Goethe University was founded in 1914 as a unique “citizens’ university,” financed by wealthy citizens in Frankfurt, Germany. Named in 1932 after one of the city’s most famous natives, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, today the university has over 48,000 students. The following time line of Goethe University’s history highlights some of the major turning points and milestones from its beginning through the present day.

With a student enrolment of over 48,000, Goethe University is the third largest university in Germany. In the 2019 Shanghai academic ranking of world universities, it ranks among the top 100-150, and among the top 5-7 within Germany.

What is Goethe University Frankfurt known for?

Goethe University is known for "The faculty of law at Goethe University". This faculity currently has 34 professorships and 4,724 students. Its one of the largest faculties of law in Germany.

Guesthouse Beethovenstraße 36

This guesthouse is owned by Goethe University and contains over 19 furnished rooms and apartments. The minimum rental period is one month, the maximum one year.

Amenities in the guesthouse:
Living and/or Bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchenette
Telephone calls within Germany are free of charge. For international calls, please use your own prepaid cards. In addition, there is a laundry with two washing machines and two dryers.

The apartments are cleaned once a week and the sheets and towels replaced.

Check-in times are from Mon. - Thur. between 1.00 - 2.00 pm and on Fri. between 12.00 am - 1.00 pm only! A check-in in the evening or on the weekend is possible only if your host professor has fetched the keys beforehands.

Internet access: Free internet is available via the UnityMedia provider. Information for the connection are deposited at every apartment.

Pets and animals are not allowed in the guesthouse!

Directions Beethovenstraße:
by public transport:
From Campus Bockenheim: 5 minutes walk
From the airport: Take the S-Bahn (S8/S9 direction Offenbach Ost or Hanau, which is in the direction of the city centre) to the main train station (Hauptbahnhof). Transfer to tramline 16 (direction Ginnheim) or 17 (direction Rebstock) and exit at the stop "Hohenstaufenstr.". From there, it is a short walk of about 3 minutes. You should anticipate a total journey of about 30 minutes.
From the main train station (Hauptbahnhof): Take tramline 16 (direction Ginnheim) or 17 (direction Rebstock) and exit at the stop "Hohenstaufenstr.". From there, it is a short walk of about 3 minutes. You should anticipate a total journey of about 15 minutes.
by car
From Campus Bockenheim: 5 minutes walk. Otherwise, follow Bockenheimer Landstraße direction Westend. After the intersection with Senckenberganlage, Beethovenstraße is the second street on your right.
From the main train station (Hauptbahnhof): Follow the city ring (Am Hauptbahnhof, Düsseldorfer Str., Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage) in the direction of "Messe" and after the "Platz der Republik" take the second street on the right.
From the Airport: Take highway number (Autobahn) A5 to "Westkreuz Frankfurt", then go right in the direction of "Messe", after the "Messeturm" (red skyscraper near the "Messe") take the second street on the left.

Guesthouses Ditmarstraße and Frauenlobstraße

These guesthouses are located very close to each other. These properties belong to the Stiftung zur Förderung der internationalen wissenschaftlichen Beziehungen der J.W. Goethe- Universität, a foundation that promotes scientific exchange. The guesthouses contain more than 22 furnished apartments. The minimum rental period is one month, the maximum one year.

Amenities of the apartments (for one, two, or 2.5 persons):
Living and/or Bedroom
Bathroom
Kitchenette

There is a laundry with two washing machines and two dryers.
The apartments are cleaned once a week, and the sheets and towels replaced.

Pets and animals are not allowed in the guesthouse!

 
Access to the Internet
Both guesthouses have wireless internet (W-LAN): Enable your mobile device’s WIFI (Phone, Laptop, Pad, etc) and connect your device with the network: „STIFTUNG“

WLAN is free, but please consider that also other tenants are connected to this WLAN and extensive streaming causing high data fluxes might interrupt the data transfer.

Arrival and moving into the room/ apartment

You can move into your room/apartment from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 12 noon to 1p.m. on Friday. If you wish to move in at another time (i.e. on a weekend), this is only possible if your mentoring professor has picked up your key ahead of time.

