100 Best Art & Design schools in Germany

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 6.07M citations received by 276K 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

#44 in Europe

#130 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

#141 in the World

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

3. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Art & Design

#57 in Europe

#163 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

#63 in Europe

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Art & Design

#70 in Europe

#201 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

6. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Art & Design

#73 in Europe

#207 in the World

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

7. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#75 in Europe

#209 in the World

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

8. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Art & Design

#76 in Europe

#210 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

9. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Art & Design

#82 in Europe

#229 in the World

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

10. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Art & Design

#98 in Europe

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

11. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#104 in Europe

#276 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

12. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Art & Design

#107 in Europe

#279 in the World

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

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

#118 in Europe

#303 in the World

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

15. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Art & Design

#119 in Europe

#304 in the World

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

16. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#123 in Europe

#312 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

17. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Art & Design

#127 in Europe

#322 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

18. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Art & Design

#129 in Europe

#328 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

19. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Art & Design

#143 in Europe

#358 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1388

20. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Art & Design

#147 in Europe

#369 in the World

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

21. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Art & Design

#149 in Europe

#380 in the World

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

22. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Art & Design

#161 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

23. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Art & Design

#165 in Europe

#407 in the World

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

24. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Art & Design

#176 in Europe

#428 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

25. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Art & Design

#191 in Europe

#468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,300
Founded: 1948

26. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Art & Design

#192 in Europe

#469 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

27. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Art & Design

#197 in Europe

#481 in the World

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

28. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Art & Design

#199 in Europe

#485 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

#496 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

30. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Art & Design

#208 in Europe

#507 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

#509 in the World

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

32. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Art & Design

#214 in Europe

#521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 24,488
Founded: 1969

33. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Art & Design

#222 in Europe

#539 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

34. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Art & Design

#234 in Europe

#565 in the World

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

35. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Art & Design

#236 in Europe

#567 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

36. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Art & Design

#237 in Europe

#569 in the World

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

37. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Art & Design

#253 in Europe

#601 in the World

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

38. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Art & Design

#256 in Europe

#608 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

39. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#285 in Europe

#683 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

40. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Art & Design

#286 in Europe

#685 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

41. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Art & Design

#288 in Europe

#690 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

42. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Art & Design

#290 in Europe

#694 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

43. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Art & Design

#296 in Europe

#716 in the World

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

44. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Art & Design

#298 in Europe

#718 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

45. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Art & Design

#300 in Europe

#727 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

#742 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

47. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Art & Design

#306 in Europe

#745 in the World

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

48. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Art & Design

#315 in Europe

#774 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

49. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Art & Design

#321 in Europe

#786 in the World

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

50. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Art & Design

#322 in Europe

#788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,390
Founded: 1817

51. University of Kassel

For Art & Design

#326 in Europe

#800 in the World

Enrollment: 25,043
Male:Female: 50:50
Founded: 1971

52. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Art & Design

#334 in Europe

#809 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

53. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Art & Design

#342 in Europe

#841 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

54. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Art & Design

#344 in Europe

#844 in the World

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

55. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Art & Design

#353 in Europe

#882 in the World

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

56. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Art & Design

#382 in Europe

#963 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

57. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Art & Design

#404 in Europe

#1036 in the World

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

58. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Art & Design

#415 in Europe

#1070 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

59. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Art & Design

#422 in Europe

#1086 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

60. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Art & Design

#436 in Europe

#1129 in the World

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

61. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Art & Design

#446 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

62. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Art & Design

#447 in Europe

#1159 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

63. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Art & Design

#453 in Europe

#1170 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

64. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Art & Design

#454 in Europe

#1173 in the World

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

65. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Art & Design

#457 in Europe

#1177 in the World

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

66. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Art & Design

#465 in Europe

#1197 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

67. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Art & Design

#482 in Europe

#1242 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

68. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Art & Design

#499 in Europe

#1302 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

69. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Art & Design

#502 in Europe

#1310 in the World

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

70. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Art & Design

#511 in Europe

#1355 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

71. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Art & Design

#540 in Europe

#1475 in the World

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

72. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Art & Design

#556 in Europe

#1536 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

73. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Art & Design

#557 in Europe

#1540 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1971

74. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Art & Design

#591 in Europe

#1698 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

75. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Art & Design

#596 in Europe

#1722 in the World

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

76. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Art & Design

#616 in Europe

#1799 in the World

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

77. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Art & Design

#623 in Europe

#1815 in the World

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

78. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Art & Design

#641 in Europe

#1886 in the World

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

79. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Art & Design

#642 in Europe

#1898 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

80. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Art & Design

#659 in Europe

#2001 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

81. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Art & Design

#660 in Europe

#2004 in the World

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

82. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Art & Design

#676 in Europe

#2065 in the World

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

83. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Art & Design

#688 in Europe

#2132 in the World

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

84. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Art & Design

#717 in Europe

#2296 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

85. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Art & Design

#731 in Europe

#2387 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

86. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Art & Design

#750 in Europe

#2465 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

87. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#756 in Europe

#2510 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

88. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Art & Design

#792 in Europe

#2732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

89. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#794 in Europe

#2734 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

90. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Art & Design

#800 in Europe

#2776 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

91. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#804 in Europe

#2794 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

92. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Art & Design

#810 in Europe

#2817 in the World

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

93. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Art & Design

#818 in Europe

#2857 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

94. Berlin University of the Arts

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Art & Design

#843 in Europe

#3018 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

#3139 in the World

Enrollment: 2,295
Founded: 1897

96. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Art & Design

#872 in Europe

#3169 in the World

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

97. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Art & Design

#873 in Europe

#3172 in the World

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

98. Bremen University of Applied Sciences

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Art & Design

#878 in Europe

#3201 in the World

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

99. Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Sankt Augustin

For Art & Design

#886 in Europe

#3249 in the World

Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1995

100. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For Art & Design

#893 in Europe

#3284 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.