Comprehensive universities, which came into existence in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1970, combine the aims of a number of traditional types of institutions of higher education, particularly universities, colleges of education, and higher vocational and technical colleges. The development of the concept of the comprehensive university and its realization in educational policy is discussed. Motives and arguments for the comprehensive university, main targets and problems in the development of the comprehensive universities, and the state of the art with regard to their development are discussed. Future developments are assessed. (SPG)