Founded in 1409 as the second university in Germany, Leipzig University has always been committed to the principle of universitas litterarum. The University consists of 14 faculties with 128 institutes. 35,000 persons research, teach and study at the university. An even wider choice of individual study programmes leads to Master degrees and teaching qualifications. The courses offered at the university cover traditional subjects such as law, medicine, economics, social and natural sciences as well as new fields of academic interest like environmental sciences, media and communication studies. This wide range of study programmes reflects the needs of the various industries settled in and around Leipzig, a city which is frequently described as both a commercial and a cultural centre. Currently, close to 29,000 students are enrolled at the Universität Leipzig.