100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 10M citations received by 416K 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. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#20 in Europe

#92 in the World

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

2. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Linguistics

#23 in Europe

#102 in the World

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

3. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#40 in Europe

#135 in the World

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

4. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#44 in Europe

#141 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Linguistics

#55 in Europe

#161 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

6. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Linguistics

#63 in Europe

#183 in the World

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

7. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#66 in Europe

#192 in the World

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

8. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Linguistics

#67 in Europe

#193 in the World

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

9. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#72 in Europe

#208 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Linguistics

#76 in Europe

#219 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Linguistics

#78 in Europe

#228 in the World

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

12. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#79 in Europe

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

13. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Linguistics

#83 in Europe

#242 in the World

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

14. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#84 in Europe

#246 in the World

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

15. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Linguistics

#92 in Europe

#264 in the World

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

16. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Linguistics

#104 in Europe

#288 in the World

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

17. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Linguistics

#111 in Europe

#300 in the World

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

18. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Linguistics

#112 in Europe

#301 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

19. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Linguistics

#115 in Europe

#305 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

20. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Linguistics

#117 in Europe

#308 in the World

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

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Linguistics

#122 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#123 in Europe

#322 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

23. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Linguistics

#128 in Europe

#333 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

24. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Linguistics

#131 in Europe

#336 in the World

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

25. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Linguistics

#132 in Europe

#337 in the World

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

26. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Linguistics

#135 in Europe

#341 in the World

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

27. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Linguistics

#142 in Europe

#361 in the World

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

28. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Linguistics

#155 in Europe

#396 in the World

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

29. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Linguistics

#157 in Europe

#399 in the World

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

30. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Linguistics

#158 in Europe

#400 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

31. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#163 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

32. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#164 in Europe

#415 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

33. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Linguistics

#165 in Europe

#417 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

34. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Linguistics

#172 in Europe

#432 in the World

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

35. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Linguistics

#175 in Europe

#437 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

36. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Linguistics

#183 in Europe

#458 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

37. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Linguistics

#186 in Europe

#462 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

38. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Linguistics

#208 in Europe

#511 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

39. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Linguistics

#210 in Europe

#520 in the World

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

40. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Linguistics

#213 in Europe

#528 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

41. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Linguistics

#218 in Europe

#539 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

42. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#230 in Europe

#578 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

43. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Linguistics

#241 in Europe

#602 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

44. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Linguistics

#257 in Europe

#635 in the World

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

45. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Linguistics

#269 in Europe

#670 in the World

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

46. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Linguistics

#277 in Europe

#702 in the World

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

47. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Linguistics

#279 in Europe

#707 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

48. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Linguistics

#283 in Europe

#712 in the World

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

49. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Linguistics

#304 in Europe

#767 in the World

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

50. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Linguistics

#306 in Europe

#772 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

51. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Linguistics

#309 in Europe

#781 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

52. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Linguistics

#319 in Europe

#819 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

53. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Linguistics

#325 in Europe

#831 in the World

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

54. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Linguistics

#329 in Europe

#836 in the World

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

55. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Linguistics

#336 in Europe

#861 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

56. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Linguistics

#346 in Europe

#881 in the World

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

57. University of Kassel

For Linguistics

#347 in Europe

#882 in the World

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

58. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Linguistics

#368 in Europe

#955 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

59. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Linguistics

#379 in Europe

#996 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

60. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Linguistics

#381 in Europe

#1001 in the World

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

61. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Linguistics

#382 in Europe

#1007 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

62. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Linguistics

#384 in Europe

#1011 in the World

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

63. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Linguistics

#424 in Europe

#1163 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

64. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Linguistics

#429 in Europe

#1184 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

65. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Linguistics

#434 in Europe

#1193 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

66. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#449 in Europe

#1245 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

67. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Linguistics

#455 in Europe

#1265 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

68. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Linguistics

#458 in Europe

#1276 in the World

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

69. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Linguistics

#463 in Europe

#1283 in the World

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

70. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Linguistics

#513 in Europe

#1461 in the World

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

71. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Linguistics

#514 in Europe

#1467 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

72. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Linguistics

#528 in Europe

#1530 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

73. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Linguistics

#543 in Europe

#1588 in the World

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

74. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Linguistics

#572 in Europe

#1696 in the World

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

75. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Linguistics

#574 in Europe

#1704 in the World

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

76. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Linguistics

#578 in Europe

#1746 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

77. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Linguistics

#590 in Europe

#1848 in the World

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

78. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Linguistics

#608 in Europe

#1947 in the World

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

79. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#609 in Europe

#1950 in the World

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

80. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Linguistics

#612 in Europe

#1959 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

81. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#650 in Europe

#2119 in the World

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

82. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#660 in Europe

#2155 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

83. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Linguistics

#668 in Europe

#2199 in the World

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

84. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#675 in Europe

#2216 in the World

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

85. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Linguistics

#708 in Europe

#2357 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

86. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#718 in Europe

#2417 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

87. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#787 in Europe

#2801 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

88. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#797 in Europe

#2870 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

89. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Linguistics

#808 in Europe

#2916 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

90. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Linguistics

#816 in Europe

#2946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

91. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#817 in Europe

#2953 in the World

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

92. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#830 in Europe

#3045 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

93. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Linguistics

#856 in Europe

#3199 in the World

Enrollment: 2,295
Founded: 1897

94. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Linguistics

#871 in Europe

#3277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 9,145
Founded: 1996

95. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#877 in Europe

#3305 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

96. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Linguistics

#899 in Europe

#3412 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

97. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Linguistics

#900 in Europe

#3420 in the World

Enrollment: 6,687
Founded: 1971

98. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Linguistics

#937 in Europe

#3593 in the World

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

99. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#939 in Europe

#3606 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

100. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#954 in Europe

#3684 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

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

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