100 Best Art & Design schools in Germany

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Art & Design. A graph of 6.47M citations received by 282K academic papers made by 162 universities in Germany was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Art & Design

#43 in Europe

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 44,000
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1868

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Art & Design

#48 in Europe

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 52,418
Founded: 1472

3. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Art & Design

#56 in Europe

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,413
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1386

4. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Art & Design

#64 in Europe

#183 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Art & Design

#68 in Europe

#199 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

6. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Art & Design

#75 in Europe

#211 in the World

Enrollment: 28,238
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1477

7. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Art & Design

#77 in Europe

#213 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

8. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#78 in Europe

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 37,908
Founded: 1948

9. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Art & Design

#86 in Europe

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 39,658
Founded: 1743

10. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Art & Design

#101 in Europe

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

11. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Art & Design

#107 in Europe

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Enrollment: 23,321
Founded: 2009

12. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#108 in Europe

#283 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

13. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Art & Design

#112 in Europe

#293 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

14. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Art & Design

#120 in Europe

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 23,938
Founded: 1457

15. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Art & Design

#121 in Europe

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 38,043
Founded: 1818

16. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#123 in Europe

#313 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

17. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Art & Design

#127 in Europe

#327 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

18. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Art & Design

#129 in Europe

#332 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

19. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Art & Design

#142 in Europe

#363 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

20. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Art & Design

#145 in Europe

#373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 33,132
Founded: 1946

21. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Art & Design

#151 in Europe

#382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 43,728
Founded: 1780

22. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Art & Design

#163 in Europe

#403 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

23. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Art & Design

#166 in Europe

#410 in the World

Enrollment: 27,149
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1402

24. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Art & Design

#179 in Europe

#432 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

25. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Art & Design

#193 in Europe

#473 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

26. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Art & Design

#194 in Europe

#474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,250
Founded: 1948

27. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Art & Design

#199 in Europe

#485 in the World

Enrollment: 10,939
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1966

28. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Art & Design

#200 in Europe

#489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 31,088
Founded: 1409

29. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Art & Design

#205 in Europe

#499 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

30. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Art & Design

#209 in Europe

#512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 17,345
Founded: 1558

31. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Art & Design

#210 in Europe

#514 in the World

Enrollment: 37,473
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1965

32. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Art & Design

#217 in Europe

#529 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 23,342
Founded: 1969

33. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Art & Design

#224 in Europe

#541 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

34. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Art & Design

#236 in Europe

#569 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

35. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Art & Design

#239 in Europe

#577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 34,616
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1968

36. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Art & Design

#240 in Europe

#580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 17,794
Founded: 1745

37. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Art & Design

#252 in Europe

#603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 27,184
Founded: 1607

38. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Art & Design

#260 in Europe

#621 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

39. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#284 in Europe

#680 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

40. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Art & Design

#287 in Europe

#686 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

41. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Art & Design

#290 in Europe

#696 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

42. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Art & Design

#293 in Europe

#706 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

43. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Art & Design

#296 in Europe

#715 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

44. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Art & Design

#301 in Europe

#724 in the World

Enrollment: 13,607
Male:Female: 60:40
Founded: 1970

45. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Art & Design

#303 in Europe

#735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 19,110
Founded: 1972

46. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Art & Design

#305 in Europe

#746 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

47. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Art & Design

#308 in Europe

#750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 12,773
Founded: 1972

48. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Art & Design

#316 in Europe

#774 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

49. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Art & Design

#324 in Europe

#790 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 19,975
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1970

50. University of Kassel

For Art & Design

#329 in Europe

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 21,352
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1971

51. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Art & Design

#330 in Europe

#800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 19,387
Founded: 1817

52. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Art & Design

#340 in Europe

#827 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

53. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Art & Design

#344 in Europe

#845 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

54. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Art & Design

#348 in Europe

#854 in the World

Enrollment: 12,996
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1419

55. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Art & Design

#354 in Europe

#885 in the World

Enrollment: 8,392
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1818

56. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Art & Design

#382 in Europe

#968 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

57. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Art & Design

#406 in Europe

#1047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 11,564
Founded: 1970

58. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Art & Design

#419 in Europe

#1074 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

59. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Art & Design

#425 in Europe

#1089 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

60. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Art & Design

#442 in Europe

#1138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 11,846
Founded: 1973

61. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Art & Design

#444 in Europe

#1148 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

62. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Art & Design

#454 in Europe

#1175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1972

63. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Art & Design

#456 in Europe

#1183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 3,843
Founded: 1965

64. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Art & Design

#459 in Europe

#1187 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

65. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Art & Design

#460 in Europe

#1188 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

66. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Art & Design

#461 in Europe

#1190 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

67. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Art & Design

#481 in Europe

#1247 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

68. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Art & Design

#496 in Europe

#1303 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 1,084
Founded: 1973

69. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Art & Design

#497 in Europe

#1313 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

70. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Art & Design

#514 in Europe

#1368 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

71. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Art & Design

#536 in Europe

#1468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 6,052
Founded: 1994

72. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Art & Design

#556 in Europe

#1538 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

73. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Art & Design

#570 in Europe

#1594 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

74. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Art & Design

#600 in Europe

#1727 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

75. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Art & Design

#605 in Europe

#1751 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 3,446
Founded: 1775

76. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Art & Design

#621 in Europe

#1814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 2,894
Founded: 1982

77. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Art & Design

#631 in Europe

#1855 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 13,671
Founded: 1971

78. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Art & Design

#641 in Europe

#1896 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

79. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Art & Design

#644 in Europe

#1906 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 7,280
Founded: 2013

80. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Art & Design

#667 in Europe

#2026 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 4,910
Founded: 1980

81. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Art & Design

#669 in Europe

#2033 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1947

82. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Art & Design

#671 in Europe

#2039 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

83. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Art & Design

#693 in Europe

#2135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,210
Founded: 1991

84. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Art & Design

#729 in Europe

#2338 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

85. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Art & Design

#739 in Europe

#2398 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

86. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Art & Design

#744 in Europe

#2425 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

87. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#759 in Europe

#2528 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

88. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Art & Design

#794 in Europe

#2724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

89. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#798 in Europe

#2762 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

90. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Art & Design

#810 in Europe

#2813 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

91. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#815 in Europe

#2838 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

92. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Art & Design

#818 in Europe

#2852 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

93. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Art & Design

#828 in Europe

#2905 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 2,274
Founded: 1778

94. Berlin University of the Arts

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#856 in Europe

#3061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 4,201
Founded: 1975

95. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Art & Design

#867 in Europe

#3115 in the World

Enrollment: 2,295
Founded: 1897

96. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Art & Design

#871 in Europe

#3138 in the World

Enrollment: 5,333
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1946

97. Bremen University of Applied Sciences

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Art & Design

#879 in Europe

#3211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 8,672
Founded: 1982

98. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Art & Design

#880 in Europe

#3212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 8,371
Founded: 1878

99. Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Sankt Augustin

For Art & Design

#882 in Europe

#3222 in the World

Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1995

100. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For Art & Design

#896 in Europe

#3301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,700
Founded: 1855

The best cities to study Art & Design in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Munich, Heidelberg, Hamburg, and Frankfurt.