Top Universities in Germany 2019

Click here to view the most recent version of this article, based on the 2020 results.

Germany is one of the most popular study destinations in the world and boasts one of the largest numbers of ranked universities in the QS World University Rankings® at 45, with eight appearing in the global top 150 in 2019 and a further 10 in the top 300. Read on to discover how the best universities in Germany ranked this year, including a closer look at the top 10.

10. Universität Freiburg

Ranked joint 186^th in the world this year with the US’ Case Western Reserve University, Universität Freiburg is one of the oldest and best universities in Germany, established in 1457. It now has over 24,400 students including many internationals.

9. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen is ranked 168^th in the world in 2019 and is particularly well regarded for its education and research in the fields of medicine, law, and theology and religion.

8. Technische Universität Berlin

Heading to the capital, Technische Universität Berlin is ranked 147^th in the world this year and is known for its engineering programs, with particular prestige in the fields of mechanical engineering and engineering management.

7. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen

Germany’s largest technical university, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen is ranked 144^th in the world in 2019, with a very high score for its reputation with graduate employers (one of the six indicators used to compile the ranking).

6. Freie Universität Berlin

Ranked 130^th in the world this year, Freie Universität Berlin was founded in 1948 and therefore celebrates its 70^th anniversary this year. It’s one of the eleven elite German universities in the German Universities Excellence Initiative.

5. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Berlin’s highest-ranked institution continues to be Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, which is ranked 121^st in the world and is considered particularly prestigious for arts and humanities subjects, achieving 24^th place for this in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.

4. KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Ranked 116^th in the world this year, KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie is a leading university for engineering and the natural sciences. It earns scores in the top 100 for its reputation with employers and research impact (citations per faculty member).

3. Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg is up four places to rank 64^th in the world in 2019 and continues to be third among the best universities in Germany. It’s also the country’s oldest, having been founded in 1386.

2. Ludwig-Maximilians - Universität München

Also up four places this year is Ludwig-Maximilians - Universität München (LMU), now ranked 62^nd in the world (just one spot behind TUM). Established in 1472, LMU has been associated with 42 Nobel Laureates, including Thomas Mann.

1. Technische Universität München

Technische Universität München (TUM) continues to claim the number one spot among the top German universities, going up three places to rank 61^st in the world in 2019. TUM celebrates its 150^th anniversary this year and is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, with strong connections to employers and scientific institutes worldwide.

The remaining top German universities in the top 20 are:

11. Technische Universität Dresden – ranked 191^st in the world.
12. Georg-August-Universität Göttingen – ranked 197^th in the world.
13. Universität Hamburg – ranked joint 223^rd in the world.
14. Technische Universität Darmstadt – ranked joint 253^rd in the world.
15. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn – ranked 255^th in the world.
16. Universität Stuttgart – ranked joint 260^th in the world.
17. Universität Frankfurt am Main – ranked joint 279^th in the world.
18. Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg – ranked joint 299^th in the world.
19. Universität Köln – ranked joint 306^th in the world.
20. Universität Jena – ranked joint 326^th in the world.
    

    And the rest…

21. Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster – ranked joint 329^th in the world.
22. Universität Ulm – ranked joint 332^nd in the world, up 25 places.
23. Universität Mannheim – ranked joint 338^th in the world, up 50 places.
24. Ruhr-Universität Bochum – ranked 372^nd in the world.
25. Universität Konstanz – ranked joint 397^th in the world.
26. Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz – ranked joint 407^th in the world.
27. Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel – ranked joint 453^rd in the world.
28. Universität des Saarlandes – ranked joint 461^st in the world.
29. Universität Hohenheim – ranked joint 495^th in the world.
30. Technische Universität Braunschweig – ranked joint 500^th in the world.

After the global top 500, the remaining universities are ranked in ranges, starting at 501-510 and continuing to 801-1000.

31. Universität Bremen – ranked 511-520 in the world.
32. Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg – ranked 521-530 in the world.

=33. Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen – ranked 551-560 in the world.

=33. Leibniz Universität Hannover – ranked 551-560 in the world.

35. Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg – ranked 561-570 in the world.
36. Universität Regensburg – ranked 571-580 in the world.
37. Universität Leipzig – ranked 581-590 in the world.

The next four top German universities are ranked 601-650 in the world, making them joint 38^th in Germany:

=38. Philipps-Universität Marburg

=38. Universität Bayreuth

=38. Universität Duisburg-Essen

=38. Universität Potsdam

The final four top universities in Germany are in the 701-750 range, which means they’re ranked joint 42^nd in Germany:

=42. Technische Universität Dortmund

=42. Universität Bielefeld

=42. Universität Düsseldorf

=42. Universität Rostock – up from 801-1000 last year.

To learn more about studying in Germany, download our complete guide, which includes advice on applications, tuition fees, studying in English, student visas and more.