Heidelberg University's 1900 vote opened doors for women in academia

Heidelberg University admitted its first female degree-seeking students in 1900. This marked a historic shift for women in German academia, where opportunities had previously been almost non-existent. Before 1900, women in Germany had almost no access to university education. Those seeking degrees often had to study abroad instead.

On January 13, 1900, the university’s senate voted to admit women on a trial basis. The Grand Duchy of Baden officially ratified the decision on February 28, 1900, granting women full access to university studies.

Georgine Sexauer became the first woman to enrol at Heidelberg that year. She studied for eight semesters before transferring to Freiburg. Shortly after, Rahel Goitein, Irma Klausner, and Else von der Leyen joined as the university’s first female medical students. Irma Klausner and Else von der Leyen later transferred to Halle when it opened to women after one semester.

By 1910, the share of female students at Heidelberg had grown to eight percent, up from just 0.25 percent in 1900. Rahel Goitein completed her medical degree in Heidelberg and became Germany’s first female physician in private practice in 1908. The admission of women in 1900 changed higher education in Germany. Heidelberg University’s decision allowed female students to pursue degrees domestically for the first time. The number of women in academia steadily increased in the following years.