100 Best universities for History 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 History. A graph of 12.7M citations received by 481K academic papers made by 164 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

#40 in Europe

#124 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For History

#44 in Europe

#136 in the World

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

3. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#55 in Europe

#160 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

4. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For History

#58 in Europe

#165 in the World

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

5. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For History

#60 in Europe

#168 in the World

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

6. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For History

#69 in Europe

#200 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

7. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#70 in Europe

#201 in the World

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

8. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For History

#74 in Europe

#211 in the World

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

9. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For History

#80 in Europe

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

10. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For History

#90 in Europe

#260 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

11. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For History

#92 in Europe

#267 in the World

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

12. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#93 in Europe

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

13. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For History

#99 in Europe

#281 in the World

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

14. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For History

#104 in Europe

#290 in the World

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

15. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For History

#116 in Europe

#319 in the World

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

16. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For History

#118 in Europe

#323 in the World

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

17. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For History

#119 in Europe

#325 in the World

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

18. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For History

#120 in Europe

#328 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

19. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For History

#124 in Europe

#338 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

20. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#136 in Europe

#364 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

21. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For History

#137 in Europe

#366 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

22. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For History

#143 in Europe

#380 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

23. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For History

#160 in Europe

#412 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

24. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#163 in Europe

#426 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

25. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For History

#180 in Europe

#462 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

26. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For History

#183 in Europe

#466 in the World

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

27. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For History

#184 in Europe

#467 in the World

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

28. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For History

#185 in Europe

#468 in the World

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

29. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For History

#195 in Europe

#493 in the World

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

30. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For History

#201 in Europe

#503 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

31. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For History

#207 in Europe

#524 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

32. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For History

#208 in Europe

#526 in the World

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

33. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For History

#213 in Europe

#536 in the World

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

34. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For History

#214 in Europe

#537 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

35. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For History

#228 in Europe

#558 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

36. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For History

#239 in Europe

#594 in the World

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

37. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For History

#240 in Europe

#596 in the World

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

38. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For History

#242 in Europe

#606 in the World

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

39. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For History

#244 in Europe

#612 in the World

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

40. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For History

#248 in Europe

#620 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

41. University of Kassel

Hesse | Kassel

For History

#256 in Europe

#644 in the World

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

42. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For History

#260 in Europe

#653 in the World

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

43. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For History

#262 in Europe

#656 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

44. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For History

#266 in Europe

#661 in the World

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

45. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For History

#273 in Europe

#675 in the World

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

46. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For History

#286 in Europe

#714 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

47. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For History

#306 in Europe

#772 in the World

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

48. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For History

#316 in Europe

#803 in the World

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

49. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For History

#335 in Europe

#855 in the World

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

50. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For History

#344 in Europe

#876 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

51. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For History

#350 in Europe

#886 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

52. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For History

#366 in Europe

#941 in the World

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

53. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For History

#373 in Europe

#968 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

54. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For History

#377 in Europe

#974 in the World

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

55. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For History

#378 in Europe

#987 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

56. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For History

#383 in Europe

#996 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

57. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For History

#392 in Europe

#1023 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

58. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For History

#396 in Europe

#1040 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

59. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For History

#399 in Europe

#1051 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

60. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For History

#402 in Europe

#1062 in the World

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

61. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For History

#403 in Europe

#1070 in the World

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

62. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#412 in Europe

#1095 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

63. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For History

#438 in Europe

#1199 in the World

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

64. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For History

#454 in Europe

#1240 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

65. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For History

#483 in Europe

#1333 in the World

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

66. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For History

#502 in Europe

#1398 in the World

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

67. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For History

#515 in Europe

#1458 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

68. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For History

#520 in Europe

#1476 in the World

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

69. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For History

#526 in Europe

#1505 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

70. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For History

#536 in Europe

#1533 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

71. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For History

#576 in Europe

#1671 in the World

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

72. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For History

#579 in Europe

#1676 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

73. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For History

#580 in Europe

#1678 in the World

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

74. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For History

#591 in Europe

#1736 in the World

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

75. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For History

#603 in Europe

#1799 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

76. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For History

#608 in Europe

#1832 in the World

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

77. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For History

#632 in Europe

#1956 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

78. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For History

#636 in Europe

#1973 in the World

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

79. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#644 in Europe

#2012 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

80. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For History

#656 in Europe

#2071 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

81. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For History

#657 in Europe

#2079 in the World

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

82. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For History

#670 in Europe

#2153 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

83. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For History

#681 in Europe

#2184 in the World

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

84. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For History

#691 in Europe

#2217 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

85. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For History

#695 in Europe

#2257 in the World

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

86. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#746 in Europe

#2528 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

87. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For History

#759 in Europe

#2629 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

88. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For History

#767 in Europe

#2683 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

89. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#776 in Europe

#2769 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

90. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For History

#789 in Europe

#2819 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

91. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For History

#792 in Europe

#2852 in the World

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

92. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For History

#817 in Europe

#2967 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

93. Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Freising

For History

#842 in Europe

#3097 in the World

Enrollment: 6,407
Founded: 1971

94. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For History

#860 in Europe

#3193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

95. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For History

#870 in Europe

#3240 in the World

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

96. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For History

#899 in Europe

#3408 in the World

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

97. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For History

#904 in Europe

#3445 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

98. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For History

#918 in Europe

#3504 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

99. Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For History

#919 in Europe

#3519 in the World

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

100. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For History

#938 in Europe

#3612 in the World

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

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