100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 7.01M citations received by 367K academic papers made by 163 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 Linguistics

#22 in Europe

#98 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#27 in Europe

#111 in the World

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

3. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#36 in Europe

#127 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

#49 in Europe

#152 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Linguistics

#54 in Europe

#164 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

6. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Linguistics

#60 in Europe

#179 in the World

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

7. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Linguistics

#63 in Europe

#188 in the World

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

8. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#64 in Europe

#190 in the World

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

9. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Linguistics

#74 in Europe

#223 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

10. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Linguistics

#77 in Europe

#232 in the World

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

11. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#78 in Europe

#233 in the World

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

12. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#79 in Europe

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

13. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Linguistics

#81 in Europe

#241 in the World

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

14. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#82 in Europe

#242 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

15. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Linguistics

#102 in Europe

#283 in the World

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

16. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Linguistics

#103 in Europe

#285 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

17. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Linguistics

#107 in Europe

#291 in the World

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

18. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#118 in Europe

#312 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

19. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Linguistics

#120 in Europe

#314 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

20. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Linguistics

#121 in Europe

#315 in the World

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

21. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Linguistics

#122 in Europe

#318 in the World

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

22. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Linguistics

#133 in Europe

#339 in the World

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

23. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Linguistics

#134 in Europe

#340 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

24. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Linguistics

#135 in Europe

#341 in the World

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

25. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Linguistics

#140 in Europe

#353 in the World

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

26. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Linguistics

#141 in Europe

#355 in the World

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

27. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Linguistics

#150 in Europe

#373 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

28. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Linguistics

#153 in Europe

#397 in the World

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

29. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Linguistics

#155 in Europe

#399 in the World

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

30. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Linguistics

#156 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

31. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#159 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

32. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#160 in Europe

#410 in the World

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

33. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Linguistics

#162 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

34. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Linguistics

#166 in Europe

#419 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

35. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Linguistics

#182 in Europe

#458 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

36. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Linguistics

#184 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

37. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Linguistics

#185 in Europe

#462 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

38. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Linguistics

#195 in Europe

#481 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

39. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Linguistics

#206 in Europe

#505 in the World

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

40. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Linguistics

#212 in Europe

#523 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

41. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Linguistics

#213 in Europe

#524 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

42. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#230 in Europe

#567 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

43. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Linguistics

#239 in Europe

#593 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

44. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Linguistics

#249 in Europe

#617 in the World

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

45. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Linguistics

#261 in Europe

#648 in the World

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

46. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Linguistics

#264 in Europe

#655 in the World

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

47. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Linguistics

#269 in Europe

#673 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

48. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Linguistics

#276 in Europe

#691 in the World

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

49. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Linguistics

#277 in Europe

#699 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

50. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Linguistics

#292 in Europe

#739 in the World

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

51. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Linguistics

#293 in Europe

#741 in the World

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

52. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Linguistics

#300 in Europe

#750 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

53. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Linguistics

#324 in Europe

#809 in the World

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

54. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Linguistics

#328 in Europe

#818 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

55. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Linguistics

#338 in Europe

#850 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

56. University of Kassel

For Linguistics

#340 in Europe

#856 in the World

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

57. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Linguistics

#343 in Europe

#861 in the World

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

58. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Linguistics

#354 in Europe

#917 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

59. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Linguistics

#365 in Europe

#955 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

60. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Linguistics

#367 in Europe

#957 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

61. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Linguistics

#369 in Europe

#967 in the World

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

62. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Linguistics

#380 in Europe

#996 in the World

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

63. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Linguistics

#407 in Europe

#1093 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

64. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Linguistics

#418 in Europe

#1128 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

65. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#436 in Europe

#1193 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

66. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Linguistics

#439 in Europe

#1204 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

67. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Linguistics

#449 in Europe

#1235 in the World

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

68. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Linguistics

#450 in Europe

#1236 in the World

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

69. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Linguistics

#455 in Europe

#1256 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

70. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Linguistics

#488 in Europe

#1368 in the World

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

71. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Linguistics

#494 in Europe

#1380 in the World

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

72. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Linguistics

#505 in Europe

#1414 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

73. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Linguistics

#524 in Europe

#1505 in the World

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

74. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Linguistics

#528 in Europe

#1513 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

75. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Linguistics

#543 in Europe

#1579 in the World

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

76. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Linguistics

#555 in Europe

#1634 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

77. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Linguistics

#571 in Europe

#1698 in the World

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

78. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Linguistics

#594 in Europe

#1815 in the World

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

79. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Linguistics

#601 in Europe

#1845 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

80. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#627 in Europe

#1977 in the World

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

81. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#632 in Europe

#2018 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

82. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#646 in Europe

#2075 in the World

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

83. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Linguistics

#656 in Europe

#2105 in the World

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

84. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Linguistics

#672 in Europe

#2159 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

85. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#680 in Europe

#2207 in the World

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

86. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#763 in Europe

#2682 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

87. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#768 in Europe

#2702 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

88. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#774 in Europe

#2747 in the World

Enrollment: 11,828
Founded: 1971

89. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#780 in Europe

#2767 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

90. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Linguistics

#798 in Europe

#2893 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

91. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#802 in Europe

#2931 in the World

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

92. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Linguistics

#851 in Europe

#3222 in the World

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

93. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Linguistics

#856 in Europe

#3239 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

94. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Linguistics

#858 in Europe

#3245 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

95. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Linguistics

#864 in Europe

#3284 in the World

Enrollment: 2,466
Founded: 1897

96. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Linguistics

#865 in Europe

#3285 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

97. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Linguistics

#872 in Europe

#3314 in the World

Enrollment: 6,687
Founded: 1971

98. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Linguistics

#881 in Europe

#3347 in the World

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

99. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#887 in Europe

#3363 in the World

Enrollment: 13,494
Male:Female: 66:34
Founded: 1971

100. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Linguistics

#903 in Europe

#3435 in the World

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

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

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