Germany is a popular destination for international students because the German university system creates a lot of opportunities for international students which makes it one of the most promising destinations in Europe.
Located in Western European with a landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges and North Sea beaches, it has a serene environment for learning and offers high-quality education to both local and international students. The country has a large number of universities for both undergraduates and postgraduates looking to make their mark in their various career paths.
Studying in Germany
Germany enjoys a remarkable reputation for its higher education sector. There are over 400 universities in Germany, and many of them score high in international rankings among the top universities in the world. Some of these German universities offer free or low-fee tuition programs and made available to domestic and international students alike.
Whether you want to study Engineering, Medicine, Architecture, or Business, Germany is the place to be. Combining high-quality education with a unique cultural experience, living in Germany is the main reason why young people from all around the world prefer to study in Germany. In this article, we have listed the top 50 universities in Germany to help our readers easily make their choice of institution to study in Germany.
TOP 50 Universities in Germany
Technical University of Munich (TUM):
The technical university of Munich is a public research institution located in Munich. Founded in 1868. It specializes in engineering, technology, medicine, and the applied and natural sciences. This technical university is organized into 11 schools and departments, and supported by numerous centers. Official website: www.tum.de
Heidelberg University:
This university is the oldest in Germany and one of the world’s oldest surviving universities. Founded in 1386 under the instruction of pope Urban VI, this university is located in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg and it consists of twelve faculties and offers degree programs at undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels in over 100 disciplines. Official website: www.uni-heidelberg.de
See: Germany Universities to Study with Fully Funded Scholarships
Ludwig Maximilian University Munich:
This institution is a public research university located in Munich, and it is the sixth oldest university in Germany. founded in 1472, this university has over 51,000 undergraduate enrollments, and it has been conferred the title of “University of Excellence” under the German universities excellence initiative, and is a member of U15 as well as the LERU. It is also recognized as the best university in Germany. Official website: www.imu.de/en
Freie Universitat Berlin:
The university is located in Berlin and was founded in 1948. This university is recognized for its strengths in political sciences and the humanities. It is one of the leading universities in international university ranking. This university is also known as the free university of berlin and was conferred the title of “University of Excellence” under the German universities Excellence initiative. Official websites: www.fu-berlin.de
Humboldt University of Berlin:
This university is a public research university located in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. Founded in 1810, this institution is one of the oldest in Germany and it has an enrollment of over 30,000 students. It was once regarded as the world’s preeminent university for the natural sciences during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Official website: www.hu-berlin.de
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT):
This public research university is located in Karlsruhe, Germany. founded in 1865, the institute is a national research center of the Helmholtz Association. This university is among the leading technical universities in Germany and also in Europe, and strongest research in engineering and natural sciences. Official website: www.kit.edu/english
Technical University of Berlin:
This public research university is located in berlin. Founded in 1770, this institution is one of the oldest institutions in Germany and the first German university to adopt the name “Technische Universitat” (technical university). This university is notable for having been the first to offer a degree in industrial engineering and management. Official website: www.tu.berlin
RWTH Aachen University:
This university is located in Aachen Germany. founded in 1870, this university has over 40,000 undergraduates enrolled in 144 study programs. It is regarded as the largest technical university in Germany and it specializes in engineering, technology, and natural sciences. Official website: www.ruth-aachen.de
University of Freiburg:
This public research university is located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. founded in 1451. It is the fifth-oldest university in Germany, with a long tradition of teaching the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and technology. The institution is internationally recognized and it is made up of 11 faculties. Official website: www.uni-freiburg.de
University of Tubingen:
This institution is located in the big city of Tubingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Founded in 1477, this university is one of the eleven German Excellence Universities and it is especially known as a center for the study of law, archeology, ancient cultures, philosophy, theology, and religious studies as well as more recently as a center of excellence for artificial intelligence. Official website: www.uni-tuebingen.de
Technische Universitat Dresden:
This university is located in the city of Dresden, and it is the largest university in Saxony and one of the 10 largest universities in Germany with over 30,000 undergraduates in Germany. founded in 1828, this university is one of the oldest universities in Germany and is a member of TU9, a consortium of nine leading German institutes of technology. Official website: www.tu-dresden.de
University of Gottingen:
This public research university is located in the city of Gottingen, Germany. Founded in 1734, this institution has over 30,000 enrolled undergraduate students and over 600 Doctoral students. The university’s library is ranked among the best libraries in Germany. Official Website: www.uni-goettingen.de
Universitat Hamburg:
Universitat Hamburg is a public research university founded in 1919 and is located in Hamburg, Germany. It is home to over 40,000 students, and it is affiliated with the EUA, Campus Europae and German U15. Official website: www.uni-hamburg.de
University of Bonn:
This university is an elite public research university located in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Founded in 1818, this university offers many undergraduate and graduate programs in a range of subjects and it is a member of the German U15 association of major research-intensive universities in Germany and has the title of “University of Excellence”. Official website: www.uni-bonn.de
