Best Universities for Biology in Europe

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Europe ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 475M citations received by 16.2M academic papers made by 1,445 universities in Europe 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.

1. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#1 in the United Kingdom

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

2. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#2 in the United Kingdom

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#3 in the United Kingdom

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Biology

#1 in Sweden

#31 in the World

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

5. Heidelberg University - Germany

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Biology

#35 in the World

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

6. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#4 in the United Kingdom

#38 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. Pierre and Marie Curie University

France | Ile-de-France

For Biology

#1 in France

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

8. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Biology

#47 in the World

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

9. Lund University

For Biology

#2 in Sweden

#51 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

10. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Biology

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

11. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#5 in the United Kingdom

#57 in the World

Founded: 1824

12. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Biology

#6 in the United Kingdom

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

13. University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Biology

#70 in the World

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

14. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Biology

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

15. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Biology

#1 in the Netherlands

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

16. Radboud University

Netherlands | Nijmegen

For Biology

#2 in the Netherlands

#78 in the World

Founded: 1923

17. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Biology

#3 in the Netherlands

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

18. University of Milan

Italy | Lombardy

For Biology

#1 in Italy

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 65,234
Founded: 1924

19. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#7 in the United Kingdom

#87 in the World

Founded: 1829

20. University of Zurich

Switzerland | Zurich

For Biology

#1 in Switzerland

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 25,732

21. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#8 in the United Kingdom

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

22. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

Switzerland | Zurich

For Biology

#2 in Switzerland

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 23,420

23. Uppsala University

Sweden | Uppsala

For Biology

#3 in Sweden

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 35,556
Founded: 1477

24. University of Groningen

Netherlands | Groningen

For Biology

#4 in the Netherlands

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1614

25. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Germany | Brandenburg

For Biology

#104 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

26. Technical University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Biology

#106 in the World

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

27. University of Barcelona

Spain | Barcelona

For Biology

#1 in Spain

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 64,236
Male:Female: 86:14

28. Ghent University

Belgium | Ghent

For Biology

#112 in the World

Enrollment: 41,669
Founded: 1817

29. University of Padua

For Biology

#2 in Italy

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 62,876
Founded: 1222

30. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#9 in the United Kingdom

#118 in the World

Founded: 1900

31. Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Switzerland | Lausanne

For Biology

#3 in Switzerland

#120 in the World

Enrollment: 12,576

32. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#10 in the United Kingdom

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

33. Sapienza University of Rome

For Biology

#3 in Italy

#125 in the World

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

34. University of Tubingen

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Biology

#126 in the World

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

35. University of Bologna

Italy | Emilia-Romagna

For Biology

#4 in Italy

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 79,999
Founded: 1088

36. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Biology

#11 in the United Kingdom

#131 in the World

Founded: 1451

37. University of Sheffield

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#12 in the United Kingdom

#137 in the World

Founded: 1905

38. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#13 in the United Kingdom

#139 in the World

Founded: 1948

39. University of Hamburg

Germany | Hamburg State

For Biology

#141 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

40. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

France | Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

For Biology

#2 in France

#143 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

41. University of Oslo

For Biology

#1 in Norway

#145 in the World

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

42. University of Bern

Switzerland | Bern

For Biology

#4 in Switzerland

#146 in the World

Enrollment: 18,576

43. University of Leeds

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#14 in the United Kingdom

#147 in the World

Founded: 1904

44. University of Gottingen

Germany | Lower Saxony

For Biology

#149 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

45. Wageningen University

Netherlands | Wageningen

For Biology

#5 in the Netherlands

#153 in the World

Enrollment: 12,819
Founded: 1918

46. University of Freiburg

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Biology

#154 in the World

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

47. University of Gothenburg

Sweden | Gothenburg

For Biology

#4 in Sweden

#156 in the World

Enrollment: 36,003
Founded: 1891

48. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Germany | Hesse

For Biology

#159 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

49. Aarhus University

Denmark | Aarhus

For Biology

#165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 33,020
Founded: 1928

50. Newcastle University

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#15 in the United Kingdom

#167 in the World

Founded: 1963

51. University of Vienna

Austria | Vienna

For Biology

#168 in the World

Enrollment: 93,628
Founded: 1365

52. Leiden University

Netherlands | Leiden

For Biology

#6 in the Netherlands

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 27,713
Founded: 1575

53. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Biology

#10 in Germany

#176 in the World

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

54. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Germany | Bavaria

For Biology

#11 in Germany

#177 in the World

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

55. Federico II University of Naples

Italy | Campania

For Biology

#5 in Italy

#178 in the World

Enrollment: 73,553
Founded: 1224

56. University of Southampton

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#16 in the United Kingdom

#184 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

57. University of Bonn

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Biology

#12 in Germany

#185 in the World

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

58. University of Basel

Switzerland | Basel

For Biology

#5 in Switzerland

#188 in the World

Enrollment: 12,896

59. Free University of Berlin

Germany | Brandenburg

For Biology

#13 in Germany

#190 in the World

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

60. Polytechnic University of Bari

For Biology

#6 in Italy

#191 in the World

Founded: 1990

61. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Germany | Rhineland-Palatinate

