn |
Administrative staff | 262 (2022) |
| Students | 842 (2022) |
| Location | ,, Germany 47°39′31″N9°26′02″E / 47.65861°N 9.43389°E /47.65861; 9.43389 |
| Campus | Lake Campus,FN ZF Campus,FN |
| Professors | 29 (2022) |
| Colors | Red or grey |
| Mascot | ZUbra |
| Website | www |
 | |
Zeppelin University (German:Zeppelin Universität,ZU) is a privateresearch university inFriedrichshafen, Germany. The university is accredited by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts ofBaden-Württemberg.[1] The university was established in 2003 and is known for itsavant-garde character as well as for its sophisticated method of selecting students.[2] It is named after the German general and airship constructorFerdinand Graf von Zeppelin, whosefoundation is a prominent financier of the university.[3]
Zeppelin University has two campuses inFriedrichshafen: theLake Campus at the shores ofLake Constance, and the nearbyZF Campus, which was completed in 2015. The ZF Campus was funded by a donation of 20 million Euro fromZF Friedrichshafen. Both campuses are modern, and are designed by well-known architects, and contain classrooms,lecture halls, offices, cafeterias, a library, a fitness studio, and a co-working wing for students.
In 2018, the ZF Campus was named one of four new exceptional buildings in Germany by theGerman Architecture Museum.[4] The university was also awarded with the"Deutscher Hochschulbaupreis 2018" by theDeutsche Universitätsstiftung.[5]
In the 2021CHE Ranking, Zeppelin University was ranked among 23 German universities in the field ofpolitical science.[6]
In the 2023 CHE Ranking, which annually ranks German universities and is published in theZeit newspaper's study guide, Zeppelin University was ranked among 20 German universities in the field ofeconomic sciences.[7]
Zeppelin University has not appeared in theQS Ranking orTimes Higher Education Ranking.
The university offers 16 bachelor's and master's tracks, including an executive master's education. Students can graduate with an academic degree in the Bachelor of Arts, or a consecutive or non-consecutive Master of Arts or Master of Science.
Zeppelin University only offers four year undergraduate study programs. One year is intended to be used as a "Humboldt year", a one-year research project at a partner university. To enable this, the university's academic calendar closely mirrors international academic calendars.
Zeppelin University has partnerships with around 85 universities,[8] some of which are:
Tuition for undergraduate programs in the nominal study period of four years cost between 36,720 and 42,000 euros. For postgraduate programs, the tuition costs between 13,320 and 23,160 euros for the two-year program.
Students not in receipt of a scholarship are offered low interest loans bySparkasse Bodensee. At the school, more than two-thirds of students utilize such loans.[9] Alternatively, students can apply for grants fromZU-Bildungsfonds.
Applicants are selected by the university in a two-step selection process: after a detailed written application, in which the first round of selection is made, candidates are invited to anassessment day (Pioneers Wanted). Candidates go through several interviews with professors, students,alumni, and external reviewers. Written tests are also featured. Candidates have to complete a group project which is presented to the assessment committee.[10]
There are some 59student groups and projects, such as groups affiliated with political parties (LHG, Jusos, RCDS), a debating club (Soapbox), the Club of International Politics (CIP),[11] a Model United Nations group (MUN), which also organizesLakeMun, entrepreneurial groups, a cultural club which also organizes a music festival at the university (SeeKult), a student medical service (ZUFA), a film group, several bands and many more – some of them are even known nationally (RockYourLife, for example). A student radio station,Welle20, went on air in 2008.[12] In the last few years new initiatives have emerged for example the "ZUtaten" career fair, or the student consulting group "Whyknot". There is also an ERASMUS group named "International Student Group" and the "Hochschulsport" club which organises several sport activities such as volleyball, cheerleading, lacrosse, and rowing.
The Zeppelin University has various integrated interdisciplinary research institutes, which are partly funded by donations. These include theLeadership Excellence Institute Zeppelin (LEIZ), which is supported by theKarl Schlecht Stiftung, theFriedrichshafener Institut für Familienunternehmen (Institute for family business), theForschungszentrum für Verbraucher, Markt und Politik (a research institute for consumers, markets and politics), and theEuropean Center for Sustainability Research supported byAudi andRolls-Royce Power Systems.
