1,220 First-Year Students Begin the Winter Semester in Bayreuth
More first-year students than last year, an increasingly international student body, and a strong focus on artificial intelligence: the University of Bayreuth has begun the 2026/27 winter semester with considerable momentum. The new students were welcomed at both the Bayreuth and Kulmbach campuses.
With 1,220 first-year students enrolled at the start of the 2026/27 winter semester, the University of Bayreuth has recorded a significant increase compared with the previous year. The new students, including those beginning their studies at the Kulmbach campus, were officially welcomed during the University's traditional orientation event.The University continues to strengthen its profile as an internationally connected place of study. Already, 22.2 per cent of its students come from abroad. Global partnerships, international research collaborations and English-taught degree programmes are key features of the University's identity, complementing the diversity that characterises campus life.
A central theme of the start of the academic year was the responsible use of artificial intelligence. The University of Bayreuth plans to integrate AI even more extensively into teaching, learning and assessment, while at the same time equipping students with the skills required to use this technology critically and responsibly.“ The question is no longer whether artificial intelligence will change our daily lives, but how we choose to shape that development. We want to empower our students not only to understand the future of AI, but to help shape it actively and responsibly,” says University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Stefan Leible.
The University's commitment to collaboration across disciplinary boundaries was highlighted by Prof. Dr. Markus Retsch, Vice President for Research and Early Career Researchers: “What particularly excites me is the interdisciplinary research strength of the University of Bayreuth, reflected in numerous successes in securing third-party funding and in outstanding research achievements across all faculties.”
With the newly established AI Responsibility Centre (ARC) and a range of further research initiatives, the University is continuing to expand its position in forward-looking fields of research.
The international dimension also plays a key role in the University's future development. Prof. Dr. Nina Nestler, Vice President for Internationalisation, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, explains: "International scholarship today requires both open doors and a measured approach to risk. As a university, we rely on long-term, resilient partnerships that enable research across borders while strengthening our ability to respond to future challenges.”
Alongside the further development of teaching and research, the University is also investing in its infrastructure. New teaching and learning spaces, extensive refurbishment projects and the ongoing development of the campus are creating an attractive environment for both students and staff. As a result, the University of Bayreuth enters the new academic year with continued growth, innovative strength and a clear vision for the future.
Students wishing to become involved beyond their studies had the opportunity to do so during the traditional Mensa Evening that followed the welcome event. Student societies, initiatives and associations presented their activities and met with the newly enrolled students. This gave first-year students the chance, from their very first day, to discover the wide range of opportunities and experiences that make life at the University of Bayreuth so vibrant beyond lectures and seminars.
Dr. Stefan Fehm-Danoglidis
Pressesprecher, Hochschulkommunikation
Telefon: 0921 / 55-5300
E-Mail: stefan.fehm-danoglidis@uni-bayreuth.de