The university is one of the most beautifully situated in Germany. It is surrounded by such a great cultural landscape that you can feel the spirit of great scholars and artists in your presence. It is designed as a classical university and has more than 20,000 students. The University of Potsdam has established a clear profile within the rich academic tradition of Brandenburg's capital. Five faculties form the pillars of the institution: 1. The Faculty of Arts 2. The Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences 3. The Faculty of Law 4. The Faculty of Human Sciences 5. The Faculty of Science Key competences have been concentrated in four research foci: Cognitive Sciences, Earth Sciences, Functional Ecology and Evolution, and Plant Genomics and Systems Biology. The university is also connected to institutions of international standing: the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the German Institute of Human Nutrition, the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics as well as the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - German Research Centre for Geosciences. Close cooperation and joint professorships exist with the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, and many other research institutions. This is why Potsdam is known as one of the most densely settled research landscapes in Germany nowadays. More than 8,000 people work in scholarship and science. Making the best possible use of synergies, "pearls - Potsdam Research Network" organises a joint discourse on future research areas. The university is rigorously implementing its plan to improve teaching. Findings from research and development go right back into teaching, and students can feel the intellectual dynamism in their fields. They also notice that their programmes of study are continuously checked for quality. Modular study programmes and the accompanying exams allow students to finish their degree programmes quickly and successfully. The Potsdam Graduate School (POGS) offers more than 20 PhD programmes in different disciplines. It was established to ensure academic support for PhD candidates and to improve the quality of their work. POGS spans across the different departments and makes Potsdam an even more attractive academic site for young scholars from all over the world. After completion of studies or a PhD, the Career Service offers assistance in professional orientation during the crucial application period. Key skills acquired here ease the transition into professional life. Internships as well as contacts to companies can also be established. Graduates with business ideas can seek advice from the university's start-up service Potsdam-Transfer, supported by the Institute for Start-Up and Innovation. A visible sign of success is the Go:Incubator, a start-up centre that allows business ideas to grow.