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TU Darmstadt:
This university was founded in 1877 and it became the first German university to be declared an autonomous University. Located in Darmstadt, it was the first university in the world to set up a chair in electrical engineering. This institution is assumed a pioneering role in Germany. Official Website: www.tu-darmstadt.de
University of Cologne:
This university is one of the most prestigious and research-intensive universities in Germany. established in 1388, this university has over 40,000 students enrolled and it is one of the largest universities in Germany. this university is a member of the association German U15. Official website: www.uni-koeln.de
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg:
This is a public research university located in the cities of Erlangen and Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany. It is the second largest state university in the state of Bavaria with 5 faculties, 24 departments/schools, 25 clinical departments, 21 autonomous departments, 579 professors, 3,457 members of research staff, and roughly 14,300 employees. The university is also a member of DFG and the top industrial manager for the Europe network. Official website: www.fau.eu
Goethe University Frankfurt:
This public university is located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. founded in 1914, this institution has over 40,000 students and consists of 16 faculties. This university has focused in particular on law, history, and economics. Official website: www.goethe-university-frankfurt.de
Friedrich Schiller University, Jena:
This is a public research institution located in Jena, Thuringia, Germany. Established in 1588 as the University of Jena, it was later renamed after the poet Friedrich Schiller who taught as a professor of philosophy. This institution focuses on both humanities and sciences. Official website: www.uni-jena.de
University of Stuttgart:
This university is located in Stuttgart, Germany, and is a leading research institution. Founded in 1829, It is one of the oldest technical universities in Germany with highly ranked programs in civil, mechanical, industrial, and electrical engineering among others. Official website: www.uni-stuttgart.de/en
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ULM University:
A public university founded in 1967 with its main campus located in the north of the city of Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, on a hill called Oberer Eselsberg, the institution focuses on natural sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics, economics, and computer science. Official website: www.uni-ulm.de/en
University of Wurzburg:
This public university was founded in 1402 and it is located in Wurzburg, Germany. It was named after Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn and Maximilian Joseph. It has over 20,000 students enrolled and it is part of the U15 group of research-intensive German universities. Official website: www.uni-wuerzburg.de
Ruhr University Bochum:
This university is a public research institution that is located in the southern hills of the central Ruhr area, Bochum, Germany. Founded in 1962, this institution is one of the first institutions in Germany to introduce international bachelor’s and master’s degrees, which replaced the traditional German Diploma and magister. The university offers a total of 184 different study programs from all academic fields represented at the university. Official website: www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
University of Munster:
This university is a public research insitution located in the city of Munster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. founded in 1780, this university has over 43,000 students enrolled, with over 120 fields of study in 15 departments. Regarded as the fifth largest university in Germany, this institution offers a wide range of courses across the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Official websites: www.uni-muenster.de
University of Mannheim:
This university is a public research university founded in 1967 and is located in Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. this institution is ranked as the best business school in Germany, as well as a leading institution in economics and social sciences. It is organized into five schools and two graduate colleges. Official website: www.uni-mannheim.edu
University of Mainz:
This university is a public research university located in Mainz, Rhineland Palatinate, Germany. founded in 1477, this institution was after the printer Johannes Gutenberg since 1946 and has approximately 30,000 students. This university is organized into 11 faculties of study, and it is considered one of the most prestigious universities in Germany. official website: www.uni-mainz.de
Leipzig University:
Leipzig University is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second oldest university in Germany. founded in 1409 by Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, and his brother William ii, margrave of Meissen, this institution has engaged in teaching and research for over 600 years without interruption. Official website: www.uni-leipzig.de
Saarland University:
This public research university is located in Saarbrucken, the capital of the German state of Saarland. Founded in 1948, this research institution is organized into six faculties that cover all the major fields of science. This university was recognized in 2007 as an excellence center for computer science in Germany and it has a total enrollment of over 15,000 students. official website: www.uni-saarland.de
Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg:
This public research university is also referred to as MLU and it is located in the cities of Halle and Wittenberg. Founded in 1502, this institution is known to offer courses leading to academic degrees such as BA, BSc, MA, MSc, doctoral degrees, and Habilitation. This university is named after Protestant reformer Martin Luther, who was a professor at Wittenberg. Official website: www.uni-halle.de
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Justus Liebig University:
This university is a large public research university located in Giessen, Hesse, Germany. founded in 1607, this institution is named after its most famous faculty member, Justus von Liebig. The teaching hospital of the Justus Liebig university is the only private university hospital in Germany. official website: www.uni-giessen.de
Kiel University:
Kiel University is a Christian institution located in the city of Kiel, Germany. founded in 1665, this university has over 20,000 enrolled students and alumni, and researchers of the Kiel university have won 12 Nobel prizes. this university has a great reputation for its focus on public international law. Official website: www.uni-kiel.de
See: Kiel University Scholarships for International Students in Germany
University of Konstanz:
