100 Best universities for History 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 History. A graph of 8.53M citations received by 420K academic papers made by 163 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 History

#43 in Europe

#131 in the World

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

2. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#54 in Europe

#157 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

3. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For History

#56 in Europe

#160 in the World

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

4. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For History

#58 in Europe

#168 in the World

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

5. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For History

#68 in Europe

#195 in the World

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

6. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For History

#69 in Europe

#199 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

7. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#75 in Europe

#213 in the World

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

8. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For History

#76 in Europe

#217 in the World

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

9. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For History

#87 in Europe

#248 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

10. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For History

#90 in Europe

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

11. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For History

#94 in Europe

#260 in the World

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

12. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For History

#101 in Europe

#276 in the World

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

13. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#105 in Europe

#285 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

14. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For History

#112 in Europe

#308 in the World

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

15. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For History

#119 in Europe

#329 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

16. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For History

#121 in Europe

#331 in the World

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

17. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For History

#122 in Europe

#334 in the World

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

18. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For History

#125 in Europe

#340 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

19. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For History

#127 in Europe

#343 in the World

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

20. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For History

#133 in Europe

#360 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

21. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#148 in Europe

#388 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

22. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For History

#153 in Europe

#399 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

23. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#158 in Europe

#417 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

24. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For History

#159 in Europe

#418 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

25. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For History

#173 in Europe

#441 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

26. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For History

#176 in Europe

#457 in the World

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

27. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For History

#179 in Europe

#467 in the World

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

28. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For History

#192 in Europe

#492 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

29. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For History

#193 in Europe

#494 in the World

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

30. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For History

#195 in Europe

#496 in the World

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

31. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For History

#200 in Europe

#509 in the World

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

32. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For History

#207 in Europe

#528 in the World

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

33. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For History

#209 in Europe

#530 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

34. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For History

#210 in Europe

#531 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

35. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For History

#222 in Europe

#554 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

36. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For History

#225 in Europe

#572 in the World

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

37. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For History

#231 in Europe

#581 in the World

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

38. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For History

#238 in Europe

#598 in the World

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

39. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For History

#242 in Europe

#609 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

40. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For History

#244 in Europe

#611 in the World

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

41. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For History

#245 in Europe

#613 in the World

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

42. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For History

#248 in Europe

#620 in the World

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

43. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For History

#253 in Europe

#635 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

44. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For History

#256 in Europe

#644 in the World

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

45. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For History

#265 in Europe

#662 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

46. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For History

#266 in Europe

#663 in the World

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

47. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For History

#298 in Europe

#745 in the World

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

48. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For History

#319 in Europe

#794 in the World

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

49. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For History

#322 in Europe

#805 in the World

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

50. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For History

#342 in Europe

#848 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

51. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For History

#344 in Europe

#853 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

52. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For History

#357 in Europe

#904 in the World

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

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For History

#364 in Europe

#925 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For History

#365 in Europe

#927 in the World

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

55. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For History

#375 in Europe

#952 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

56. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For History

#376 in Europe

#956 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

57. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For History

#378 in Europe

#966 in the World

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

58. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For History

#386 in Europe

#994 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

59. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For History

#388 in Europe

#998 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

60. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#393 in Europe

#1018 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

61. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For History

#405 in Europe

#1042 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

62. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For History

#445 in Europe

#1198 in the World

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

63. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For History

#461 in Europe

#1262 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

64. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For History

#467 in Europe

#1290 in the World

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

65. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For History

#487 in Europe

#1339 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

66. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For History

#496 in Europe

#1364 in the World

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

67. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For History

#510 in Europe

#1427 in the World

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

68. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For History

#513 in Europe

#1430 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

69. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For History

#538 in Europe

#1519 in the World

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

70. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For History

#541 in Europe

#1526 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

71. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For History

#559 in Europe

#1585 in the World

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

72. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For History

#560 in Europe

#1590 in the World

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

73. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For History

#577 in Europe

#1647 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

74. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For History

#580 in Europe

#1660 in the World

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

75. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For History

#584 in Europe

#1684 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

76. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For History

#613 in Europe

#1836 in the World

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

77. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For History

#616 in Europe

#1864 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

78. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#625 in Europe

#1911 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

79. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For History

#626 in Europe

#1912 in the World

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

80. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For History

#629 in Europe

#1932 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

81. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For History

#631 in Europe

#1938 in the World

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

82. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For History

#635 in Europe

#1961 in the World

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

83. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For History

#649 in Europe

#2019 in the World

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

84. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For History

#662 in Europe

#2111 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

85. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For History

#670 in Europe

#2149 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

86. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For History

#726 in Europe

#2436 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

87. Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Freising

For History

#763 in Europe

#2706 in the World

Enrollment: 6,407
Founded: 1971

88. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#764 in Europe

#2709 in the World

Enrollment: 11,828
Founded: 1971

89. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For History

#776 in Europe

#2767 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

90. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#785 in Europe

#2821 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

91. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#790 in Europe

#2844 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

92. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For History

#810 in Europe

#2937 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

93. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For History

#822 in Europe

#2990 in the World

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

94. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For History

#848 in Europe

#3138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,700
Founded: 1855

95. Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For History

#854 in Europe

#3168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 8,633
Founded: 1971

96. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For History

#858 in Europe

#3198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

97. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For History

#874 in Europe

#3278 in the World

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

98. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#875 in Europe

#3291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

99. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For History

#881 in Europe

#3338 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

100. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For History

#903 in Europe

#3450 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

The best cities to study History in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Heidelberg, Hamburg, Munich, and Freiburg im Breisgau.