100 Best universities for Optical 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 20.7M citations received by 675K 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

#70 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Europe

#78 in the World

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

3. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Optical Engineering

#17 in Europe

#89 in the World

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

4. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Optical Engineering

#18 in Europe

#91 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

#104 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

#124 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

8. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Optical Engineering

#30 in Europe

#134 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

9. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#36 in Europe

#145 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

10. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Optical Engineering

#37 in Europe

#149 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

11. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#42 in Europe

#160 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

12. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Optical Engineering

#45 in Europe

#166 in the World

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

13. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Optical Engineering

#57 in Europe

#192 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

#203 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

15. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Optical Engineering

#63 in Europe

#214 in the World

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

16. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Optical Engineering

#64 in Europe

#215 in the World

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

17. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Optical Engineering

#65 in Europe

#216 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

18. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Optical Engineering

#67 in Europe

#222 in the World

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

19. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Optical Engineering

#75 in Europe

#237 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

20. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Optical Engineering

#77 in Europe

#241 in the World

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

21. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Optical Engineering

#86 in Europe

#259 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

22. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#87 in Europe

#260 in the World

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

23. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Optical Engineering

#91 in Europe

#269 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

24. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#96 in Europe

#283 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

25. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Optical Engineering

#107 in Europe

#306 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

26. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#109 in Europe

#310 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

27. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Optical Engineering

#110 in Europe

#311 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

28. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#117 in Europe

#325 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

29. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Optical Engineering

#121 in Europe

#331 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

30. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Optical Engineering

#124 in Europe

#343 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

#133 in Europe

#359 in the World

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

32. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Optical Engineering

#139 in Europe

#370 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

33. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Optical Engineering

#152 in Europe

#400 in the World

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

34. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Optical Engineering

#153 in Europe

#401 in the World

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

35. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Optical Engineering

#157 in Europe

#411 in the World

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

36. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#158 in Europe

#412 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

37. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#161 in Europe

#418 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

38. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Optical Engineering

#162 in Europe

#420 in the World

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

39. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Optical Engineering

#173 in Europe

#441 in the World

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

40. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Optical Engineering

#179 in Europe

#450 in the World

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

41. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Optical Engineering

#180 in Europe

#453 in the World

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

42. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Optical Engineering

#185 in Europe

#474 in the World

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

43. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Optical Engineering

#188 in Europe

#483 in the World

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

44. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Optical Engineering

#202 in Europe

#532 in the World

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

45. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Optical Engineering

#218 in Europe

#585 in the World

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

46. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Optical Engineering

#220 in Europe

#588 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

47. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Optical Engineering

#251 in Europe

#689 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

48. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Optical Engineering

#252 in Europe

#691 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

49. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Optical Engineering

#265 in Europe

#714 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

50. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Optical Engineering

#266 in Europe

#717 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

51. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Optical Engineering

#273 in Europe

#738 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

52. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Optical Engineering

#280 in Europe

#752 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Optical Engineering

#281 in Europe

#754 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Optical Engineering

#285 in Europe

#758 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

55. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For Optical Engineering

#288 in Europe

#771 in the World

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

56. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#291 in Europe

#778 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

57. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#304 in Europe

#819 in the World

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

58. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Optical Engineering

#320 in Europe

#869 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

#324 in Europe

#883 in the World

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

60. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Optical Engineering

#336 in Europe

#931 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

61. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Optical Engineering

#363 in Europe

#1012 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

62. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Optical Engineering

#404 in Europe

#1188 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

63. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Optical Engineering

#410 in Europe

#1217 in the World

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

64. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#414 in Europe

#1233 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

65. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#427 in Europe

#1291 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

#439 in Europe

#1327 in the World

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

67. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Optical Engineering

#448 in Europe

#1353 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

68. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Optical Engineering

#455 in Europe

#1394 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

69. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Optical Engineering

#471 in Europe

#1470 in the World

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

70. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Optical Engineering

#558 in Europe

#1859 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

71. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Optical Engineering

#567 in Europe

#1900 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

72. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Optical Engineering

#589 in Europe

#2003 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

#592 in Europe

#2013 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

74. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Optical Engineering

#597 in Europe

#2032 in the World

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

75. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Optical Engineering

#598 in Europe

#2048 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

76. Munster University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Optical Engineering

#613 in Europe

#2114 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1971

77. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Optical Engineering

#643 in Europe

#2239 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

78. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Optical Engineering

#688 in Europe

#2460 in the World

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

79. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Optical Engineering

#692 in Europe

#2478 in the World

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

80. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Optical Engineering

#700 in Europe

#2529 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

81. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#714 in Europe

#2602 in the World

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

82. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Optical Engineering

#741 in Europe

#2761 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

83. University of Applied Sciences Mittweida

Saxony | Mittweida

For Optical Engineering

#750 in Europe

#2782 in the World

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

84. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Optical Engineering

#754 in Europe

#2792 in the World

Enrollment: 4,461
Founded: 1971

85. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#755 in Europe

#2794 in the World

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

86. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Optical Engineering

#764 in Europe

#2835 in the World

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

87. Deggendorf Institute of Technology

Bavaria | Deggendorf

For Optical Engineering

#766 in Europe

#2840 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 9,476
Founded: 1994

88. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Optical Engineering

#768 in Europe

#2854 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

89. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Optical Engineering

#769 in Europe

#2873 in the World

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

90. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Optical Engineering

#772 in Europe

#2890 in the World

Enrollment: 2,295
Founded: 1897

91. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Optical Engineering

#775 in Europe

#2906 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

92. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Optical Engineering

#782 in Europe

#2943 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

93. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Optical Engineering

#797 in Europe

#3028 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

#3109 in the World

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

95. Bremen University of Applied Sciences

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Optical Engineering

#823 in Europe

#3142 in the World

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

96. University of Applied Sciences Wildau

Brandenburg | Wildau

For Optical Engineering

#828 in Europe

#3156 in the World

Enrollment: 3,462
Founded: 1991

97. Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Sankt Augustin

For Optical Engineering

#839 in Europe

#3215 in the World

Enrollment: 8,000
Founded: 1995

98. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Optical Engineering

#841 in Europe

#3230 in the World

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

99. Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Offenburg

For Optical Engineering

#848 in Europe

#3285 in the World

Enrollment: 4,161
Founded: 1967

100. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Optical Engineering

#857 in Europe

#3302 in the World

Enrollment: 4,081
Founded: 1832

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