100 Best Law schools 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 Law. A graph of 9.18M citations received by 490K 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

#58 in Europe

#193 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

#64 in Europe

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

3. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#66 in Europe

#217 in the World

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

4. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#84 in Europe

#265 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 Law

#87 in Europe

#273 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

6. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#89 in Europe

#282 in the World

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

7. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Law

#101 in Europe

#303 in the World

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

8. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Law

#104 in Europe

#310 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

9. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Law

#107 in Europe

#314 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

10. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#114 in Europe

#325 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

11. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Law

#116 in Europe

#331 in the World

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

12. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Law

#123 in Europe

#347 in the World

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

13. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#126 in Europe

#358 in the World

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

14. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#131 in Europe

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

15. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Law

#133 in Europe

#371 in the World

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

16. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Law

#145 in Europe

#401 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

17. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Law

#146 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

18. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Law

#147 in Europe

#405 in the World

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

19. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Law

#165 in Europe

#447 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

20. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Law

#170 in Europe

#457 in the World

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

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Law

#172 in Europe

#462 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Law

#175 in Europe

#469 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

23. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Law

#183 in Europe

#484 in the World

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

24. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Law

#184 in Europe

#486 in the World

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

25. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Law

#194 in Europe

#501 in the World

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

26. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Law

#196 in Europe

#506 in the World

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

27. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Law

#197 in Europe

#508 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

28. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Law

#199 in Europe

#514 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

29. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#210 in Europe

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

30. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Law

#215 in Europe

#560 in the World

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

31. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Law

#219 in Europe

#570 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

32. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Law

#223 in Europe

#587 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

33. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Law

#230 in Europe

#603 in the World

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

34. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Law

#232 in Europe

#607 in the World

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

35. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Law

#242 in Europe

#634 in the World

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

36. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Law

#244 in Europe

#636 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

37. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Law

#248 in Europe

#641 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

38. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Law

#250 in Europe

#645 in the World

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

39. University of Kassel

For Law

#257 in Europe

#666 in the World

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

40. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Law

#258 in Europe

#668 in the World

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

41. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Law

#279 in Europe

#708 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

42. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Law

#286 in Europe

#730 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

43. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Law

#290 in Europe

#749 in the World

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

44. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Law

#291 in Europe

#752 in the World

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

45. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Law

#305 in Europe

#791 in the World

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

46. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Law

#316 in Europe

#824 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

47. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Law

#318 in Europe

#826 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

48. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Law

#320 in Europe

#829 in the World

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

49. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Law

#323 in Europe

#837 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

50. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Law

#329 in Europe

#859 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

51. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Law

#352 in Europe

#923 in the World

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

52. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Law

#360 in Europe

#949 in the World

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

53. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Law

#363 in Europe

#955 in the World

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

54. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Law

#367 in Europe

#967 in the World

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

55. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Law

#377 in Europe

#1003 in the World

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

56. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Law

#379 in Europe

#1011 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

57. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Law

#382 in Europe

#1018 in the World

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

58. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Law

#386 in Europe

#1031 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

59. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Law

#387 in Europe

#1039 in the World

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

60. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Law

#412 in Europe

#1111 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

61. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Law

#415 in Europe

#1125 in the World

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

62. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Law

#423 in Europe

#1149 in the World

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

63. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Law

#441 in Europe

#1204 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

64. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Law

#443 in Europe

#1209 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

65. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Law

#455 in Europe

#1243 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

66. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Law

#462 in Europe

#1265 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

67. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Law

#463 in Europe

#1268 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

68. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Law

#473 in Europe

#1305 in the World

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

69. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#475 in Europe

#1311 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

70. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Law

#486 in Europe

#1337 in the World

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

71. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Law

#507 in Europe

#1410 in the World

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

72. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Law

#510 in Europe

#1419 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

73. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#533 in Europe

#1518 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

74. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Law

#538 in Europe

#1530 in the World

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

75. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#540 in Europe

#1542 in the World

Enrollment: 11,828
Founded: 1971

76. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Law

#570 in Europe

#1681 in the World

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

77. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#584 in Europe

#1752 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

78. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Law

#589 in Europe

#1769 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

79. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#601 in Europe

#1817 in the World

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

80. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Law

#627 in Europe

#1953 in the World

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

81. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Law

#634 in Europe

#1979 in the World

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

82. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Law

#637 in Europe

#1986 in the World

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

83. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Law

#641 in Europe

#2009 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

84. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Law

#658 in Europe

#2096 in the World

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

85. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Law

#661 in Europe

#2103 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

86. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Law

#663 in Europe

#2107 in the World

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

87. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Law

#673 in Europe

#2167 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

88. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#698 in Europe

#2283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

89. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Law

#704 in Europe

#2335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

90. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#720 in Europe

#2418 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

91. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#721 in Europe

#2430 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

92. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#723 in Europe

#2440 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

93. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Law

#773 in Europe

#2735 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

94. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Law

#774 in Europe

#2745 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

95. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Law

#808 in Europe

#2924 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

96. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#835 in Europe

#3052 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

97. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Law

#838 in Europe

#3065 in the World

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

98. HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Saxony | Leipzig

For Law

#850 in Europe

#3132 in the World

Enrollment: 737
Founded: 1898

99. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For Law

#855 in Europe

#3165 in the World

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

100. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Law

#868 in Europe

#3239 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

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

Anthropology107

Broadcast Journalism40

Classics and Ancient History71

Communications and Public Relations101

Criminology and Criminal Justice45

Early Childhood Education38

Education Majors103

Forensic Science35

Gender Studies70

Human Rights Law39

Intellectual Property and Patent Law38

International Law44

International Relations and Diplomacy37

Journalism and Digital Media61

Law Enforcement35

Library and Information science102

Media Studies51

Military science36

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution52

Occupational Safety and Health32

Political Economy58

Political Science173

Public Policy / Administration62

Radio and Television broadcasting38

Special Education41

Sports / Exercise science45

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies100

Urban and Regional planning45