100 Best universities for Ecology 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 Ecology. A graph of 22.8M citations received by 622K academic papers made by 161 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 Ecology

#28 in Europe

#98 in the World

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

2. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Ecology

#30 in Europe

#110 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

3. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Ecology

#45 in Europe

#156 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

4. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Ecology

#60 in Europe

#187 in the World

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

5. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Ecology

#64 in Europe

#205 in the World

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

6. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Ecology

#68 in Europe

#222 in the World

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

7. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Ecology

#72 in Europe

#227 in the World

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

8. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Ecology

#74 in Europe

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

9. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Ecology

#80 in Europe

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

10. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Ecology

#81 in Europe

#246 in the World

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

11. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#83 in Europe

#251 in the World

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

12. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#90 in Europe

#279 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

13. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Ecology

#99 in Europe

#297 in the World

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

14. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Ecology

#101 in Europe

#300 in the World

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

15. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Ecology

#114 in Europe

#331 in the World

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

16. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Ecology

#115 in Europe

#333 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

17. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Ecology

#117 in Europe

#335 in the World

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

18. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#118 in Europe

#337 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

19. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Ecology

#122 in Europe

#352 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

20. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Ecology

#131 in Europe

#366 in the World

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

21. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Ecology

#137 in Europe

#381 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

22. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Ecology

#139 in Europe

#386 in the World

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

23. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Ecology

#140 in Europe

#387 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

24. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Ecology

#141 in Europe

#388 in the World

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

25. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Ecology

#142 in Europe

#392 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

26. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Ecology

#156 in Europe

#415 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

27. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Ecology

#157 in Europe

#418 in the World

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

28. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Ecology

#165 in Europe

#436 in the World

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

29. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Ecology

#166 in Europe

#441 in the World

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

30. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Ecology

#172 in Europe

#465 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

31. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Ecology

#183 in Europe

#495 in the World

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

32. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Ecology

#190 in Europe

#508 in the World

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

33. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Ecology

#197 in Europe

#522 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

34. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Ecology

#203 in Europe

#548 in the World

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

35. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Ecology

#204 in Europe

#549 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

36. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Ecology

#209 in Europe

#563 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

37. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Ecology

#210 in Europe

#564 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

38. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Ecology

#211 in Europe

#566 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

39. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Ecology

#214 in Europe

#578 in the World

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

40. University of Kassel

For Ecology

#216 in Europe

#588 in the World

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

41. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Ecology

#231 in Europe

#643 in the World

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

42. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Ecology

#232 in Europe

#644 in the World

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

43. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Ecology

#233 in Europe

#645 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

44. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Ecology

#239 in Europe

#656 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

45. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#267 in Europe

#745 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

46. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Ecology

#273 in Europe

#763 in the World

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

47. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Ecology

#279 in Europe

#780 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

48. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Ecology

#291 in Europe

#811 in the World

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

49. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Ecology

#300 in Europe

#830 in the World

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

50. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Ecology

#340 in Europe

#939 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

51. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Ecology

#342 in Europe

#950 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

52. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Ecology

#362 in Europe

#1022 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

53. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Ecology

#370 in Europe

#1058 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

54. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Ecology

#373 in Europe

#1061 in the World

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

55. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Ecology

#383 in Europe

#1111 in the World

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

56. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Ecology

#405 in Europe

#1172 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

57. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Ecology

#415 in Europe

#1213 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

58. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Ecology

#420 in Europe

#1242 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

59. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Ecology

#422 in Europe

#1244 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

60. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Ecology

#435 in Europe

#1279 in the World

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

61. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Ecology

#441 in Europe

#1321 in the World

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

62. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Ecology

#443 in Europe

#1326 in the World

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

63. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Ecology

#449 in Europe

#1349 in the World

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

64. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Ecology

#459 in Europe

#1417 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

65. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Ecology

#471 in Europe

#1453 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

66. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Ecology

#499 in Europe

#1566 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

67. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Ecology

#500 in Europe

#1579 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

68. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Ecology

#527 in Europe

#1723 in the World

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

69. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Ecology

#528 in Europe

#1725 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

70. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Ecology

#534 in Europe

#1749 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

71. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Ecology

#565 in Europe

#1908 in the World

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

72. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Ecology

#586 in Europe

#1989 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

73. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Ecology

#620 in Europe

#2187 in the World

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

74. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Ecology

#635 in Europe

#2264 in the World

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

75. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Ecology

#686 in Europe

#2507 in the World

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

76. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Ecology

#698 in Europe

#2571 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

77. Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Freising

For Ecology

#702 in Europe

#2586 in the World

Enrollment: 5,755
Founded: 1971

78. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Ecology

#709 in Europe

#2623 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

79. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Ecology

#720 in Europe

#2674 in the World

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

80. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Ecology

#733 in Europe

#2742 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

81. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Ecology

#736 in Europe

#2764 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

82. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Ecology

#790 in Europe

#3104 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

83. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Ecology

#801 in Europe

#3165 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

84. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Ecology

#803 in Europe

#3188 in the World

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

85. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Ecology

#809 in Europe

#3225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 1,278
Founded: 1957

86. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Ecology

#819 in Europe

#3288 in the World

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

87. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Ecology

#824 in Europe

#3317 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

88. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#826 in Europe

#3321 in the World

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

89. Pforzheim University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Pforzheim

For Ecology

#832 in Europe

#3347 in the World

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

90. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Ecology

#838 in Europe

#3384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,210
Founded: 1991

91. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Ecology

#840 in Europe

#3390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 4,910
Founded: 1980

92. Trier University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Ecology

#858 in Europe

#3464 in the World

Enrollment: 6,951
Founded: 1996

93. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#860 in Europe

#3470 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

94. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Ecology

#870 in Europe

#3502 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

95. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#873 in Europe

#3519 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

96. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Ecology

#882 in Europe

#3558 in the World

Enrollment: 4,081
Founded: 1832

97. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Ecology

#889 in Europe

#3616 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

98. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Ecology

#892 in Europe

#3641 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

99. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Ecology

#893 in Europe

#3647 in the World

Enrollment: 5,333
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1946

100. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Ecology

#896 in Europe

#3661 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

The best cities to study Ecology in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Munich, Gottingen, Hamburg, and Bonn.

Environmental Science subfields in Germany

Agricultural Science95

Earth science and Geophysics95

Environmental Chemistry98

Environmental Engineering76

Environmental Management118

Geography and Cartography166

Geotechnical Engineering88

Hydrology and Water resources management31

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science123

Mining Engineering32

Oceanography127

Paleontology158

Petrology and Geochemistry84

Urban and Regional planning53

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation75