Brown University is an Ivy League research institution founded in 1764 and the seventh-oldest college in the United States. Based in Providence, Rhode Island, it operates five principal academic divisions: the College, Graduate School, Warren Alpert Medical School, School of Engineering, and School of Public Health. The university's faculty conduct world-renowned research across brain science, biomedical engineering, environmental studies, international affairs, and public health.
The university distinguishes itself through its Open Curriculum, which removes traditional distribution requirements and allows undergraduates to direct their own intellectual development. This pedagogical approach extends across the institution, emphasising student choice and creative problem-solving. Brown aims to foster intellectual risk-takers and entrepreneurs equipped to address complex challenges.
Brown serves as an anchor institution in Rhode Island, contributing significantly to the regional economy, public health infrastructure, K-12 education partnerships, and community engagement. The university's stated mission is to serve the community, the nation, and the world by discovering, communicating, and preserving knowledge in a spirit of free inquiry. Its deep roots in Providence span more than two and a half centuries, shaping both the institution and the region.
