100 Best universities for Optical Engineering 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 15M citations received by 599K academic papers made by 145 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

#66 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Optical Engineering

#17 in Europe

#87 in the World

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

3. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Optical Engineering

#19 in Europe

#93 in the World

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

4. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Optical Engineering

#20 in Europe

#94 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

#21 in Europe

#97 in the World

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

6. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#25 in Europe

#124 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

7. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Optical Engineering

#28 in Europe

#130 in the World

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

8. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Optical Engineering

#31 in Europe

#134 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

9. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#32 in Europe

#135 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

10. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#38 in Europe

#148 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

11. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Optical Engineering

#42 in Europe

#157 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

12. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Optical Engineering

#50 in Europe

#168 in the World

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

13. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Optical Engineering

#54 in Europe

#182 in the World

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

14. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Optical Engineering

#58 in Europe

#196 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

15. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Optical Engineering

#60 in Europe

#206 in the World

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

16. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Optical Engineering

#65 in Europe

#214 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

17. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Optical Engineering

#68 in Europe

#220 in the World

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

18. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Optical Engineering

#70 in Europe

#223 in the World

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

19. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Optical Engineering

#77 in Europe

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

20. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Optical Engineering

#80 in Europe

#239 in the World

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

21. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#85 in Europe

#248 in the World

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

22. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Optical Engineering

#90 in Europe

#263 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

23. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Optical Engineering

#91 in Europe

#266 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

24. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#97 in Europe

#276 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

25. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Optical Engineering

#105 in Europe

#299 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

26. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Optical Engineering

#106 in Europe

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

27. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#109 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

#114 in Europe

#316 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

29. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Optical Engineering

#115 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

30. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Optical Engineering

#120 in Europe

#329 in the World

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

31. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Optical Engineering

#126 in Europe

#345 in the World

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

32. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Optical Engineering

#134 in Europe

#359 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

33. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Optical Engineering

#141 in Europe

#376 in the World

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

34. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Optical Engineering

#149 in Europe

#389 in the World

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

35. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Optical Engineering

#150 in Europe

#391 in the World

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

36. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Optical Engineering

#153 in Europe

#398 in the World

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

37. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#158 in Europe

#403 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

38. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Optical Engineering

#162 in Europe

#410 in the World

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

39. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Optical Engineering

#163 in Europe

#411 in the World

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

40. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#166 in Europe

#421 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

41. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Optical Engineering

#167 in Europe

#422 in the World

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

42. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Optical Engineering

#182 in Europe

#458 in the World

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

43. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Optical Engineering

#183 in Europe

#463 in the World

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

44. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Optical Engineering

#202 in Europe

#514 in the World

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

45. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Optical Engineering

#219 in Europe

#578 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

46. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Optical Engineering

#220 in Europe

#579 in the World

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

47. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Optical Engineering

#252 in Europe

#662 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

48. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Optical Engineering

#259 in Europe

#692 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

49. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Optical Engineering

#260 in Europe

#693 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

50. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Optical Engineering

#261 in Europe

#694 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

51. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Optical Engineering

#267 in Europe

#711 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

52. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Optical Engineering

#272 in Europe

#728 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

53. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#278 in Europe

#737 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

54. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Optical Engineering

#280 in Europe

#742 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

55. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For Optical Engineering

#287 in Europe

#751 in the World

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

56. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Optical Engineering

#288 in Europe

#754 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

57. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Optical Engineering

#290 in Europe

#761 in the World

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

58. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#313 in Europe

#817 in the World

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

59. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Optical Engineering

#321 in Europe

#839 in the World

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

60. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Optical Engineering

#327 in Europe

#862 in the World

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

61. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Optical Engineering

#340 in Europe

#901 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

62. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Optical Engineering

#387 in Europe

#1101 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

63. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Optical Engineering

#389 in Europe

#1110 in the World

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

64. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#394 in Europe

#1134 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

65. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Optical Engineering

#399 in Europe

#1162 in the World

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

66. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#430 in Europe

#1271 in the World

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

67. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Optical Engineering

#438 in Europe

#1290 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

68. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Optical Engineering

#441 in Europe

#1297 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

69. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Optical Engineering

#469 in Europe

#1439 in the World

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

70. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Optical Engineering

#516 in Europe

#1659 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

71. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Optical Engineering

#522 in Europe

#1702 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

72. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#577 in Europe

#1914 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

73. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Optical Engineering

#587 in Europe

#1964 in the World

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

74. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Optical Engineering

#589 in Europe

#1974 in the World

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

75. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Optical Engineering

#602 in Europe

#2026 in the World

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

76. Munster University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Optical Engineering

#608 in Europe

#2047 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1971

77. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Optical Engineering

#617 in Europe

#2079 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

78. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Optical Engineering

#664 in Europe

#2284 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

79. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Optical Engineering

#675 in Europe

#2348 in the World

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

80. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#699 in Europe

#2499 in the World

Enrollment: 13,494
Male:Female: 66:34
Founded: 1971

81. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#710 in Europe

#2531 in the World

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

82. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Optical Engineering

#714 in Europe

#2552 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

83. Deggendorf Institute of Technology

Bavaria | Deggendorf

For Optical Engineering

#737 in Europe

#2652 in the World

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

84. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#751 in Europe

#2713 in the World

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

85. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#752 in Europe

#2716 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

86. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Optical Engineering

#754 in Europe

#2724 in the World

Enrollment: 6,687
Founded: 1971

87. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Optical Engineering

#755 in Europe

#2728 in the World

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

88. University of Applied Sciences Mittweida

Saxony | Mittweida

For Optical Engineering

#764 in Europe

#2802 in the World

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

89. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Optical Engineering

#774 in Europe

#2860 in the World

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

90. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Optical Engineering

#777 in Europe

#2865 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

91. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Optical Engineering

#779 in Europe

#2879 in the World

Enrollment: 2,466
Founded: 1897

92. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#781 in Europe

#2892 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

93. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Optical Engineering

#788 in Europe

#2915 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

94. University of Applied Sciences Wildau

Brandenburg | Wildau

For Optical Engineering

#806 in Europe

#3026 in the World

Enrollment: 3,462
Founded: 1991

95. Regensburg University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Optical Engineering

#809 in Europe

#3041 in the World

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

96. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#817 in Europe

#3089 in the World

Enrollment: 4,081
Founded: 1832

97. Bremen University of Applied Sciences

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#830 in Europe

#3154 in the World

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

98. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Optical Engineering

#831 in Europe

#3164 in the World

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

99. Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Offenburg

For Optical Engineering

#836 in Europe

#3175 in the World

Enrollment: 4,161
Founded: 1967

100. Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heilbronn

For Optical Engineering

#852 in Europe

#3264 in the World

Enrollment: 7,917
Founded: 1961

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