The Kolleg

The structure of the Marsilius-Kolleg is designed to promote interdisciplinarity between different disciplines and research cultures. In its concrete implementation, the Institute is guided by three structural principles.

1. The Kolleg is an Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) with the Fellows at the center (IAS-Principle). 
2. The pivotal point is the exchange and cooperation between the natural, life, and engineering sciences as well as the humanities, cultural, and social sciences (Bridge Principle). Derived from this principle, the Institute is committed to the notion of scientific and academic communication. 
3. Only scientists from Heidelberg University and the surrounding research institutes are selected as Fellows (Location Principle).

The organization of the Marilius Kolleg is designed to provide the best support and administration for the yearly rotating Fellows and Young Marsilius Fellows. The Institute is governed by a collegial Board of Directors, who is supported in strategy, planning, and implementation by the Administrative Office. 

The open, critical, and creative exchange across the boundaries of scientific disciplines also serves as the mechanism for networking between scientists from various disciplines at Heidelberg University. Additionally, the Kolleg contributes to institutional cooperation at the University and in Heidelberg as a location for scientific research. 

Since 2007, the Marsilius Kolleg, named after the founding rector of the University of Heidelberg, Marsilius von Inghen, has been part of Heidelberg’s future concept in the Excellence Initiative and, since 2019, it has been contained within the Excellence Strategy of the German State and Federal Government. The location of the Institute was initially the picturesque baroque villa “Haus Buhl” in the Old Town of Heidelberg. In 2016, the Marsilius Kolleg acquired a modern and well-equipped event and office space in the natural and life sciences campus of Heidelberg University in Neuenheimer Feld.