Facts and figures

• Faculty of Theology
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of History, Art and Area Studies
• Faculty of Philology
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy
• Faculty of Economics and Management Science
• Faculty of Sport Science
• Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
• Faculty of Life Sciences
• Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences
• Faculty of Chemistry
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
• Faculty of Medicine

Students by structural unit

Top ten countries of origin of international students

This includes:

• New students (including those on leave, auditors and Studienkolleg attendees) enrolled in the first semester of their first degree programme on 1 May and 1 November each year
• Graduates on their first degree programme, first subject and second degree programme, first subject
• Applications for the winter semester 2024/25.

Number of programmes by degree type

International collaboration

Staffing trends at Leipzig University in 2024

In 2024, the slight increase in total staff numbers observed since 2020 continued: As at the reporting date, Leipzig University employed a total of 5,650 members of staff (2023: 5,610). This increase of 40 positions (+0.7 per cent) is primarily attributable to strategic new appointments in research-related areas and the continuation of existing externally funded projects.

Breakdown by source of funding

• The proportion of staff funded from the University’s core budget remained largely stable at around 72 per cent of the total workforce (previous year: 73 per cent). Minor fluctuations reflect reporting date-related differences in the number of permanent and fixed-term positions covered by collective agreements.
• The proportion of externally funded staff declined slightly overall to around 28 per cent (previous year: 27 per cent). This decrease is particularly evident in positions funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the EU (–1 percentage point). In contrast, there was a continued increase in positions funded by the federal government (+0.5 percentage points), particularly in priority interdisciplinary research fields.

Despite rising personnel costs in the core budget due to pay increases (see chapter “Finanzen und Infrastruktur” in the German annual report for 2024), the Rectorate was able to limit the growth in staff numbers by imposing a targeted hiring freeze for selected positions and prioritising externally funded projects. In particular, the University largely refrained from making replacement appointments in academic departments where ongoing funding programmes are due to expire.

Outlook and measures for 2025

On the basis of the target agreement for 2025–2028 signed in December 2024, staffing levels are expected to remain stable in 2025. Planned cost-saving measures and evaluations within the framework of the 2025 financial plan aim to permanently align the staff structure with the resources actually at the University’s disposal. Key measures include:

1. Continuing to prioritise externally funded projects in order to relieve pressure on the University’s core budget.
2. Targeted qualification and retention programmes for mid-level academic staff funded from the core budget, in view of stagnant one-off temporary top-ups (Sonderzuweisungen) from the Free State of Saxony.
3. Structural review of long-vacant administrative and infrastructure posts.

For detailed figures on staffing trends and a breakdown by faculty, please refer to the 2024 annual report (in German).

Financial overview

The year 2024 was once again financially challenging for Leipzig University, as the significant pay increases in the 2023/2024 two-year budget were not offset – but targeted temporary top-ups and exceptional measures by the Free State made it possible to achieve better results.

In the 2024 financial year, Leipzig University generated total revenues of €397.9 million (previous year: €392.7 million) and reported total expenses of €398.3 million (previous year: €384.5 million). Despite a slight decrease in personnel and operating costs, the year therefore closed with a deficit of around €0.5 million (previous year: surplus of €8.2 million). This result is significantly better than forecast in the 2024 financial plan (planned deficit: €4.5 million), primarily due to one-off exceptional measures and additional state funding.

Despite the strained financial situation, the University continued to invest in key areas of research, teaching and infrastructure:

• Technical systems and machinery: €9.5 million
• Operating and business equipment: €4.6 million
• Investment budget from the Free State of Saxony: €4.0 million (from allocations and grants).

These investments helped modernise the University’s laboratories and lecture halls, while also enabling the continued development of externally funded projects. Liquid assets decreased by €9.2 million to €97.0 million, highlighting the ongoing challenge of covering pay increases without permanent compensation.

A financial plan for 2025 has already been drawn up, projecting a shortfall of just under €12 million, to be covered using reserves. The timely implementation of an efficiency and prioritisation programme will remain essential to ensuring financial sustainability and maintaining the appeal of Leipzig University even under limited resources. 

External funding by source

External funding is a key indicator of the University’s research strength. Through targeted funding programmes, the faculties and Central Institutions have expanded their research infrastructure and intensified collaboration both across departments and with non-university partners.

In light of the strained federal budget and measures taken by external funding bodies in 2024, Leipzig University unfortunately was not able to improve its external funding performance compared with previous years. At approximately €228.1 million, income from external funding sources was around €3 million lower than in 2023. Nevertheless, the Faculties of Physics and Earth System Sciences, Chemistry and Mineralogy, Mathematics and Computer Science, as well as the Faculties of Economics and Management Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Medicine recorded significantly above-average income from external funding. 

This increase highlights the University’s successful positioning within the national and international research landscape in these disciplines.

Research projects at Leipzig University