University foundations

Financing teaching and studies

In the Middle Ages and the early Modern Age income from foundations was an important source of capital for the university system. Teachers’ wages were paid, or at least augmented, with money from foundations, and scholarships and accommodations for students were provided. As long as the state did not allocate a university budget, the whole of the study system was dependent on these funds.

Habsburg Landesfürsten (local sovereigns) as well as private persons acted as benefactors, contributing funds or realty to the foundation. They defined the objectives of their foundations, making them serve not only charitable causes, but also the memory or salvation of the donors. Many of these foundations were administrated by the university or one of its faculties.