Directions Ditmarstraße
by public transport:
From Campus Bockenheim: Take bus number 32 in the direction of "Ostbahnhof". Exit at the "Botanischer Garten" stop (1 Min.)
From the airport: Take the S-Bahn (S8/S9 direction Offenbach Ost or Hanau, which is in the direction of the city centre) to the "Hauptwache", transfer to the U6 (direction Praunheim) or U7 (direction Hausen) and exit at the "Bockenheimer Warte". Transfer once again to the bus number 32 direction "Ostbahnhof" and exit at "Botanischer Garten" (40 Min.)
From the main train station (Hauptbahnhof): Take the U4 to "Bockenheimer Warte". Transfer to bus number 32 direction "Ostbahnhof" and exit at Botanischer Garten (15 Min.)
by car:
From Campus Bockenheim: Follow the city ring (Zeppelinallee and Miquelallee) direction Hanau. Ditmarstraße is the third street on your left.
From the main train station (Hauptbahnhof): Follow the city ring direction Bockenheim/Messe (Am Hauptbahnhof, Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage, Senckenberganlage, Zeppelinalle und Miquelallee); Ditmarstraße is the second street on your left before the intersection of Miquelallee and highway (Autobahn) A66.
From the airport: Follow highway number (Autobahn) A5 in the direction of "Nordwestkreuz Frankfurt", turn right there and follow highway number (Autobahn) A66 and then take the Miquelallee exit. Follow the ramp downwards, which bends to the right to the city ring. The second street on your right is Ditmarstraße.
Directions Frauenlobstraße
by public transport:
Please follow the Ditmarstraße directions listed above.

by car:
From Campus Bockenheim: Follow the city ring (Zeppelinallee and Miquelallee) direction Hanau. Frauenlobstraße is the fourth street on your left.
From the main train station (Hauptbahnhof): Follow the city ring direction Bockenheim/Messe (Am Hauptbahnhof, Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage, Senckenberganlage, Zeppelinalle und Miquelallee); Frauenlobstraße is the first street on your left before the intersection of Miquelallee with highway (Autobahn) A66.
From the airport: Follow highway number (Autobahn) A5 in the direction of "Nordwestkreuz Frankfurt", at this point turn right and follow highway number (Autobahn) A66 and then take the Miquelallee exit. Follow the ramp downwards, which bends to the right to the city ring. The first street on your right will be Frauenlobstraße.

Frankfurt actively encourages new students to come to this lively, cosmopolitan city. While Frankfurt is one of Europe's transportation hubs and economic centers, with just under 700,000 inhabitants, it is often called “the smallest metropolis in the world".  Frankfurt was ranked the "most liveable" city in Germany by the Economist in August 2018, and the 12th most liveable city worldwide.

Although it offers many of the benefits of larger urban centers, getting around Frankfurt is quick and easy by bike or public transportation. The Goethe Card that all students receive offers free local transportation on trains, buses, and trams through much of the southern part of the state of Hessen. Yet without even leaving the city, Frankfurt's broad array of museums—many of which line the banks of the Main River—and cultural institutions offer students the opportunity to dive into theater or art with steep student discounts.

Located close to Germany's most picturesque wine-growing region, Frankfurt is a green city with over 120 parks. Nature lovers can explore the hills and valleys of the nearby Taunus area—or take a boat trip or train ride up the Rhine River. And sports fans will be able to join one of over 450 sports clubs in the city (in addition to those offered at the university), as well take advantage of public pools, golf courses, and boat houses.

Plenty of outdoor markets, cafes, restaurants, and beer gardens are also found among the tree-lined streets in Frankfurt. Local specialties such as Apfelwein (apple cider) and Grüne Soße (a fresh, green herb sauce most often served with eggs and potatoes) are often served in rustic, corner restaurants, some of which have been around for centuries. And with the highest percentage of international residents in Germany, you can easily visit restaurants and buy ingredients from nearly every world cuisine.

Book lovers will also enjoy the annual Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's largest trade book fair which draws close to 300,000 visitors each October. And for international visitors who are eager to explore the rest of Europe, Frankfurt is an ideal location. With one of the busiest airports in continental Europe and serving as a major train hub, it's easy to take weekend trips to Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, the Swiss Alps, Vienna, and many, many other destinations.

The Studentenwerk, an independent non-profit organization which supports the 55,000 students of the Rhein-Main area in economic, social, health and cultural matters, runs both larger student cafeterias, called Mensen, and numerous smaller cafes and coffee bars on all five campuses. You can find reasonably priced lunches (€4 or less) with various side dishes and always at least one vegetarian meal. The cafes sell snacks and drinks throughout the rest of the day, and all coffee served at the Mensen and cafes are Fair Trade Certified.

The university library system consists of the Johann Christian Senckenberg University Library as the central library, specialised libraries, as well as additional departmental libraries.

The specialised libraries of the university are the Law and Economics Library, the Humanities and Education Library, the Library Centre for the Humanities, the Art Library, the Library Centre for the Natural Sciences, and the Medical Library. Each of the departmental and institute-based libraries serves a corresponding academic department or research institute.

