His studies at Zurich, however, were cut short by the death of his father in June 1863. Cantor moved to the University of Berlin where he became friends with Hermann Schwarz who was a fellow student.
Sa kanyang pag-aaral sa Zurich, gayunman, ay mapugto sa pamamagitan ng kamatayan ng kanyang ama sa Hunyo 1863. Kantor inilipat sa Unibersidad ng Berlin kung saan siya ay naging kaibigan na may Hermann Schwarz na ang isang tao ay mag-aaral.