100 Best universities for Optical 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 19.8M citations received by 665K academic papers made by 147 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. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Europe

#69 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Europe

#79 in the World

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

3. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Optical Engineering

#16 in Europe

#86 in the World

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

4. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Optical Engineering

#18 in Europe

#90 in the World

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

5. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Optical Engineering

#20 in Europe

#97 in the World

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

6. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Optical Engineering

#21 in Europe

#103 in the World

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

7. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#24 in Europe

#123 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

8. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Optical Engineering

#30 in Europe

#133 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

9. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#36 in Europe

#143 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

10. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Optical Engineering

#38 in Europe

#150 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

11. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#41 in Europe

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

12. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Optical Engineering

#48 in Europe

#170 in the World

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

13. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Optical Engineering

#57 in Europe

#190 in the World

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

14. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Optical Engineering

#59 in Europe

#202 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

15. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Optical Engineering

#62 in Europe

#209 in the World

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

16. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Optical Engineering

#63 in Europe

#213 in the World

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

17. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Optical Engineering

#64 in Europe

#214 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

18. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Optical Engineering

#66 in Europe

#219 in the World

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

19. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Optical Engineering

#73 in Europe

#231 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

20. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Optical Engineering

#77 in Europe

#236 in the World

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

21. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#85 in Europe

#255 in the World

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

22. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Optical Engineering

#87 in Europe

#259 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

23. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Optical Engineering

#89 in Europe

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

24. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#97 in Europe

#282 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

25. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Optical Engineering

#106 in Europe

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

26. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Optical Engineering

#109 in Europe

#308 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

27. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#110 in Europe

#309 in the World

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

28. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#116 in Europe

#319 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

29. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Optical Engineering

#120 in Europe

#329 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

30. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Optical Engineering

#124 in Europe

#338 in the World

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

31. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Optical Engineering

#127 in Europe

#349 in the World

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

32. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Optical Engineering

#138 in Europe

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

33. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Optical Engineering

#149 in Europe

#391 in the World

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

34. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Optical Engineering

#152 in Europe

#398 in the World

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

35. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#154 in Europe

#404 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

36. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Optical Engineering

#156 in Europe

#406 in the World

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

37. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Optical Engineering

#158 in Europe

#409 in the World

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

38. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#163 in Europe

#418 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

39. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Optical Engineering

#168 in Europe

#427 in the World

Enrollment: 10,939
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1966

40. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Optical Engineering

#177 in Europe

#443 in the World

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

41. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Optical Engineering

#179 in Europe

#446 in the World

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

42. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Optical Engineering

#185 in Europe

#469 in the World

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

43. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Optical Engineering

#186 in Europe

#473 in the World

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

44. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Optical Engineering

#203 in Europe

#525 in the World

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

45. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Optical Engineering

#218 in Europe

#583 in the World

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

46. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Optical Engineering

#219 in Europe

#587 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

47. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Optical Engineering

#247 in Europe

#672 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

48. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Optical Engineering

#252 in Europe

#693 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

49. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Optical Engineering

#263 in Europe

#713 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

50. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Optical Engineering

#264 in Europe

#714 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

51. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Optical Engineering

#268 in Europe

#726 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

52. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Optical Engineering

#275 in Europe

#739 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

53. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Optical Engineering

#279 in Europe

#745 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

54. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Optical Engineering

#283 in Europe

#755 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

55. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For Optical Engineering

#287 in Europe

#762 in the World

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

56. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#289 in Europe

#767 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

57. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#304 in Europe

#808 in the World

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

58. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Optical Engineering

#319 in Europe

#858 in the World

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

59. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Optical Engineering

#322 in Europe

#866 in the World

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

60. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Optical Engineering

#337 in Europe

#927 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

61. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Optical Engineering

#354 in Europe

#966 in the World

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

62. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Optical Engineering

#398 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

63. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Optical Engineering

#407 in Europe

#1198 in the World

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

64. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#412 in Europe

#1218 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

65. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#423 in Europe

#1272 in the World

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

66. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Optical Engineering

#426 in Europe

#1277 in the World

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

67. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Optical Engineering

#443 in Europe

#1335 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

68. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Optical Engineering

#452 in Europe

#1370 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

69. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Optical Engineering

#470 in Europe

#1457 in the World

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

70. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Optical Engineering

#549 in Europe

#1822 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

71. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Optical Engineering

#558 in Europe

#1857 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

72. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Optical Engineering

#587 in Europe

#1987 in the World

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

73. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#589 in Europe

#2004 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

74. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Optical Engineering

#591 in Europe

#2012 in the World

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

75. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Optical Engineering

#599 in Europe

#2035 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

76. Munster University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Optical Engineering

#611 in Europe

#2097 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1971

77. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Optical Engineering

#651 in Europe

#2263 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

78. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Optical Engineering

#684 in Europe

#2429 in the World

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

79. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Optical Engineering

#686 in Europe

#2437 in the World

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

80. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Optical Engineering

#703 in Europe

#2527 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

81. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#711 in Europe

#2587 in the World

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

82. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#748 in Europe

#2767 in the World

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

83. University of Applied Sciences Mittweida

Saxony | Mittweida

For Optical Engineering

#749 in Europe

#2768 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 6,849
Founded: 1867

84. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#754 in Europe

#2779 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

85. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Optical Engineering

#755 in Europe

#2792 in the World

Enrollment: 6,687
Founded: 1971

86. Deggendorf Institute of Technology

Bavaria | Deggendorf

For Optical Engineering

#757 in Europe

#2795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 5,760
Founded: 1994

87. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#761 in Europe

#2817 in the World

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

88. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Optical Engineering

#770 in Europe

#2868 in the World

Enrollment: 2,295
Founded: 1897

89. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Optical Engineering

#771 in Europe

#2876 in the World

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

90. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#773 in Europe

#2896 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

91. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Optical Engineering

#775 in Europe

#2900 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

92. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Optical Engineering

#779 in Europe

#2913 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

93. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Optical Engineering

#784 in Europe

#2964 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,034
Founded: 1992

94. Regensburg University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Optical Engineering

#815 in Europe

#3105 in the World

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

95. University of Applied Sciences Wildau

Brandenburg | Wildau

For Optical Engineering

#820 in Europe

#3133 in the World

Enrollment: 3,462
Founded: 1991

96. Bremen University of Applied Sciences

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#825 in Europe

#3161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 8,672
Founded: 1982

97. Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Sankt Augustin

For Optical Engineering

#837 in Europe

#3196 in the World

Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1995

98. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Optical Engineering

#838 in Europe

#3198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 9,145
Founded: 1996

99. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#840 in Europe

#3222 in the World

Enrollment: 4,081
Founded: 1832

100. Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Offenburg

For Optical Engineering

#854 in Europe

#3286 in the World

Enrollment: 4,161
Founded: 1967

The best cities to study Optical Engineering in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Munich, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, and Erlangen.