Medical education in the early modern era was mainly marked by theory and the reading of texts from classical and Arabic works that had been translated to Latin.

During the period of enlightened absolutism, a new interest by the state in philanthropy saw the founding of several secular hospitals, a development which also revolutionized the medical curricula.

[5] This held true for Freiburg as well, as the university and, in particular, its medical faculty, were home to famous scientists and physicians.

During the Weimar Republic, Freiburg was able to maintain its reputation despite the turbulent times, mending ties with the international academic community.

During World War II, the University Medical Center was badly damaged in a British bombing raid in 1944.

survey supported by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, the University of Freiburg Faculty of Medicine topped the list of the most attractive medical schools for students, receiving the most applications for an MD program in Germany.

Among those involved are the Bioss Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, the Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, and the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies (FRIAS), which were created in conjunction with the success of the University of Freiburg Excellence Initiative of German universities.

The pre-clinical facilities and institutes, where students spend most of their time during the first two years of medical school, are located in the Institutsviertel just north of Freiburg's historical inner city.

The clinical departments and research facilities are, for the most part, situated at the University Medical Center Freiburg, located a short walking distance from the Institutsviertel.

In addition, many other distinguished medical researchers have studied or taught at the University of Freiburg: Ludwig Aschoff, Theodor Bilharz, Vincenz Czerny, Karl Herxheimer, Adolph Kussmaul, Paul Langerhans, Otto Schirmer, or Otto Heinrich Warburg are just a few of the renowned scientists and physicians.

Four current professors of the Faculty of Medicine are winners of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the highest German research award, endowed with 2.5 million EUR.