100 Best universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 45M citations received by 1.94M academic papers made by 178 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. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#24 in Europe

#92 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#28 in Europe

#97 in the World

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

3. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#36 in Europe

#113 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

4. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#50 in Europe

#142 in the World

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

5. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#59 in Europe

#166 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

6. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#60 in Europe

#167 in the World

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

7. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#69 in Europe

#186 in the World

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

8. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#80 in Europe

#214 in the World

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

9. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#83 in Europe

#221 in the World

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

10. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#84 in Europe

#222 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

11. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#86 in Europe

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

12. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#88 in Europe

#228 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

13. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#90 in Europe

#231 in the World

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

14. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#91 in Europe

#238 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

15. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#94 in Europe

#246 in the World

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

16. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#109 in Europe

#278 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

17. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#110 in Europe

#280 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

18. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#111 in Europe

#281 in the World

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

19. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#113 in Europe

#284 in the World

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

20. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#119 in Europe

#299 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

21. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#127 in Europe

#311 in the World

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

22. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#130 in Europe

#319 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

23. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#131 in Europe

#323 in the World

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

24. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#144 in Europe

#348 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

25. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#149 in Europe

#360 in the World

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

26. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#156 in Europe

#377 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

27. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#160 in Europe

#384 in the World

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

28. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#162 in Europe

#386 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

29. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#168 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

30. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#170 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

31. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#171 in Europe

#409 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

32. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#178 in Europe

#428 in the World

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

33. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#184 in Europe

#439 in the World

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

34. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#195 in Europe

#469 in the World

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

35. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#197 in Europe

#473 in the World

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

36. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#199 in Europe

#480 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

37. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#200 in Europe

#482 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

38. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#203 in Europe

#495 in the World

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

39. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#208 in Europe

#505 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

40. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#217 in Europe

#531 in the World

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

41. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#226 in Europe

#550 in the World

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

42. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#231 in Europe

#567 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

43. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#242 in Europe

#587 in the World

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

44. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#243 in Europe

#590 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

45. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#255 in Europe

#621 in the World

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

46. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#287 in Europe

#698 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

47. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#291 in Europe

#706 in the World

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

48. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#292 in Europe

#707 in the World

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

49. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#294 in Europe

#710 in the World

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

50. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#295 in Europe

#713 in the World

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

51. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#296 in Europe

#714 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

52. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#305 in Europe

#740 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#311 in Europe

#753 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#318 in Europe

#774 in the World

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

55. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#323 in Europe

#795 in the World

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

56. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#328 in Europe

#801 in the World

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

57. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#329 in Europe

#802 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

58. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#335 in Europe

#829 in the World

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

59. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#341 in Europe

#849 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

60. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#346 in Europe

#869 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

61. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#361 in Europe

#915 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

62. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#377 in Europe

#953 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

63. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#394 in Europe

#1030 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

64. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#399 in Europe

#1047 in the World

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

65. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#407 in Europe

#1069 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

66. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#421 in Europe

#1125 in the World

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

67. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#425 in Europe

#1137 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

68. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#442 in Europe

#1195 in the World

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

69. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#451 in Europe

#1213 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

70. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#464 in Europe

#1253 in the World

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

71. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#471 in Europe

#1273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 6,052
Founded: 1994

72. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#486 in Europe

#1324 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

73. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#496 in Europe

#1358 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

74. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#501 in Europe

#1380 in the World

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

75. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#519 in Europe

#1429 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

76. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#523 in Europe

#1442 in the World

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

77. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#524 in Europe

#1454 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

78. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#536 in Europe

#1492 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

79. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#554 in Europe

#1579 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

80. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#565 in Europe

#1638 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

81. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#573 in Europe

#1672 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

82. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#583 in Europe

#1703 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

83. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#588 in Europe

#1716 in the World

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

84. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#589 in Europe

#1721 in the World

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

85. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#598 in Europe

#1762 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

86. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#599 in Europe

#1765 in the World

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

87. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#604 in Europe

#1778 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

88. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#610 in Europe

#1794 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

89. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#635 in Europe

#1894 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

90. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#663 in Europe

#2017 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

91. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#681 in Europe

#2092 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

92. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#722 in Europe

#2326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

93. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#724 in Europe

#2341 in the World

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

94. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#726 in Europe

#2347 in the World

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

95. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#727 in Europe

#2351 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

96. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#730 in Europe

#2361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 2,227
Founded: 1971

97. University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#732 in Europe

#2375 in the World

Enrollment: 47,098
Founded: 1993

98. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ludwigsburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#740 in Europe

#2442 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 5,620
Founded: 1962

99. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#741 in Europe

#2445 in the World

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

100. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#742 in Europe

#2448 in the World

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

The best cities to study Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Heidelberg, Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt.