Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is a public research university located in Giessen, Hesse, Germany. It was founded in 1607 and is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the German-speaking world. With approximately 28,000 students, JLU offers a wide range of academic programmes in 11 faculties, covering areas such as law, economics, social sciences, humanities, medicine and natural sciences. The university is named after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and the inventor of artificial fertiliser. JLU's campus is spread across the city of Giessen, with facilities in mini-campuses. The university town of Giessen is strategically located in the heart of Hesse, surrounded by the picturesque Lahn Valley and rolling hills. It offers a diverse range of cultural attractions.

JLU is renowned for its significant contributions to research and teaching in the life sciences and cultural studies. It has been successful in the German Excellence Initiative since 2006 and is the most successful university in Hesse in the Excellence Strategy 2018. The university has a strong international profile, with around 13% international students and 40% international doctoral students, as well as partnerships and exchange programmes worldwide. Notable JLU alumni and faculty include several Nobel Laureates, such as Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, the discoverer of X-rays, and Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The university is also renowned for its dedication to sustainability and has been awarded the designation of a 'family-friendly university'. A distinctive aspect of JLU's history is that it was the second German university to admit Jewish students in 1697.