100 Best universities for Literature 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 Literature. A graph of 1.51M citations received by 76.5K academic papers made by 103 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

#156 in the World

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

2. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#56 in Europe

#162 in the World

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

3. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#59 in Europe

#167 in the World

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

4. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Literature

#68 in Europe

#188 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

5. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#71 in Europe

#196 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

#80 in Europe

#218 in the World

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

8. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#85 in Europe

#227 in the World

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

9. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#88 in Europe

#238 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

10. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Literature

#106 in Europe

#279 in the World

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

11. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Literature

#112 in Europe

#292 in the World

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

12. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Literature

#122 in Europe

#312 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

13. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Literature

#127 in Europe

#320 in the World

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

14. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Literature

#137 in Europe

#338 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

15. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Literature

#146 in Europe

#359 in the World

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

16. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Literature

#149 in Europe

#364 in the World

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

17. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#150 in Europe

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

18. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Literature

#152 in Europe

#373 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

19. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Literature

#153 in Europe

#374 in the World

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

20. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Literature

#160 in Europe

#388 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

21. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Literature

#163 in Europe

#394 in the World

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

22. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#166 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

23. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Literature

#180 in Europe

#433 in the World

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

24. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Literature

#190 in Europe

#451 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

25. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Literature

#194 in Europe

#464 in the World

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

26. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Literature

#205 in Europe

#492 in the World

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

27. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Literature

#209 in Europe

#497 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

#509 in the World

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

29. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Literature

#219 in Europe

#519 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

30. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Literature

#227 in Europe

#539 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

31. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Literature

#234 in Europe

#553 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

32. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Literature

#242 in Europe

#566 in the World

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

33. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Literature

#244 in Europe

#569 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

34. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Literature

#246 in Europe

#581 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

35. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Literature

#264 in Europe

#627 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

36. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#265 in Europe

#628 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

37. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Literature

#275 in Europe

#648 in the World

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

38. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#276 in Europe

#651 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

39. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Literature

#277 in Europe

#652 in the World

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

40. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Literature

#283 in Europe

#671 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

41. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Literature

#287 in Europe

#677 in the World

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

42. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Literature

#299 in Europe

#719 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

43. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Literature

#301 in Europe

#722 in the World

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

44. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Literature

#302 in Europe

#723 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

45. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Literature

#304 in Europe

#726 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

46. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Literature

#308 in Europe

#740 in the World

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

47. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Literature

#316 in Europe

#762 in the World

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

48. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Literature

#319 in Europe

#770 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

49. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Literature

#320 in Europe

#773 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

50. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Literature

#324 in Europe

#790 in the World

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

51. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Literature

#341 in Europe

#856 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

52. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Literature

#343 in Europe

#859 in the World

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

53. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Literature

#349 in Europe

#871 in the World

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

54. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Literature

#365 in Europe

#923 in the World

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

55. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#382 in Europe

#974 in the World

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

56. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#407 in Europe

#1071 in the World

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

57. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Literature

#416 in Europe

#1098 in the World

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

58. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Literature

#419 in Europe

#1103 in the World

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

59. University of Kassel

For Literature

#423 in Europe

#1120 in the World

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

60. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Literature

#440 in Europe

#1175 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

61. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Literature

#448 in Europe

#1197 in the World

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

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Literature

#473 in Europe

#1287 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Literature

#496 in Europe

#1364 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

64. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Literature

#519 in Europe

#1465 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

65. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Literature

#537 in Europe

#1524 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

66. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Literature

#543 in Europe

#1556 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

67. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Literature

#550 in Europe

#1610 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

68. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Literature

#563 in Europe

#1658 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

69. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Literature

#592 in Europe

#1794 in the World

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

70. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#606 in Europe

#1845 in the World

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

71. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Literature

#607 in Europe

#1847 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

72. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Literature

#617 in Europe

#1893 in the World

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

73. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#637 in Europe

#1980 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

74. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Literature

#640 in Europe

#1991 in the World

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

75. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#644 in Europe

#2010 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

76. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#647 in Europe

#2026 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

77. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Literature

#654 in Europe

#2065 in the World

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

78. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Literature

#663 in Europe

#2104 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

79. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Literature

#666 in Europe

#2132 in the World

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

80. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Literature

#677 in Europe

#2177 in the World

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

81. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#688 in Europe

#2213 in the World

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

82. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Literature

#714 in Europe

#2302 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

83. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Literature

#728 in Europe

#2360 in the World

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

84. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Literature

#742 in Europe

#2438 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

85. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Literature

#753 in Europe

#2492 in the World

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

86. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Literature

#759 in Europe

#2520 in the World

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

87. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Literature

#805 in Europe

#2778 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

88. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#823 in Europe

#2862 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

89. Berlin University of the Arts

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#831 in Europe

#2920 in the World

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

90. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#843 in Europe

#3008 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

91. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#853 in Europe

#3073 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

92. Stuttgart Media University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#882 in Europe

#3240 in the World

Enrollment: 5,240
Founded: 1903

93. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#891 in Europe

#3288 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

94. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#901 in Europe

#3330 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

95. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Literature

#902 in Europe

#3340 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

96. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Literature

#912 in Europe

#3400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

97. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Literature

#948 in Europe

#3620 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

98. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#970 in Europe

#3748 in the World

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

99. Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

Saxony | Leipzig

For Literature

#980 in Europe

#3808 in the World

Enrollment: 6,111
Founded: 1992

100. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Literature

#1001 in Europe

#3919 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

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