29 Best universities for Graphic Design 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 Graphic Design. A graph of 133K citations received by 3.37K academic papers made by 29 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 Graphic Design

#4 in Europe

#26 in the World

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

2. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Graphic Design

#11 in Europe

#52 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

3. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Graphic Design

#25 in Europe

#96 in the World

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

4. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Graphic Design

#27 in Europe

#98 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

5. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Graphic Design

#34 in Europe

#114 in the World

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

6. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Graphic Design

#36 in Europe

#117 in the World

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

7. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Graphic Design

#47 in Europe

#142 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

8. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Graphic Design

#48 in Europe

#143 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

9. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Graphic Design

#53 in Europe

#156 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

10. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Graphic Design

#56 in Europe

#167 in the World

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

11. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Graphic Design

#58 in Europe

#173 in the World

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

12. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Graphic Design

#63 in Europe

#185 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

13. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Graphic Design

#72 in Europe

#204 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

14. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Graphic Design

#77 in Europe

#219 in the World

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

15. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Graphic Design

#86 in Europe

#237 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

16. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Graphic Design

#90 in Europe

#244 in the World

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

17. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Graphic Design

#91 in Europe

#249 in the World

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

18. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Graphic Design

#92 in Europe

#252 in the World

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

19. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Graphic Design

#100 in Europe

#265 in the World

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

20. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Graphic Design

#114 in Europe

#303 in the World

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

21. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Graphic Design

#116 in Europe

#307 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

22. University of Kassel

For Graphic Design

#123 in Europe

#323 in the World

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

23. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Graphic Design

#125 in Europe

#328 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

24. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Graphic Design

#138 in Europe

#367 in the World

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

25. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Graphic Design

#139 in Europe

#375 in the World

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

26. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Graphic Design

#142 in Europe

#385 in the World

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

27. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Graphic Design

#153 in Europe

#410 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

28. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Graphic Design

#158 in Europe

#424 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

29. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Graphic Design

#162 in Europe

#431 in the World

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

The best cities to study Graphic Design in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Munich, Darmstadt, Heidelberg, and Stuttgart.