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In this paper, I will elaborate on the working hypothesis that universities are becoming examples of non-places, as described by the French philosopher Marc Augé. From Augé's perspective, a non-place represents the opposite of an anthropological place. Whereas an anthropological place has a history, an identity, and relatedness, a non-place has none of these characteristics. The article begins with an exploration of the history of the German university. While, in the past, the university could be described by the metaphor ‘alma mater’, there is striking evidence that today's university lacks the basic elements of maternal care (e.g., consideration, protection, and containment) that are crucial for learning and development. Due to major changes in society and in the economy, the image of the university as ‘alma mater’ and the ideals of freedom of teaching, learning, and thinking have become meaningless. In order to maintain a positive face, the university has more and more shown a narcissistic self-image concomitant with totalitarian structures and behaviour. Anxieties resulting from societal and economic changes, an identity vacuum, and a lack of relatedness have become unconscious driving forces for the restructuring and change of universities. In reaction to increasing economic pressure, which, in the present context, can be seen as a social defence, departments mutate into profit centres, universities into learning factories, and students into customers. Following this development, the article raises the question of whether and to what extent the potential space previously provided by the university has become a nonpotential space that makes universities non-places, as described by Augé. The article ends with a view into the future of the university.