Cologne is the fourth largest city in the West of Germany. It is the largest city in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area. It has an estimated of over 1 million people living in the city. Education is compulsory for children all over Germany; the education system in Cologne is like other cities in Germany; it is divided into four levels: Kindergarten Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education, and Higher Education.
Cologne offers its citizens public and private education as well as higher education for those who wish to further their career. Cologne is home to one of the oldest and largest university in Europe. The University of Cologne (Universität zu Köln) was established in 1388. It specialises in Applied Sciences and is now the largest university of Applied Sciences in Germany. Since the founding, Universität zu Köln now has more than 48,000 students attending. The university is highly ranked nationally and internationally in the subjects on Economics and Law and Commerce.