100 Best Law schools 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 Law. A graph of 14.8M citations received by 570K academic papers made by 169 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 Law

#55 in Europe

#183 in the World

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

2. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#58 in Europe

#190 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

3. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#62 in Europe

#196 in the World

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

4. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Law

#79 in Europe

#240 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

5. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#83 in Europe

#254 in the World

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

6. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#88 in Europe

#269 in the World

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

7. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Law

#106 in Europe

#313 in the World

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

8. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Law

#110 in Europe

#321 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

9. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Law

#111 in Europe

#322 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

10. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#113 in Europe

#325 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

11. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Law

#118 in Europe

#335 in the World

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

12. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#124 in Europe

#352 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

13. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Law

#126 in Europe

#357 in the World

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

14. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#134 in Europe

#374 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

15. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Law

#138 in Europe

#382 in the World

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

16. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Law

#141 in Europe

#393 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

17. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Law

#143 in Europe

#400 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

18. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Law

#150 in Europe

#411 in the World

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

19. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Law

#162 in Europe

#444 in the World

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

20. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Law

#168 in Europe

#455 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Law

#177 in Europe

#476 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Law

#179 in Europe

#481 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

23. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Law

#182 in Europe

#488 in the World

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

24. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Law

#184 in Europe

#491 in the World

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

25. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Law

#189 in Europe

#499 in the World

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

26. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Law

#190 in Europe

#501 in the World

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

27. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Law

#196 in Europe

#514 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

28. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#203 in Europe

#525 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

29. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Law

#212 in Europe

#543 in the World

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

30. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Law

#216 in Europe

#552 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

31. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Law

#227 in Europe

#594 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

32. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Law

#232 in Europe

#604 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

33. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Law

#238 in Europe

#626 in the World

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

34. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Law

#240 in Europe

#629 in the World

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

35. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Law

#242 in Europe

#633 in the World

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

36. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Law

#247 in Europe

#649 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

37. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Law

#250 in Europe

#654 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

38. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Law

#255 in Europe

#667 in the World

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

39. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Law

#257 in Europe

#676 in the World

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

40. University of Kassel

For Law

#260 in Europe

#688 in the World

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

41. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Law

#286 in Europe

#749 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

42. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Law

#295 in Europe

#772 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

43. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Law

#305 in Europe

#791 in the World

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

44. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Law

#306 in Europe

#794 in the World

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

45. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Law

#317 in Europe

#820 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

46. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Law

#320 in Europe

#833 in the World

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

47. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Law

#328 in Europe

#854 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

48. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Law

#335 in Europe

#877 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

49. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Law

#337 in Europe

#886 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

50. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Law

#338 in Europe

#893 in the World

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

51. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Law

#350 in Europe

#936 in the World

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

52. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Law

#367 in Europe

#981 in the World

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

53. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Law

#378 in Europe

#1004 in the World

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

54. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Law

#382 in Europe

#1020 in the World

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

55. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Law

#390 in Europe

#1043 in the World

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

56. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Law

#396 in Europe

#1059 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

57. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Law

#400 in Europe

#1070 in the World

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

58. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Law

#415 in Europe

#1130 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

59. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Law

#416 in Europe

#1132 in the World

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

60. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Law

#427 in Europe

#1174 in the World

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

61. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Law

#437 in Europe

#1203 in the World

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

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Law

#439 in Europe

#1205 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Law

#459 in Europe

#1264 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

64. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Law

#474 in Europe

#1311 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

65. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Law

#475 in Europe

#1312 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

66. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Law

#483 in Europe

#1346 in the World

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

67. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#487 in Europe

#1351 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

68. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Law

#494 in Europe

#1382 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

69. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Law

#503 in Europe

#1408 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

70. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#504 in Europe

#1411 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

71. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Law

#521 in Europe

#1474 in the World

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

72. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Law

#533 in Europe

#1520 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

73. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#535 in Europe

#1525 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

74. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Law

#544 in Europe

#1572 in the World

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

75. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Law

#588 in Europe

#1756 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

76. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#598 in Europe

#1805 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

77. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Law

#599 in Europe

#1810 in the World

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

78. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#618 in Europe

#1887 in the World

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

79. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Law

#619 in Europe

#1889 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

80. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Law

#630 in Europe

#1940 in the World

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

81. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Law

#669 in Europe

#2146 in the World

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

82. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Law

#676 in Europe

#2168 in the World

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

83. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Law

#687 in Europe

#2211 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

84. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Law

#697 in Europe

#2251 in the World

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

85. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#698 in Europe

#2257 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

86. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Law

#707 in Europe

#2320 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

87. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Law

#709 in Europe

#2337 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

88. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Law

#713 in Europe

#2353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

89. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#725 in Europe

#2448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

90. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Law

#733 in Europe

#2489 in the World

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

91. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Law

#760 in Europe

#2630 in the World

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

92. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Law

#791 in Europe

#2776 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

93. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#797 in Europe

#2795 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

94. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#809 in Europe

#2852 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

95. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Law

#845 in Europe

#3076 in the World

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

96. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Law

#847 in Europe

#3085 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

97. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For Law

#849 in Europe

#3091 in the World

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

98. HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Saxony | Leipzig

For Law

#850 in Europe

#3108 in the World

Enrollment: 737
Founded: 1898

99. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Law

#853 in Europe

#3124 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

100. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#869 in Europe

#3219 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

The best cities to study Law in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Heidelberg, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt.

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Germany

Anthropology112

Broadcast Journalism39

Classics and Ancient History78

Communications and Public Relations106

Criminology and Criminal Justice51

Early Childhood Education37

Education Majors107

Forensic Science33

Gender Studies73

Human Rights Law35

Intellectual Property and Patent Law38

International Law43

International Relations and Diplomacy38

Journalism and Digital Media65

Law Enforcement34

Library and Information science104

Media Studies59

Military science37

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution52

Occupational Safety and Health30

Political Economy64

Political Science174

Public Policy / Administration69

Radio and Television broadcasting37

Special Education40

Sports / Exercise science49

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies107

Urban and Regional planning53