This institution is located in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Wurttemberg. Founded in 1966, this university is one of German’s elite universities and is ranked in the top 100 worldwide universities in the field of social policy and administration in the 2020 QS world university ranking. It is widely regarded as a “small Harvard”. Official website: www.uni-konstanz.de
University of Bayreuth:
This public research university is located in the city of Bayreuth Germany. founded in 1975, it is broadly organized into seven undergraduate and graduate faculties, with each faculty defining its admission standard and academic programs in near autonomy. This university offers several interdisciplinary courses such as global change ecology, theatre and media studies, and health economics. Official website: www.uni-bayreuth.de
Technical University of Braunschweig:
This institution is commonly referred to as TU Braunschweig and it is located in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany. founded in 1745, this university focuses on aeronautics, and vehicle engineering, including autonomous driving and electric mobility, manufacturing, life sciences, and metrology. This university has its research airport. Official Website: www.tu-braunschweig.de
University of Bremen:
This institution is public research located in Bremen Germany. founded in 1971, this university is one of the 11 institutions which were successful in the category of the excellence initiative launched by the federal government and the federal state in 2012. This university enjoys a high reputation in the academic world as well as in business and industry. Official website: www.uni-bremen.de
University of Regensburg:
This university is a public research university located in the medieval city of Regensburg, Bavaria Germany. founded in 1962, this university houses eleven faculties and it focuses on law, business management, sciences, and philosophy. It has over 21,000 students enrolled. Official website: www.uni-regensburg.de/en
Leibniz University Hannover:
This university is a public research university located in Hanover, Germany. founded in 1831, this institution is one of the oldest science and technology universities in Germany and is home to over 26,000 undergraduate students. This university is named after a mathematician called Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and it has nine faculties that offer 190 full-degree programs in 38 fields of study. Official website: www.uni-hannover.de/en
University of Hohenheim:
This university is located in the south of Stuttgart, Germany. founded in 1818, this university’s initial primary area of specialization had been agricultural and natural science, but today students are enrolled in one of the many programs offered by the faculty of business, economic and social sciences. Official website: www.uni-hohenheim.de
University of Rostock:
This university is a public research university located in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. founded in 1419, this university is the third oldest university in Germany and it is the most beautiful university in Germany. Official website: www.uni-rostock.de
University of Marburg:
This university is one of Germany’s oldest universities and it is the oldest operating Protestant university in the world. It was founded in 1527 by Philip l, landgrave of Hesse and located in Marburg, Hesse, Germany. It offers international summer university programs and offers student exchange through the Erasmus Programme. Official website: www.uni-marburg.de
University of Potsdam:
This public university is located in Potsdam, the capital of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. this institution is Brandenburg’s largest university and the fourth largest in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan area. This university offers more than a hundred and fifty (150) degree programs in various fields, offered in German as well as other languages, notably English and French. Official website: www.uni-potsdam.de
Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf:
This university was founded in 1965, and was named after German poet Heinrich Heine. Located in Dusseldorf north rhine-Westphalia, Germany. this institution has over 36,000 full-time students. Official website: www.uni-duesseldorf.de
Bielefeld University:
This university is located in the city of Bielefeld, Germany. founded in 1969, this institution aims to “re-establish “the unity between research and teaching” so all its faculty teach courses in their area of research. This university also stresses focus on interdisciplinary research, helped by architecture which encloses all faculties in one great structure. Official website: www.uni-bielefield.de
TU Dortmund University:
This university is a technical university located in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1968, this university is highly ranked in terms of its research performance in the areas of physics, electrical engineering, chemistry, and economics. This university is home to over 35,000 students. Official website: www.tu-dortmund.de
University of Duisburg-Essen:
This university is a public research university located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. founded in 1654, this institution has 12 departments with over 40,000 students. This institution specializes in natural sciences and engineering. Official website: www.uni-due.de
Hamburg University of technology:
This institute of technology was founded in 1978, and it is located in Hamburg, Germany. this institute has separate administrations for teaching and for research: research is conducted in departments, while teaching is divided into schools of study. This institute specializes in technology and engineering. Official website: www.tuhh.de
University of Siegen:
This university is a public research university located in Siegen, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany. founded in 1972, this institution is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany’s leading research universities. This university has over 18,000 undergraduate students. Official website: www.uni-siegen.de
Hannover Medical School:
Hannover medical school is a university medical center located in the city of Hannover in Germany. Founded in 1961, this institute is specializing in the medical field and also in this school Ph.D. scientists and students from all over the world are involved in a variety of research projects. Official website: www.mhh.de/en/
Ilmenau University of Technology:
This university is a public research university located in Ilmenau, Thuringia, central Germany. Founded in 1894, this university focuses on the fields of technology, computer sciences, mathematics, natural sciences, business, and media. Official website: www.tu-Ilmenau
Jacobs University Bremen:
This university is an international, private, residential research university located in Vegesack, Bremen, Germany. founded in 2001, this institution offers study programs in engineering, humanities, and natural and social sciences. This university is home to over 20,000 students, with 80% foreign students. Official website: www.Jacobs-university.de
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