Top Universities in Germany by Subject

Germany is one of the world’s most represented locations in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019, with 45 German universities included among the world’s best for particular subjects.

Read on for an overview of the highest-ranked universities in Germany for each of the 48 subjects covered in this year’s rankings.

Accounting & Finance

The 2019 accounting and finance ranking sees four German universities rank 51-100 - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technical University of Munich (up from 151-200), Universität Frankfurt am Main and Universität Mannheim.

Agriculture & Forestry

Of Germany’s 13 representatives in the agriculture ranking, the University of Hohenheim continues to be the leader, climbing an impressive 19 places to rank joint 15^th.

Anatomy & Physiology

Universität Frankfurt am Main is the highest-ranked of the top German universities for anatomy & physiology at joint 38^th, overtaking Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Five more German institutions are featured in the ranking.

Anthropology

The best place to study anthropology in Germany out of its five entries in the anthropology ranking is Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, climbing 13 places and overtaking Freie Universitaet Berlin to rank joint 31^st this year, while the latter is down slightly at 33^rd.

Archaeology

Germany is well represented in the archaeology ranking, with 16 top German universities featured, led by Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, which climbed four places to rank joint 11^th. The global top 50 also includes Freie Universität Berlin at 19^th.

Architecture

Eight German institutions are featured among the world’s best for architecture, led by the Technical University of Munich in joint 25^th place. Also in the top 50 is Technische Universität Berlin, up nine places to rank 32^nd.

Art & Design

Of Germany’s three entrants in the art & design ranking, its highest ranked is Universität der Künste Berlin, up from 51-100 to joint 49^th.

Biological Sciences

An impressive 36 top universities in Germany are ranked among the top 500 in the world in the biological sciences ranking, with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in the lead at 25^th, up 11 places from last year.

Business & Management Studies

Universität Mannheim is the leader among the 19 top universities in Germany for business and management, up from 51-100 to 47^th.

Chemical Engineering

Two German universities share 35^th place in the chemical engineering ranking this year: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen University), up 11 places from last year, and Technische Universität Berlin, which climbed from 51-100. Eight more top German universities are featured in this ranking.

Chemistry

The Technical University of Munich is Germany’s best-performing representative in the chemistry ranking at 27^th (up five places this year), and 42 more German institutions are featured.

Civil & Structural Engineering

Of the six top universities in Germany in the civil engineering ranking, four are the joint highest-ranked at 51-100: KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, RWTH Aachen University, and the Technical University of Munich.

Classics & Ancient History

German universities performed well in the second edition of the classics ranking, with seven entrants, including Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in fourth place.

Communication & Media Studies

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München has climbed nine places from last year’s communication & media studies ranking, now coming 26^th and continuing to be the highest ranked of Germany’s eight entries.

Computer Science & Information Systems

Of the 31 top German computer science schools, Technical University of Munich is once again the highest-ranked, up eight places to rank joint 34^th.

Dentistry

Germany’s sole entrant in the dentistry ranking, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, climbed five places to rank 41^st.

Development Studies

Again, there is only one German entrant in this ranking: the University of Göttingen, up from 51-100 to 45^th.

Earth & Marine Sciences

17 German universities are featured in the earth & marine sciences ranking, with six sharing the top position of 51-100 in the world for this subject: Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Bremen, Universität Frankfurt am Main, Universität Hamburg and Universität Potsdam.

Economics & Econometrics

Looking at the economics ranking, Universität Mannheim climbed from 51-100 to rank 44^th this year, making it the highest ranked of Germany’s 24 entrants.

Education & Training

Germany has 10 entrants in the education ranking, with Freie Universitaet Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin both ranked 51-100.

Electrical & Electronic Engineering

18 top universities in Germany are featured in the electrical engineering ranking, led by the Technical University of Munich, which climbed an impressive 17 spots to rank joint 20^th.

