Study 125 Years of Women Studying at Universität Heidelberg
22 December 2025
Four women students enrolled at Ruperto Carola in 1900 – they were among the first in Germany
It began with four pioneers when – 125 years ago – women were first admitted as regular students at Heidelberg University in 1900. Ruperto Carola was one of the first two universities in Germany to welcome female students – not just as auditors. Hence Georgine Sexauer, Rahel Goitein, Irma Klausner, and Else von der Leyen were precursors of equal rights at German universities. “The year 1900 marked an important milestone in the history of our university. The first women students overcame barriers that are almost unimaginable today. Their courage and determination to learn brought about a lasting opening of academia for women,” states Prof. Dr Frauke Melchior, Rector of Heidelberg University.
The first woman to register as a regular student at Heidelberg University was Georgine Sexauer. She enrolled on 28 April 1900 in classical philology and German studies. In the 1900 summer semester three medical students followed: Rahel Goitein, Irma Klausner, and Else von der Leyen. Prior to their enrollment, the Ruperto Carola Senate had taken the decision on 13 January 1900 to admit women to degree courses – although initially “on a tentative and trial basis”. On 28 February 1900 this decision was endorsed by the Grand Duchy of Baden. That made Baden the first German state to allow the regular admission of women to higher education – shortly afterwards, the universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg were the first ones at which they could enroll as regular students.
Until 1900 women had not played a great role in the academic world. While they were admitted as auditors in the mid-19th century, they had to go abroad to take normal degree courses. In Germany it was only possible to do so in exceptional cases and with a special permit. And, even after regular enrollment, the first women students had to contend with obstacles during their studies as many professors and fellow students regarded them skeptically. “I always felt small and stupid compared to everyone else. The male colleagues acted with great confidence, even when they didn’t know anything,” was what Rahel Goitein (later Rahel Straus) wrote about her university years in her 1961 autobiography.
All the same, Rahel Goitein successfully completed her degree in medicine at Heidelberg and then broke new ground in another respect: in 1908 she became Germany’s first woman doctor in private practice. Today a central scholarship program to advance outstanding women researchers at Ruperto Carola’s Medical Faculty Heidelberg is named after her. After one semester, Irma Klausner and Else von der Leyen continued their courses in Halle when the university there opened up to women. Georgine Sexauer studied for eight semesters at Heidelberg University before changing to Freiburg.
Opening degree programs to women has been a success story for Ruperto Carola. Not only was the university among the pioneers in Germany in 1900, it was also the most popular German university for women students for a long time afterwards. In 1900 they accounted for 0.25 percent of students but within a decade this share grew to eight percent. Today women clearly outnumber men at Heidelberg University – they account for approximately 55 percent. When it comes to completing a doctorate, the ratio is almost in balance (women had a share of 49.8 percent in 2024). Among the professors, there are still more men than women (approx. 23 percent) but here, too, Heidelberg University can chalk up progress in terms of equal rights; in 2023, 2024 and 2025 roughly the same number of men and women were appointed for the first time.
“125 years of women students – this anniversary is an occasion for us to highlight the great importance attached to equality and diversity in our university strategy. In the Rectorate we will continue to do our utmost to promote outstanding talents across all subjects and disciplines, independently of gender, origin, or identity,” the Rector stresses.