On 4 May 1545 he joined the
University of Wittenberg in Saxony as
Ertmannus Copernicus Granselensis, and graduated on 25 February 1546 as
Magister of philosophy. For winter semester 1546-47 he returned to Brandenburg to continue his studies at the state university in
Frankfurt (Oder), named
Alma Mater Viadrina after the river
Oder. Moved upstream in 1811 and merged with the university in
Breslau where WW2 put an end to it in 1945, it was in 1991 re-established in Frankfurt/Oder as
European University Viadrina. After being a school principal in the
New Town district of
Brandenburg an der Havel, Copernicus in 1556 continued law studies at University of Wittenberg until he was appointed professor in Frankfurt/Oder upon the recommendation of
Philipp Melanchthon. Being popular among students, they petitioned
Joachim II Hector, Elector of Brandenburg (1505-1571) with verses in Latin for a raise of Copernicus' salary. On 21 April 1573, after having been the university's
vice rector during the winter semester, he was promoted to
Doctor of Law, and also to head of university for the summer semester of 1573, during which he died. His hymns were published posthumously in 1575. == Work ==