74 Best universities for Automotive Engineering 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 Automotive Engineering. A graph of 418K citations received by 22.8K academic papers made by 74 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

#11 in Europe

#45 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

#91 in the World

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

4. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Automotive Engineering

#32 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

#104 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

6. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Automotive Engineering

#39 in Europe

#119 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

7. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Automotive Engineering

#50 in Europe

#153 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

8. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#60 in Europe

#177 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

#316 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

11. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Automotive Engineering

#116 in Europe

#399 in the World

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

12. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Automotive Engineering

#119 in Europe

#404 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

13. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Automotive Engineering

#128 in Europe

#427 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

14. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Automotive Engineering

#135 in Europe

#462 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

15. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Automotive Engineering

#150 in Europe

#493 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

16. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Automotive Engineering

#153 in Europe

#502 in the World

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

17. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Automotive Engineering

#182 in Europe

#606 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

18. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Automotive Engineering

#198 in Europe

#658 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

19. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Automotive Engineering

#206 in Europe

#671 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

20. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Automotive Engineering

#212 in Europe

#685 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

21. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Automotive Engineering

#214 in Europe

#690 in the World

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

22. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Automotive Engineering

#222 in Europe

#705 in the World

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

23. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Automotive Engineering

#226 in Europe

#710 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

#238 in Europe

#758 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

25. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Automotive Engineering

#239 in Europe

#765 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

#247 in Europe

#789 in the World

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

27. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Automotive Engineering

#249 in Europe

#801 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

28. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For Automotive Engineering

#258 in Europe

#820 in the World

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

29. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Automotive Engineering

#261 in Europe

#827 in the World

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

30. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Automotive Engineering

#262 in Europe

#828 in the World

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

31. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Automotive Engineering

#274 in Europe

#862 in the World

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

32. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Automotive Engineering

#275 in Europe

#863 in the World

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

33. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Automotive Engineering

#278 in Europe

#869 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

34. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Automotive Engineering

#282 in Europe

#885 in the World

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

35. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Automotive Engineering

#287 in Europe

#903 in the World

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

36. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#313 in Europe

#971 in the World

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

37. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Automotive Engineering

#322 in Europe

#1015 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

38. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Automotive Engineering

#325 in Europe

#1023 in the World

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

39. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Automotive Engineering

#336 in Europe

#1071 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

40. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Automotive Engineering

#338 in Europe

#1073 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

41. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Automotive Engineering

#356 in Europe

#1138 in the World

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

42. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Automotive Engineering

#361 in Europe

#1146 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

43. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Automotive Engineering

#363 in Europe

#1153 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

44. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Automotive Engineering

#367 in Europe

#1163 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

45. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Automotive Engineering

#375 in Europe

#1193 in the World

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

46. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Automotive Engineering

#381 in Europe

#1212 in the World

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

47. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Automotive Engineering

#399 in Europe

#1268 in the World

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

48. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Automotive Engineering

#412 in Europe

#1301 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

#414 in Europe

#1311 in the World

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

50. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Automotive Engineering

#421 in Europe

#1337 in the World

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

51. Esslingen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Esslingen

For Automotive Engineering

#451 in Europe

#1463 in the World

Enrollment: 6,211
Founded: 1914

52. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Automotive Engineering

#457 in Europe

#1483 in the World

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

53. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Automotive Engineering

#460 in Europe

#1515 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

54. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Automotive Engineering

#461 in Europe

#1517 in the World

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

55. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Automotive Engineering

#474 in Europe

#1560 in the World

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

56. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Automotive Engineering

#478 in Europe

#1565 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

57. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Automotive Engineering

#485 in Europe

#1584 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

58. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Automotive Engineering

#493 in Europe

#1621 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

59. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Automotive Engineering

#495 in Europe

#1625 in the World

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

60. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Automotive Engineering

#507 in Europe

#1663 in the World

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

61. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Automotive Engineering

#510 in Europe

#1673 in the World

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

62. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Automotive Engineering

#528 in Europe

#1780 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

63. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#538 in Europe

#1826 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

64. Regensburg University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Automotive Engineering

#545 in Europe

#1851 in the World

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

65. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Automotive Engineering

#546 in Europe

#1859 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

66. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Automotive Engineering

#553 in Europe

#1877 in the World

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

67. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Automotive Engineering

#560 in Europe

#1901 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

68. Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Lemgo

For Automotive Engineering

#568 in Europe

#1947 in the World

Enrollment: 5,938
Founded: 1971

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

Lower Saxony | Wolfenbuttel

For Automotive Engineering

#576 in Europe

#1989 in the World

Enrollment: 11,042
Founded: 1971

70. Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Offenburg

For Automotive Engineering

#602 in Europe

#2100 in the World

Enrollment: 4,161
Founded: 1967

71. Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Bavaria | Coburg

For Automotive Engineering

#609 in Europe

#2160 in the World

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

72. Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heilbronn

For Automotive Engineering

#623 in Europe

#2230 in the World

Enrollment: 7,917
Founded: 1961

73. Kempten University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Kempten

For Automotive Engineering

#627 in Europe

#2242 in the World

Enrollment: 5,337
Founded: 1977

74. Pforzheim University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Pforzheim

For Automotive Engineering

#635 in Europe

#2271 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.