100 Best universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 42.2M citations received by 1.9M 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

#22 in Europe

#89 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

#27 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

#37 in Europe

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

4. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#49 in Europe

#143 in the World

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

5. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#57 in Europe

#162 in the World

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

6. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#58 in Europe

#163 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

7. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#69 in Europe

#187 in the World

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

8. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#78 in Europe

#210 in the World

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

9. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#80 in Europe

#215 in the World

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

10. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#82 in Europe

#219 in the World

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

11. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#83 in Europe

#220 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

12. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#86 in Europe

#227 in the World

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

13. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#87 in Europe

#230 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

14. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#90 in Europe

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

15. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#92 in Europe

#242 in the World

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

16. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#106 in Europe

#270 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

17. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#107 in Europe

#273 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

18. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#110 in Europe

#276 in the World

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

19. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#111 in Europe

#280 in the World

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

20. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#116 in Europe

#294 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

21. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#125 in Europe

#308 in the World

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

22. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#128 in Europe

#312 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

23. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#129 in Europe

#318 in the World

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

24. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#136 in Europe

#334 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

25. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#146 in Europe

#356 in the World

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

26. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#151 in Europe

#371 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

27. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#153 in Europe

#374 in the World

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

28. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#154 in Europe

#375 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

29. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#164 in Europe

#393 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

30. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#166 in Europe

#399 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

31. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#170 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

32. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#175 in Europe

#418 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

#178 in Europe

#429 in the World

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

34. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#194 in Europe

#465 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

#195 in Europe

#470 in the World

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

36. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#197 in Europe

#472 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

37. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#199 in Europe

#482 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

38. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#200 in Europe

#484 in the World

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

39. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#205 in Europe

#498 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

40. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#216 in Europe

#528 in the World

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

41. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#222 in Europe

#544 in the World

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

42. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#227 in Europe

#557 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

43. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#234 in Europe

#572 in the World

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

44. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#237 in Europe

#577 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

45. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#249 in Europe

#610 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

#284 in Europe

#690 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

47. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#285 in Europe

#691 in the World

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

48. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#286 in Europe

#696 in the World

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

49. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#289 in Europe

#704 in the World

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

50. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#290 in Europe

#705 in the World

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

51. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#292 in Europe

#709 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

52. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#295 in Europe

#722 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#308 in Europe

#747 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#314 in Europe

#766 in the World

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

55. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#321 in Europe

#785 in the World

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

56. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#322 in Europe

#792 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

57. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#324 in Europe

#794 in the World

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

58. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#333 in Europe

#822 in the World

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

59. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#342 in Europe

#846 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

60. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#347 in Europe

#871 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

61. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#354 in Europe

#901 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

62. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#373 in Europe

#947 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

63. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#392 in Europe

#1012 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

64. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#393 in Europe

#1028 in the World

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

65. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#404 in Europe

#1065 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

66. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#418 in Europe

#1115 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

#422 in Europe

#1133 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

68. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#442 in Europe

#1194 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

69. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#443 in Europe

#1198 in the World

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

70. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#449 in Europe

#1207 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

#472 in Europe

#1274 in the World

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

73. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#490 in Europe

#1341 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

74. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#497 in Europe

#1364 in the World

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

75. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#506 in Europe

#1396 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

76. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#514 in Europe

#1412 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

77. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#515 in Europe

#1419 in the World

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

78. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#518 in Europe

#1427 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

79. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#532 in Europe

#1474 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

80. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#548 in Europe

#1543 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

81. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#557 in Europe

#1607 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

82. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#572 in Europe

#1667 in the World

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

83. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#573 in Europe

#1668 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

84. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#591 in Europe

#1726 in the World

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

85. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#596 in Europe

#1750 in the World

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

86. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#599 in Europe

#1757 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

87. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#604 in Europe

#1774 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

88. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#620 in Europe

#1826 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

89. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#623 in Europe

#1842 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

90. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#662 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

#670 in Europe

#2057 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

92. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#715 in Europe

#2299 in the World

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

93. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#716 in Europe

#2301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

94. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#718 in Europe

#2315 in the World

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

95. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#719 in Europe

#2317 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

96. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#722 in Europe

#2327 in the World

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

97. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#724 in Europe

#2340 in the World

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

98. University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#731 in Europe

#2383 in the World

Enrollment: 21,263
Founded: 1993

99. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#732 in Europe

#2403 in the World

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

100. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ludwigsburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#733 in Europe

#2404 in the World

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

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 Berlin.