English Language & Literature

Freie Universitaet Berlin is the highest-ranked university for English language & literature in 2018, up 10 places to rank 37^th. There are 10 more top universities in Germany featured in the English ranking.

Environmental Sciences

Germany has 13 entrants in the environmental science ranking, with the Technical University of Munich leading the way at 51-100 in the world, up from 101-150.

Geography

There are 11 top universities in Germany in the geography ranking, led by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, which climbed six places to rank 22^nd.

History

Germany has 11 entrants in the history ranking, including three in the top 50, with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin the highest-ranked at 30^th.

Hospitality & Leisure Management

No German institutions were featured in the hospitality & leisure management ranking this year.

Law

There are 14 German institutions in this year’s law school ranking. The highest-ranked was previously Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, but Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München now takes the top spot at joint 35^th, up 14 places from last year.

Library & Information Management

Germany is represented by three institutions in the library & information management ranking, led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München at 29^th.

Linguistics

Of the 20 German universities in the linguistics ranking, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is again the highest-ranked, climbing four places to rank 29^th in the world this year.

Materials Science

25 top universities in Germany are featured in the materials science ranking, led by RWTH Aachen University, which is up six places to rank 22^nd in the world this year.

Mathematics

The Technical University of Munich is the highest-ranked of Germany’s 26 entries in the mathematics ranking, up five places to rank joint 45^th. Also in the top 50 is Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn at 50^th.

Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering

Five of Germany’s 19 representatives in the mechanical engineering ranking are in the global top 50, with RWTH Aachen University its highest-ranked, up four places to rank 19^th.

Medicine

Those wishing to train as a doctor in Germany have 31 top medical schools to choose from, with Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin the best of the bunch, having climbed from 51-100 to 33^rd place. You can read advice on how to study medicine in Germany here.

Mineral & Mining Engineering

There are only two top universities in Germany in the mining engineering ranking, with Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg down this year but nonetheless remaining the highest-ranked German entrant, at 16^th.

Modern Languages

If you’re looking to study modern languages in Germany, there are 15 top universities in Germany for this subject, with Freie Universität Berlin climbing nine places to rank joint 26^th.

Nursing

No German institutions were ranked in this year’s nursing school ranking.

Performing Arts

Germany has five top performing arts schools, led by the specialized college of music Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, up 14 places to rank 36^th.

Pharmacy & Pharmacology

Of Germany’s 19 entrants in the pharmacy ranking, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München is the highest-ranked, up five places to rank 45^th.

Philosophy

There are 16 German representatives in the philosophy ranking, three of which are in the global top 50. Its highest-ranked entrant is Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, ranked 12^th.

Physics & Astronomy

Germany has an impressive 44 entrants in the physics ranking, including five in the top 50. Its highest-ranked entrant overall is the Technical University of Munich, up five places to rank 16^th.

Politics & International Studies

There are nine German entrants in the politics ranking, with Freie Universitaet Berlin leading the way in 19^th place.

Psychology

Germany has 23 entrants in the psychology ranking, with its three highest-ranked all placed 51-100: Freie Universitaet Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

Social Policy & Administration

Three German universities are featured in the social policy ranking this year, led by Freie Universität Berlin at joint 31^st.

Sociology

17 top universities in Germany are featured in the sociology ranking, led by Freie Universität Berlin, ranked 20^th this year. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is not far behind, at joint 23^rd.

Sports-related Subjects

Germany has two entrants ranked among the world’s best for sports-related subjects, both ranked 51-100: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg and Universität Freiburg.

Statistics & Operational Research

Seven top German universities are featured in the statistics ranking, four of which are ranked 51-100: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (up from 101-150), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, RWTH Aachen University and Technische Universität Berlin.

Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies

This year’s theology ranking saw Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen overtake Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg as the highest-ranked of Germany’s nine entrants, climbing nine places to rank joint sixth.

Veterinary Science

Germany has just two entrants in the veterinary science ranking, led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, which retains its position of 25^th this year.

This article was originally published in March 2018. It was updated in February 2019.

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