In early 2003, the universities of Essen and the nearby city of Duisburg (both established in 1972) were merged into the University of Duisburg-Essen with campuses in both cities and a university hospital in Essen.
A comezos do ano 2003, as universidades de Essen e a da veciña cidade de Duisburg (ambas dúas estabelecidas en 1972) uníronse para formar a nova Universidade de Duisburg-Essen com campi en cada unha das cidades e o hospital universitario en Essen.