For Biology

#14 in Germany

#192 in the World

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

62. University of Wurzburg

Germany | Bavaria

For Biology

#15 in Germany

#193 in the World

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

63. University of Geneva

Switzerland | Geneva

For Biology

#6 in Switzerland

#195 in the World

Enrollment: 17,744

64. University of Florence

Italy | Tuscany

For Biology

#7 in Italy

#196 in the World

Founded: 1321

65. University of Liege

Belgium | Liege

For Biology

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 25,421
Founded: 1817

66. University of Turin

Italy | Piedmont

For Biology

#8 in Italy

#204 in the World

Founded: 1404

67. Technical University of Denmark

Denmark | Kongens Lyngby

For Biology

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1829

68. University of Cologne

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Biology

#16 in Germany

#211 in the World

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

69. University of Munster

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Biology

#17 in Germany

#215 in the World

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

70. University of Lausanne

Switzerland | Lausanne

For Biology

#7 in Switzerland

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 16,919

71. Hannover Medical School

Germany | Lower Saxony

For Biology

#18 in Germany

#221 in the World

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

72. RWTH Aachen University

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Biology

#19 in Germany

#222 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

73. Autonomous University of Barcelona

Spain | Cerdanyola del Valles

For Biology

#2 in Spain

#224 in the World

Enrollment: 30,926

74. Medical University of Vienna

Austria | Vienna

For Biology

#226 in the World

Enrollment: 7,915
Founded: 2004

75. University of Pisa

Italy | Tuscany

For Biology

#9 in Italy

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 49,108
Founded: 1343

76. Paris-Sud University

France | Ile-de-France

For Biology

#3 in France

#228 in the World

Enrollment: 31,400
Founded: 2014

77. Autonomous University of Madrid

For Biology

#3 in Spain

#230 in the World

Founded: 1968

78. Delft University of Technology

Netherlands | Delft

For Biology

#7 in the Netherlands

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 24,703
Founded: 1842

79. Stockholm University

Sweden | Stockholm

For Biology

#5 in Sweden

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 37,484
Founded: 1878

80. University of Dundee

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Biology

#17 in the United Kingdom

#236 in the World

Founded: 1967

81. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Greece | Athens

For Biology

#1 in Greece

#237 in the World

Enrollment: 70,461
Founded: 1837

82. University of Montpellier

France | Occitanie

For Biology

#4 in France

#239 in the World

Enrollment: 46,578
Founded: 1289

83. Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands | Rotterdam

For Biology

#8 in the Netherlands

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

84. Complutense University of Madrid

For Biology

#4 in Spain

#243 in the World

Enrollment: 71,806
Founded: 1508

85. Umea University

For Biology

#6 in Sweden

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 34,237
Founded: 1965

86. Humboldt University of Berlin

Germany | Brandenburg

For Biology

#20 in Germany

#248 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

87. University of Marburg

Germany | Hesse

For Biology

#21 in Germany

#250 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

88. Moscow State University

Russia | Moscow

For Biology

#1 in Russia

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1755

89. University of Aberdeen

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Biology

#18 in the United Kingdom

#252 in the World

Founded: 1495

90. Cardiff University

United Kingdom | Wales

For Biology

#19 in the United Kingdom

#254 in the World

Founded: 1997

91. Free University Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Biology

#9 in the Netherlands

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1880

92. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Sweden | Uppsala

For Biology

#7 in Sweden

#260 in the World

Enrollment: 5,675
Founded: 1977

93. University of Porto

Portugal | Porto

For Biology

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 29,178
Founded: 1911

94. Catholic University of Louvain

Belgium | Louvain-la-Neuve

For Biology

#264 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1425

95. University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#20 in the United Kingdom

#265 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

96. Queen Mary University of London

United Kingdom | England

For Biology

#21 in the United Kingdom

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

97. Maastricht University

Netherlands | Maastricht

For Biology

#10 in the Netherlands

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

98. Charles University

Czech Republic | Prague

For Biology

#1 in the Czech Republic

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 49,508
Founded: 1348

99. University of Bergen

Norway | Bergen

For Biology

#2 in Norway

#278 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1946

100. University of Ulm

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Biology

#22 in Germany

#279 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967