With its extensive holdings and collections, the University Library Johann Christian Senckenberg is one of the leading research libraries in Germany. It was founded in 2005 when the Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek Frankfurt am Main (StUB) and the Senckenbergische Bibliothek (SeB) merged to become the university's central library. The histories of both libraries go back centuries. The Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek originated from the Ratsbibliothek of the City of Frankfurt am Main in the 15th century; the Senckenbergische Bibliothek was founded in 1763 by Johann Christian Senckenberg, a Frankfurt medical doctor after whom the library is named today.

All Goethe University students, faculty, and staff have access to numerous sports facilities and classes through the Zentrum für Hochschulsport (ZfH; Center for University Sports). More than 40 sports are on offer, including badminton, basketball, fencing, gymnastics, judo, karate, riding, rowing, skiing, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. There is also a large fitness center with state-of-the-art facilities, and organized excursions and courses in hiking, climbing, sailing, skiing and many other sports throughout the semester.

The new Westend Campus with its park-like ambiance and beautiful travertine-faced buildings is one of Germany's most attractive. In addition to state-of-the-art lecture rooms, the campus has a beer garden, and several light-filled restaurants and cafes.

With public transport
The nearest stops (Holzhausenstraße and Miquel-/Adickesallee) are about a five-minute walk.

Underground (U) and suburban (S) rail

Frankfurt Central Station: S1 – S9 train via Taunusanlage -> Hauptwache -> U1, U2, U3, U8 train via Eschenheimer Tor and Grüneburgweg -> Holzhausenstraße or Miquel-/Adickesallee
Frankfurt Airport: S8, S9 train via Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and Taunusanlage -> Hauptwache -> U1, U2, U3, U8 train via Eschenheimer Tor and Grüneburgweg ->Holzhausenstraße or Miquel-/Adickesallee
By bus

No. 36 bus to Uni Campus Westend (IG Farben Building) from Westbahnhof (via Bockenheim Campus) or Sachsenhausen Hainer Weg
No. 64 bus to Bremer Platz (IG Farben Building) or Bremer Straße (Gisèle-Freund-Platz) from Hauptbahnhof Südseite in the direction of Ginnheim
No. 75 bus from Bockenheimer Warte to Max-Horkheimer-Straße (Seminar Building, PEG Building, ExNO)
No. 32 bus from Westbahnhof or Ostbahnhof to Miquel-/Hansaallee (Seminar Pavilion)
Taxi

Use the address ″Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1“ (formerly Grüneburgplatz 1)

Campus Riedberg is a home for the natural sciences at Goethe University — geo-sciences/ geography, physics, biochemistry, chemistry, pharmacy, and biology. Modern buildings offer state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories. The new Otto Stern Center forms the heart and center of the campus, providing not only a library and lecture hall center, but a place for students and faculty to gather.

With public transport
The Uni Campus Riedberg stop is north of the campus.

Underground (U) and suburban (S) rail and trams

Frankfurt Central Station: S1–S9 via Taunusanlage -> Hauptwache -> U8 in the direction of Riedberg ->Uni Campus Riedberg
Frankfurt Central Station: No. 16 tram via Bockenheimer Warte in the direction of Ginnheim -> U9 in the direction of Nieder-Eschbach -> Uni Campus Riedberg
Frankfurt Airport: S8, S9 via Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof and Taunusanlage -> Hauptwache -> U8 in the direction of Riedberg -> Uni Campus Riedberg
Nordwestzentrum (underground station): U9 in the direction of Nieder-Eschbach -> Uni Campus Riedberg
By bus

No. 29 bus (Nordwestzentrum -> Nieder-Erlenbach) halts at Uni Campus Riedberg.
No. 251 bus (Nordwestzentrum -> Kronberg, Berliner Platz) halts at Geozentrum and Max-Planck-Institut/FIZ.

Set directly on banks of the River Main, Niederrad Campus is the seat of the Medical Faculty and the University Hospital. It is also undergoing reconstruction and expansion, and offers a mix of modern, new buildings and charming old ones.

With public transport
Convenient stops are Universitätsklinikum (main entrance) and Heinrich-Hoffmann Straße / Blutspendedienst for the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics, and the Department of Infectiology in Building 68.

Suburban (S) rail and tram:

Frankfurt Central Station: No. 12 tram in the direction of Rheinlandstraße or No. 21 tram in the direction of Stadion -> Universitätsklinikum or Heinrich-Hoffmann Straße / Blutspendedienst.

Südbahnhof: No. 15 tram in the direction of Haardtwaldplatz -> Universitätsklinikum or Heinrich-Hoffmann Straße / Blutspendedienst.

Frankfurt Airport: S8, S9 in the direction of Hanau -> Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof -> No. 12 tram in the direction of Rheinlandstraße or No. 21 tram in the direction of Stadion -> Universitätsklinikum or Heinrich-Hoffmann Straße / Blutspendedienst.