100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 11M citations received by 426K 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

#101 in the World

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

3. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#39 in Europe

#132 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

#58 in Europe

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

6. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Linguistics

#64 in Europe

#184 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

#68 in Europe

#198 in the World

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

9. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#73 in Europe

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Linguistics

#76 in Europe

#218 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Linguistics

#80 in Europe

#232 in the World

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

12. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#83 in Europe

#242 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

13. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Linguistics

#86 in Europe

#250 in the World

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

14. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#87 in Europe

#251 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

15. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Linguistics

#94 in Europe

#267 in the World

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

16. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Linguistics

#108 in Europe

#295 in the World

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

17. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Linguistics

#111 in Europe

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

18. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Linguistics

#113 in Europe

#303 in the World

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

19. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Linguistics

#115 in Europe

#307 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

20. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Linguistics

#120 in Europe

#317 in the World

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

21. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Linguistics

#122 in Europe

#320 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

22. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#124 in Europe

#326 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

#337 in the World

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

25. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Linguistics

#132 in Europe

#338 in the World

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

26. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Linguistics

#134 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

#362 in the World

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

28. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Linguistics

#156 in Europe

#400 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

29. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Linguistics

#157 in Europe

#402 in the World

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

30. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Linguistics

#158 in Europe

#403 in the World

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

31. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#161 in Europe

#411 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

32. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#164 in Europe

#415 in the World

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

33. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Linguistics

#168 in Europe

#430 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

34. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Linguistics

#173 in Europe

#437 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

35. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Linguistics

#177 in Europe

#444 in the World

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

36. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Linguistics

#186 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

37. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Linguistics

#189 in Europe

#465 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

38. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Linguistics

#209 in Europe

#513 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

39. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Linguistics

#211 in Europe

#519 in the World

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

40. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Linguistics

#215 in Europe

#536 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

41. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Linguistics

#219 in Europe

#546 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

42. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#231 in Europe

#584 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

43. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Linguistics

#244 in Europe

#611 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

44. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Linguistics

#260 in Europe

#644 in the World

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

45. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Linguistics

#270 in Europe

#681 in the World

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

46. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Linguistics

#277 in Europe

#703 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

47. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Linguistics

#279 in Europe

#706 in the World

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

48. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Linguistics

#287 in Europe

#728 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

#308 in Europe

#777 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

51. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Linguistics

#312 in Europe

#795 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

52. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Linguistics

#320 in Europe

#826 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

53. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Linguistics

#328 in Europe

#841 in the World

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

54. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Linguistics

#330 in Europe

#844 in the World

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

55. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Linguistics

#340 in Europe

#864 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

56. University of Kassel

For Linguistics

#347 in Europe

#884 in the World

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

57. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Linguistics

#350 in Europe

#897 in the World

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

58. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Linguistics

#369 in Europe

#960 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

59. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Linguistics

#380 in Europe

#1007 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

60. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Linguistics

#383 in Europe

#1015 in the World

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

61. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Linguistics

#384 in Europe

#1018 in the World

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

62. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Linguistics

#386 in Europe

#1021 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

63. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Linguistics

#421 in Europe

#1161 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

64. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Linguistics

#439 in Europe

#1214 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

65. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Linguistics

#442 in Europe

#1224 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

66. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Linguistics

#450 in Europe

#1257 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

67. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#452 in Europe

#1261 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

68. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Linguistics

#464 in Europe

#1292 in the World

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

69. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Linguistics

#469 in Europe

#1299 in the World

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

70. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Linguistics

#519 in Europe

#1496 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

71. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Linguistics

#525 in Europe

#1533 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

72. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Linguistics

#530 in Europe

#1546 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

73. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Linguistics

#547 in Europe

#1605 in the World

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

74. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Linguistics

#571 in Europe

#1702 in the World

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

75. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Linguistics

#578 in Europe

#1759 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

76. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Linguistics

#579 in Europe

#1765 in the World

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

77. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Linguistics

#601 in Europe

#1892 in the World

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

78. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Linguistics

#607 in Europe

#1938 in the World

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

79. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#608 in Europe

#1940 in the World

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

80. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Linguistics

#614 in Europe

#1979 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

81. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#646 in Europe

#2090 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

#662 in Europe

#2159 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

83. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Linguistics

#677 in Europe

#2222 in the World

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

84. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Linguistics

#680 in Europe

#2239 in the World

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

85. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Linguistics

#712 in Europe

#2384 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

86. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#720 in Europe

#2421 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

87. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#783 in Europe

#2776 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

88. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#799 in Europe

#2861 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

89. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Linguistics

#808 in Europe

#2919 in the World

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

90. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Linguistics

#815 in Europe

#2964 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

91. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Linguistics

#816 in Europe

#2966 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

92. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Linguistics

#836 in Europe

#3085 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

93. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Linguistics

#847 in Europe

#3143 in the World

Enrollment: 2,295
Founded: 1897

94. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Linguistics

#875 in Europe

#3280 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

95. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Linguistics

#885 in Europe

#3347 in the World

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

96. German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer

Rhineland-Palatinate | Speyer

For Linguistics

#894 in Europe

#3392 in the World

Enrollment: 295
Founded: 1947

97. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Linguistics

#903 in Europe

#3431 in the World

Enrollment: 4,461
Founded: 1971

98. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Linguistics

#939 in Europe

#3619 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

99. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Linguistics

#945 in Europe

#3640 in the World

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

100. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Linguistics

#946 in Europe

#3644 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 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