75 Best universities for Automotive Engineering 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 Automotive Engineering. A graph of 451K citations received by 23.4K academic papers made by 75 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.

1. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Automotive Engineering

#3 in Europe

#15 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

2. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Automotive Engineering

#10 in Europe

#43 in the World

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

3. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Automotive Engineering

#28 in Europe

#93 in the World

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

4. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Automotive Engineering

#30 in Europe

#96 in the World

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

5. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Automotive Engineering

#34 in Europe

#106 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

6. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Automotive Engineering

#39 in Europe

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

7. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Automotive Engineering

#50 in Europe

#152 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

8. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#59 in Europe

#174 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

9. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Automotive Engineering

#87 in Europe

#285 in the World

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

10. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Automotive Engineering

#94 in Europe

#314 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

11. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Automotive Engineering

#121 in Europe

#414 in the World

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

12. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Automotive Engineering

#122 in Europe

#415 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

13. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Automotive Engineering

#129 in Europe

#436 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

14. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Automotive Engineering

#137 in Europe

#461 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

15. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Automotive Engineering

#150 in Europe

#499 in the World

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

16. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Automotive Engineering

#156 in Europe

#517 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

17. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Automotive Engineering

#186 in Europe

#618 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

18. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Automotive Engineering

#193 in Europe

#648 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

19. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Automotive Engineering

#205 in Europe

#675 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

20. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Automotive Engineering

#209 in Europe

#681 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

21. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Automotive Engineering

#215 in Europe

#692 in the World

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

22. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Automotive Engineering

#218 in Europe

#696 in the World

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

23. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Automotive Engineering

#225 in Europe

#716 in the World

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

24. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Automotive Engineering

#239 in Europe

#765 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

25. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Automotive Engineering

#240 in Europe

#766 in the World

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

26. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Automotive Engineering

#248 in Europe

#805 in the World

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

27. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Automotive Engineering

#253 in Europe

#816 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

28. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Automotive Engineering

#259 in Europe

#825 in the World

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

29. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For Automotive Engineering

#260 in Europe

#828 in the World

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

30. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Automotive Engineering

#268 in Europe

#840 in the World

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

31. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Automotive Engineering

#275 in Europe

#869 in the World

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

32. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Automotive Engineering

#278 in Europe

#881 in the World

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

33. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Automotive Engineering

#280 in Europe

#883 in the World

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

34. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Automotive Engineering

#285 in Europe

#896 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

35. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Automotive Engineering

#289 in Europe

#907 in the World

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

36. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#311 in Europe

#963 in the World

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

37. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Automotive Engineering

#327 in Europe

#1039 in the World

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

38. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Automotive Engineering

#328 in Europe

#1043 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

39. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Automotive Engineering

#343 in Europe

#1096 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

40. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Automotive Engineering

#351 in Europe

#1123 in the World

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

41. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Automotive Engineering

#354 in Europe

#1127 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

42. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Automotive Engineering

#355 in Europe

#1128 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

43. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Automotive Engineering

#369 in Europe

#1179 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

44. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Automotive Engineering

#375 in Europe

#1194 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

45. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Automotive Engineering

#381 in Europe

#1214 in the World

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

46. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Automotive Engineering

#386 in Europe

#1227 in the World

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

47. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Automotive Engineering

#397 in Europe

#1256 in the World

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

48. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Automotive Engineering

#409 in Europe

#1299 in the World

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

49. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Automotive Engineering

#415 in Europe

#1335 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

50. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Automotive Engineering

#419 in Europe

#1346 in the World

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

51. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Automotive Engineering

#453 in Europe

#1478 in the World

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

52. Esslingen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Esslingen

For Automotive Engineering

#458 in Europe

#1497 in the World

Enrollment: 6,211
Founded: 1914

53. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Automotive Engineering

#474 in Europe

#1561 in the World

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

54. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Automotive Engineering

#475 in Europe

#1562 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

55. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Automotive Engineering

#479 in Europe

#1576 in the World

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

56. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Automotive Engineering

#486 in Europe

#1591 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

57. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Automotive Engineering

#488 in Europe

#1598 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

58. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Automotive Engineering

#494 in Europe

#1611 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

59. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Automotive Engineering

#504 in Europe

#1648 in the World

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

60. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Automotive Engineering

#505 in Europe

#1651 in the World

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

61. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Automotive Engineering

#509 in Europe

#1666 in the World

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

62. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Automotive Engineering

#534 in Europe

#1807 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

63. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#535 in Europe

#1810 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

64. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#541 in Europe

#1835 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

65. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Automotive Engineering

#542 in Europe

#1836 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

66. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Automotive Engineering

#545 in Europe

#1854 in the World

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

67. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Automotive Engineering

#554 in Europe

#1876 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 8,371
Founded: 1878

68. Regensburg University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Automotive Engineering

#556 in Europe

#1881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 10,586
Founded: 1971

69. Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Lemgo

For Automotive Engineering

#577 in Europe

#1993 in the World

Enrollment: 5,938
Founded: 1971

70. Ostfalia - Braunschweig/Wolfenbuttel, University of Applied Sciences

Lower Saxony | Wolfenbuttel

For Automotive Engineering

#587 in Europe

#2037 in the World

Enrollment: 10,035
Founded: 1971

71. Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Offenburg

For Automotive Engineering

#603 in Europe

#2106 in the World

Enrollment: 4,161
Founded: 1967

72. Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Bavaria | Coburg

For Automotive Engineering

#620 in Europe

#2213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 5,025
Founded: 1971

73. Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heilbronn

For Automotive Engineering

#627 in Europe

#2244 in the World

Enrollment: 7,917
Founded: 1961

74. Kempten University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Kempten

For Automotive Engineering

#634 in Europe

#2274 in the World

Enrollment: 5,337
Founded: 1977

75. Pforzheim University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Pforzheim

For Automotive Engineering

#647 in Europe

#2324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 5,753
Founded: 1877

The best cities to study Automotive Engineering in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Aachen, Munich, Braunschweig, and Karlsruhe.