99 Best universities for Literature in Germany

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 1.01M citations received by 66.3K academic papers made by 99 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

#50 in Europe

#145 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

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 37,608
Founded: 1948

3. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Literature

#63 in Europe

#177 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

4. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#64 in Europe

#178 in the World

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

5. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#68 in Europe

#189 in the World

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

6. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#74 in Europe

#207 in the World

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

7. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#80 in Europe

#217 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

8. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Literature

#81 in Europe

#221 in the World

Enrollment: 27,770
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1477

9. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#93 in Europe

#249 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

10. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Literature

#112 in Europe

#290 in the World

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

11. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#127 in Europe

#322 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

12. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Literature

#128 in Europe

#324 in the World

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

13. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Literature

#130 in Europe

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 38,878
Founded: 1743

14. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Literature

#135 in Europe

#332 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

15. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Literature

#136 in Europe

#333 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

16. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Literature

#144 in Europe

#353 in the World

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

17. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Literature

#145 in Europe

#356 in the World

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

18. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Literature

#150 in Europe

#369 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

19. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Literature

#152 in Europe

#375 in the World

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

20. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#157 in Europe

#381 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Literature

#164 in Europe

#399 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Literature

#171 in Europe

#414 in the World

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

23. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Literature

#175 in Europe

#421 in the World

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

24. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Literature

#177 in Europe

#425 in the World

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

25. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Literature

#191 in Europe

#460 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,604
Founded: 1948

26. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Literature

#201 in Europe

#481 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

27. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Literature

#204 in Europe

#488 in the World

Enrollment: 10,964
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1966

28. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Literature

#207 in Europe

#496 in the World

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

29. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Literature

#211 in Europe

#500 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

30. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Literature

#223 in Europe

#530 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

31. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Literature

#224 in Europe

#532 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

32. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Literature

#227 in Europe

#537 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

33. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Literature

#231 in Europe

#549 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

34. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Literature

#236 in Europe

#558 in the World

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

35. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Literature

#246 in Europe

#580 in the World

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

36. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Literature

#247 in Europe

#582 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

37. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Literature

#253 in Europe

#594 in the World

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

38. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#262 in Europe

#622 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

39. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Literature

#272 in Europe

#639 in the World

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

40. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Literature

#273 in Europe

#641 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

41. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Literature

#275 in Europe

#649 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

42. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Literature

#277 in Europe

#652 in the World

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

43. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Literature

#282 in Europe

#659 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

44. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#289 in Europe

#670 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

45. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Literature

#292 in Europe

#680 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

46. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Literature

#296 in Europe

#694 in the World

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

47. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Literature

#301 in Europe

#706 in the World

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

48. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Literature

#307 in Europe

#725 in the World

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

49. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Literature

#312 in Europe

#734 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

50. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Literature

#314 in Europe

#741 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

51. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Literature

#318 in Europe

#758 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

52. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Literature

#325 in Europe

#782 in the World

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

53. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Literature

#329 in Europe

#795 in the World

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

54. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Literature

#355 in Europe

#882 in the World

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

55. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#363 in Europe

#909 in the World

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

56. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Literature

#384 in Europe

#987 in the World

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

57. University of Kassel

For Literature

#404 in Europe

#1033 in the World

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

58. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Literature

#406 in Europe

#1035 in the World

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

59. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Literature

#412 in Europe

#1055 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

60. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#422 in Europe

#1091 in the World

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

61. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Literature

#436 in Europe

#1145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1972

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Literature

#455 in Europe

#1203 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Literature

#494 in Europe

#1329 in the World

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

64. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Literature

#514 in Europe

#1418 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

65. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Literature

#518 in Europe

#1439 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

66. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Literature

#522 in Europe

#1458 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

67. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Literature

#526 in Europe

#1481 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

68. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Literature

#532 in Europe

#1512 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

69. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Literature

#534 in Europe

#1523 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

70. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Literature

#559 in Europe

#1621 in the World

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

71. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Literature

#572 in Europe

#1676 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

72. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Literature

#590 in Europe

#1746 in the World

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

73. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#592 in Europe

#1749 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

74. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Literature

#595 in Europe

#1773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 2,889
Founded: 1973

75. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Literature

#597 in Europe

#1783 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

76. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Literature

#605 in Europe

#1808 in the World

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

77. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#618 in Europe

#1857 in the World

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

78. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Literature

#634 in Europe

#1948 in the World

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

79. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Literature

#655 in Europe

#2041 in the World

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

80. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Literature

#667 in Europe

#2105 in the World

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

81. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#674 in Europe

#2139 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

82. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#680 in Europe

#2157 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

83. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Literature

#684 in Europe

#2169 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

84. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#706 in Europe

#2260 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

85. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Literature

#739 in Europe

#2443 in the World

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

86. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Literature

#740 in Europe

#2444 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

87. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Literature

#775 in Europe

#2653 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

88. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#805 in Europe

#2770 in the World

Enrollment: 11,828
Founded: 1971

89. Berlin University of the Arts

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Literature

#813 in Europe

#2822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 4,146
Founded: 1975

90. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Literature

#826 in Europe

#2880 in the World

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

91. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Literature

#874 in Europe

#3132 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

92. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Literature

#879 in Europe

#3186 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

93. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Literature

#898 in Europe

#3330 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

94. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Literature

#908 in Europe

#3362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

95. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Literature

#920 in Europe

#3437 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

96. Stuttgart Media University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Literature

#926 in Europe

#3469 in the World

Enrollment: 5,240
Founded: 1903

97. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Literature

#957 in Europe

#3685 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

98. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Literature

#973 in Europe

#3782 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

99. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Literature

#991 in Europe

#3884 in the World

Enrollment: 2,466
Founded: 1897

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