100 Best Law schools 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 Law. A graph of 13.6M citations received by 556K 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

#182 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

#60 in Europe

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

3. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#62 in Europe

#200 in the World

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

4. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Law

#75 in Europe

#236 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

5. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#82 in Europe

#255 in the World

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

6. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#85 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

#308 in the World

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

8. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Law

#109 in Europe

#318 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

9. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Law

#111 in Europe

#320 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

10. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#112 in Europe

#323 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

11. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Law

#116 in Europe

#327 in the World

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

12. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#123 in Europe

#350 in the World

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

13. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Law

#126 in Europe

#355 in the World

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

14. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#133 in Europe

#372 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

15. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Law

#138 in Europe

#379 in the World

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

16. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Law

#140 in Europe

#392 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

17. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Law

#141 in Europe

#393 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

18. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Law

#147 in Europe

#410 in the World

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

19. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Law

#160 in Europe

#440 in the World

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

20. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Law

#165 in Europe

#451 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Law

#178 in Europe

#471 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Law

#179 in Europe

#476 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

23. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Law

#181 in Europe

#485 in the World

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

24. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Law

#182 in Europe

#486 in the World

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

25. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Law

#186 in Europe

#493 in the World

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

26. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Law

#189 in Europe

#498 in the World

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

27. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Law

#197 in Europe

#516 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

28. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Law

#204 in Europe

#534 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

29. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Law

#207 in Europe

#538 in the World

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

30. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#210 in Europe

#543 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

31. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Law

#226 in Europe

#590 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

32. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Law

#228 in Europe

#599 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

33. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Law

#234 in Europe

#613 in the World

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

34. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Law

#237 in Europe

#622 in the World

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

35. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Law

#238 in Europe

#623 in the World

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

36. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Law

#244 in Europe

#645 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

37. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Law

#251 in Europe

#661 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

38. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Law

#254 in Europe

#667 in the World

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

39. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Law

#255 in Europe

#670 in the World

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

40. University of Kassel

For Law

#261 in Europe

#687 in the World

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

41. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Law

#284 in Europe

#741 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

42. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Law

#294 in Europe

#764 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

43. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Law

#304 in Europe

#786 in the World

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

44. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Law

#307 in Europe

#801 in the World

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

45. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Law

#318 in Europe

#831 in the World

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

46. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Law

#319 in Europe

#833 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

47. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Law

#328 in Europe

#857 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

48. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Law

#333 in Europe

#874 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

49. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Law

#336 in Europe

#885 in the World

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

50. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Law

#338 in Europe

#889 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

51. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Law

#347 in Europe

#933 in the World

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

52. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Law

#366 in Europe

#974 in the World

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

53. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Law

#368 in Europe

#980 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

#388 in Europe

#1040 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

#394 in Europe

#1055 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

57. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Law

#398 in Europe

#1064 in the World

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

58. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Law

#411 in Europe

#1108 in the World

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

59. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Law

#415 in Europe

#1119 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

60. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Law

#427 in Europe

#1182 in the World

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

61. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Law

#429 in Europe

#1186 in the World

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

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Law

#437 in Europe

#1203 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Law

#460 in Europe

#1263 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

64. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Law

#467 in Europe

#1286 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

65. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Law

#477 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

66. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#485 in Europe

#1357 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

67. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Law

#489 in Europe

#1370 in the World

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

68. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Law

#496 in Europe

#1388 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

69. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Law

#500 in Europe

#1398 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

70. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#503 in Europe

#1409 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

71. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Law

#517 in Europe

#1455 in the World

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

72. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Law

#529 in Europe

#1504 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

73. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#541 in Europe

#1556 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

74. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Law

#542 in Europe

#1560 in the World

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

75. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Law

#544 in Europe

#1567 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

76. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Law

#568 in Europe

#1681 in the World

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

77. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#597 in Europe

#1807 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

78. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Law

#598 in Europe

#1808 in the World

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

79. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Law

#617 in Europe

#1878 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

80. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#624 in Europe

#1923 in the World

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

81. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Law

#635 in Europe

#1961 in the World

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

82. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Law

#667 in Europe

#2128 in the World

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

83. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Law

#669 in Europe

#2133 in the World

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

84. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Law

#692 in Europe

#2229 in the World

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

85. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Law

#695 in Europe

#2261 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

86. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Law

#696 in Europe

#2264 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

87. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Law

#703 in Europe

#2304 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

88. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Law

#713 in Europe

#2357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

89. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Law

#720 in Europe

#2402 in the World

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

90. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Law

#721 in Europe

#2405 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

91. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Law

#739 in Europe

#2505 in the World

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

92. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#786 in Europe

#2749 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

93. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Law

#802 in Europe

#2799 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

94. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Law

#806 in Europe

#2839 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

95. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Law

#832 in Europe

#3030 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

96. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Law

#840 in Europe

#3072 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

97. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For Law

#847 in Europe

#3097 in the World

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

98. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Law

#848 in Europe

#3100 in the World

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

99. HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Saxony | Leipzig

For Law

#862 in Europe

#3180 in the World

Enrollment: 737
Founded: 1898

100. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Law

#870 in Europe

#3216 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 History76

Communications and Public Relations106

Criminology and Criminal Justice50

Early Childhood Education38

Education Majors106

Forensic Science33

Gender Studies73

Human Rights Law37

Intellectual Property and Patent Law37

International Law43

International Relations and Diplomacy36

Journalism and Digital Media65

Law Enforcement34

Library and Information science104

Media Studies59

Military science36

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution52

Occupational Safety and Health32

Political Economy63

Political Science174

Public Policy / Administration69

Radio and Television broadcasting35

Special Education41

Sports / Exercise science47

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies106

Urban and Regional planning53