Bielefeld University, located in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, is a public research university known for its strong research focus and interdisciplinary approach to education. Founded in 1969, it has grown to become one of Germany's leading universities with a student body of over 20,000.

Located next to the Teutoburg Forest in the west of Bielefeld, the university's main building is a functional concrete structure that houses all faculties and institutes, as well as a large library. The campus is easily accessible from the centre of Bielefeld by intercity trains and trams.  Bielefeld University offers a wide range of disciplines in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and technology. The university is particularly well known for its research strengths in areas such as sociology, physics and neuroscience, and has research centres and institutes dedicated to these fields.

Bielefeld University is ranked among the top 250 universities in Europe by the Shanghai Ranking. Nationally, it is in the top 10 in Germany for mathematics, computer science and sociology. The university's research strengths are reflected in rankings such as the German Research Foundation's Funding Atlas, the CHE Research Ranking, and the Humboldt Ranking. 

Bielefeld University is recognised for its exceptional research output and academic standards, and follows a different style of organisation and teaching to established universities. It is consistently ranked among Germany's top universities and has secured a place in the prestigious Initiative for Excellence of German Universities. This membership underlines its status as one of the country's leading research institutions.