(Est. 1962, Basel)
A public university on the Rhine, where designers, scientists and economists learn side by side. Four faculties, one campus and a habit of making things.
About
Visit the campus(01) Mission
One roof for design, science and society
Made, not memorised
Every programme ends in something built, tested or published.
Small rooms
Seminars of twelve, studios of twenty, and a professor who knows your name.
Open doors
Faculties share studios, labs and a library, so disciplines meet every day.
(02) History
Sixty years of making
- 1962
A school of applied arts
Gerstner opens in a former print works on the Rhine with 140 students in graphic design and architecture.
- 1974
Science joins the studios
A faculty of science and engineering opens next door, sharing workshops with the design school.
- 1989
The Rheinweg campus
The university moves to Rheinweg 12: one campus, a courtyard and a library open to the city.
- 2003
Four faculties
Business and economics and the humanities join, and Gerstner becomes a full university.
- 2025
Built on campus
Students and researchers design and pour a low-carbon concrete pavilion on the campus lawn.
(03) In numbers
Figures for the 2025–26 academic year, from the university's annual report.
- Students on campus
- 14,800
- Countries
- 112
- Programmes
- 86
- Studios and labs
- 64
- Graduates in work within a year
- 94%
(04) Leadership
Who runs Gerstner
- Rector
Prof. Anna Lindgren
Since 2019 - Vice-rector
Prof. Jonas Holm
Teaching and learning - Dean
Prof. Ingrid Solberg
Architecture and Design - Dean
Prof. Marco Bellini
Business and Economics - Dean
Prof. Elena Navarro
Science and Engineering - Dean
Prof. Lars Eriksen
Humanities and Social Sciences
(05) Campus
One campus on the Rhine
(Open day, 17 October)
Rheinweg 12, Basel
Come and see
Walk the studios, sit in on a lecture and meet the people who teach here. Tours run every weekday at 14:00.
Plan your visit