# University of Essen

> former German university

**Wikidata**: [Q42560197](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42560197)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/university-of-essen

## Summary
The University of Essen was a German university that existed from 1972 to 2002. It was a comprehensive university (Gesamthochschule) located in Essen, Germany, and was dissolved on December 31, 2002, when it merged with the University of Duisburg to form the University of Duisburg-Essen.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1972 as Universität-Gesamthochschule Essen
- Dissolved on December 31, 2002
- Replaced by University of Duisburg-Essen
- Had multiple aliases including Uni Essen, Uni-GH Essen, and Universität-GH Essen
- Identified by GND ID 64868-1 and ISNI 0000000114990357
- Ringgold ID: 387792
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n79028848

## FAQs
### Q: When was the University of Essen founded?
A: The University of Essen was founded in 1972 as Universität-Gesamthochschule Essen.

### Q: What happened to the University of Essen?
A: The University of Essen was dissolved on December 31, 2002, and merged with the University of Duisburg to form the University of Duisburg-Essen.

### Q: What type of institution was the University of Essen?
A: The University of Essen was a comprehensive university (Gesamthochschule) in Germany, offering a wide range of academic programs.

## Why It Matters
The University of Essen played a significant role in higher education in the Ruhr region of Germany for three decades. As a comprehensive university, it provided accessible education to a diverse student body and contributed to the academic and economic development of Essen and the surrounding area. Its merger with the University of Duisburg in 2003 created a larger, more comprehensive institution that could better serve the educational needs of the entire Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region. The university's legacy continues through its successor institution, which maintains many of the programs and traditions established during the University of Essen's 30-year history.

## Notable For
- Being a Gesamthochschule (comprehensive university) model in Germany
- Serving as a major educational institution in the Ruhr industrial region
- Merging to form one of Germany's largest universities
- Having multiple international identifiers and library catalog entries
- Operating for exactly 30 years before dissolution

## Body
### Historical Context
The University of Essen was established in 1972 during a period of educational expansion in West Germany. As a Gesamthochschule, it combined traditional university education with practical, applied learning approaches.

### Institutional Structure
The university operated under various names throughout its existence, including Universität-Gesamthochschule Essen and Uni-GH Essen. It maintained comprehensive academic programs across multiple disciplines.

### Merger and Legacy
On December 31, 2002, the university ceased to exist as an independent entity when it merged with the University of Duisburg. This merger created the University of Duisburg-Essen, which inherited many of the programs, faculty, and resources from both predecessor institutions.

### Identification and Documentation
The university was extensively documented in academic and library systems, with identifiers including GND, ISNI, Ringgold, and Library of Congress authority files. These identifiers ensure the institution's historical record remains accessible for research and reference purposes.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Via P227 lookup with GND value from PM20 folder. 20th Century Press Archives
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File