University of Geneva

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University of Geneva

university, Geneva, Switzerland

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Apr 17, 2025 • Article History

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Date:: 1559 - present

Notable Alumni:: Werner Arber; Manolo Blahnik; Diane von Furstenberg; José Manuel Barroso; Vaughan Jones

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University of Geneva, Institution of higher learning in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded by John Calvin and Théodor de Bèze (1519–1605) in 1559 as Schola Genevensis (later called the Academy), a theological seminary. The natural sciences, law, and philosophy were later added to the curriculum, and in the 19th century a medical faculty was established. In the 1930s the Institut Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a private school of education founded in 1912, became part of the university. Many foreign students are attracted by its strong reputation in international studies, botany, and education.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Jeannette L. Nolen.