100 Best universities for Literature 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 Literature. A graph of 1.65M citations received by 78.8K academic papers made by 104 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. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Literature

#53 in Europe

#157 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#57 in Europe

#164 in the World

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

3. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#58 in Europe

#166 in the World

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

4. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Literature

#69 in Europe

#188 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

5. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#71 in Europe

#195 in the World

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

6. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#77 in Europe

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

7. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Literature

#81 in Europe

#221 in the World

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

8. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#87 in Europe

#233 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

9. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#89 in Europe

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

10. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Literature

#109 in Europe

#287 in the World

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

11. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Literature

#114 in Europe

#299 in the World

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

12. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Literature

#125 in Europe

#315 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

13. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Literature

#129 in Europe

#322 in the World

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

14. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Literature

#140 in Europe

#340 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

15. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Literature

#149 in Europe

#360 in the World

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

16. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Literature

#150 in Europe

#365 in the World

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

17. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#151 in Europe

#372 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

18. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Literature

#154 in Europe

#378 in the World

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

19. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Literature

#156 in Europe

#381 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

20. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Literature

#162 in Europe

#394 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

21. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Literature

#166 in Europe

#403 in the World

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

22. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#170 in Europe

#414 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

23. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Literature

#180 in Europe

#434 in the World

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

24. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Literature

#190 in Europe

#458 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

25. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Literature

#194 in Europe

#468 in the World

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

26. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Literature

#209 in Europe

#499 in the World

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

27. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Literature

#210 in Europe

#500 in the World

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

28. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Literature

#215 in Europe

#515 in the World

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

29. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Literature

#219 in Europe

#525 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

30. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Literature

#228 in Europe

#540 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

31. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Literature

#238 in Europe

#558 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

32. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Literature

#241 in Europe

#564 in the World

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

33. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Literature

#244 in Europe

#571 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

34. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Literature

#247 in Europe

#580 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

35. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Literature

#263 in Europe

#627 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

36. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#268 in Europe

#634 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

37. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Literature

#275 in Europe

#646 in the World

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

38. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#276 in Europe

#647 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

39. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Literature

#278 in Europe

#650 in the World

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

40. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Literature

#286 in Europe

#673 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

41. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Literature

#291 in Europe

#694 in the World

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

42. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Literature

#301 in Europe

#730 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

43. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Literature

#302 in Europe

#731 in the World

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

44. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Literature

#306 in Europe

#737 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

45. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Literature

#307 in Europe

#740 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

46. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Literature

#311 in Europe

#748 in the World

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

47. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Literature

#317 in Europe

#766 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

48. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Literature

#321 in Europe

#772 in the World

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

49. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Literature

#324 in Europe

#789 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

50. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Literature

#327 in Europe

#802 in the World

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

51. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Literature

#339 in Europe

#852 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

52. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Literature

#346 in Europe

#868 in the World

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

53. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Literature

#351 in Europe

#877 in the World

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

54. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Literature

#370 in Europe

#937 in the World

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

55. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#379 in Europe

#977 in the World

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

56. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#408 in Europe

#1072 in the World

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

57. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Literature

#417 in Europe

#1102 in the World

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

58. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Literature

#422 in Europe

#1117 in the World

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

59. University of Kassel

For Literature

#424 in Europe

#1128 in the World

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

60. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Literature

#440 in Europe

#1176 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

61. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Literature

#455 in Europe

#1213 in the World

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

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Literature

#471 in Europe

#1268 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Literature

#499 in Europe

#1389 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

64. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Literature

#521 in Europe

#1460 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

65. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Literature

#537 in Europe

#1527 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

66. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Literature

#541 in Europe

#1553 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

67. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Literature

#550 in Europe

#1581 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

68. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Literature

#562 in Europe

#1651 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

69. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#588 in Europe

#1771 in the World

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

70. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Literature

#594 in Europe

#1813 in the World

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

71. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Literature

#616 in Europe

#1894 in the World

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

72. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Literature

#625 in Europe

#1921 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

73. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#636 in Europe

#1967 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

74. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Literature

#637 in Europe

#1978 in the World

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

75. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#638 in Europe

#1993 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

76. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#641 in Europe

#2000 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

77. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Literature

#657 in Europe

#2063 in the World

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

78. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Literature

#669 in Europe

#2117 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

79. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Literature

#688 in Europe

#2211 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

80. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Literature

#689 in Europe

#2214 in the World

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

81. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#718 in Europe

#2322 in the World

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

82. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Literature

#724 in Europe

#2350 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

83. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Literature

#747 in Europe

#2447 in the World

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

84. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Literature

#750 in Europe

#2459 in the World

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

85. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Literature

#751 in Europe

#2460 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

86. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Literature

#761 in Europe

#2519 in the World

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

87. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Literature

#817 in Europe

#2829 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

88. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#837 in Europe

#2967 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

89. Berlin University of the Arts

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#838 in Europe

#2985 in the World

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

90. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#840 in Europe

#2989 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

91. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#848 in Europe

#3050 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

92. Stuttgart Media University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#885 in Europe

#3274 in the World

Enrollment: 5,240
Founded: 1903

93. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#891 in Europe

#3297 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

94. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#902 in Europe

#3354 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

95. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Literature

#906 in Europe

#3378 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

96. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Literature

#914 in Europe

#3426 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

97. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Literature

#961 in Europe

#3697 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

98. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#973 in Europe

#3793 in the World

Enrollment: 12,833
Male:Female: 66:34
Founded: 1971

99. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Literature

#987 in Europe

#3856 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

100. Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

Saxony | Leipzig

For Literature

#991 in Europe

#3868 in the World

Enrollment: 6,431
Founded: 1992

The best cities to study Literature in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Heidelberg, Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt.