100 Best universities for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 20.8M citations received by 1.12M academic papers made by 175 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 Philosophy

#16 in Europe

#59 in the World

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

2. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Philosophy

#17 in Europe

#65 in the World

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

3. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Philosophy

#26 in Europe

#97 in the World

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

4. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#27 in Europe

#99 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#35 in Europe

#116 in the World

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

6. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Philosophy

#36 in Europe

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

7. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Philosophy

#46 in Europe

#137 in the World

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

8. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Philosophy

#54 in Europe

#154 in the World

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

9. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Philosophy

#55 in Europe

#155 in the World

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

10. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Philosophy

#58 in Europe

#159 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

11. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Philosophy

#65 in Europe

#172 in the World

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

12. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#68 in Europe

#175 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

13. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Philosophy

#69 in Europe

#176 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

14. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Philosophy

#79 in Europe

#193 in the World

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

15. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#82 in Europe

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

16. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Philosophy

#86 in Europe

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

17. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Philosophy

#87 in Europe

#208 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

18. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Philosophy

#89 in Europe

#210 in the World

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

19. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Philosophy

#91 in Europe

#214 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

20. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Philosophy

#93 in Europe

#219 in the World

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

21. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Philosophy

#94 in Europe

#220 in the World

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

22. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Philosophy

#101 in Europe

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

23. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Philosophy

#109 in Europe

#254 in the World

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

24. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Philosophy

#111 in Europe

#262 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

25. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Philosophy

#120 in Europe

#276 in the World

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

26. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Philosophy

#125 in Europe

#288 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

27. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Philosophy

#128 in Europe

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

28. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Philosophy

#132 in Europe

#302 in the World

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

29. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Philosophy

#140 in Europe

#318 in the World

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

30. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Philosophy

#143 in Europe

#328 in the World

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

31. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Philosophy

#145 in Europe

#335 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

32. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Philosophy

#154 in Europe

#358 in the World

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

33. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Philosophy

#161 in Europe

#374 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

34. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Philosophy

#165 in Europe

#379 in the World

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

35. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Philosophy

#172 in Europe

#397 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

36. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Philosophy

#175 in Europe

#404 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

37. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Philosophy

#177 in Europe

#412 in the World

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

38. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#182 in Europe

#426 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

39. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Philosophy

#195 in Europe

#452 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

40. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Philosophy

#197 in Europe

#458 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

41. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Philosophy

#198 in Europe

#461 in the World

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

42. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Philosophy

#199 in Europe

#464 in the World

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

43. University of Kassel

For Philosophy

#219 in Europe

#502 in the World

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

44. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Philosophy

#230 in Europe

#534 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

45. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Philosophy

#232 in Europe

#536 in the World

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

46. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Philosophy

#238 in Europe

#552 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

47. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Philosophy

#244 in Europe

#564 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

48. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Philosophy

#248 in Europe

#573 in the World

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

49. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Philosophy

#253 in Europe

#584 in the World

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

50. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Philosophy

#261 in Europe

#611 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

51. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Philosophy

#269 in Europe

#638 in the World

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

52. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Philosophy

#281 in Europe

#664 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

53. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Philosophy

#288 in Europe

#683 in the World

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

54. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Philosophy

#295 in Europe

#704 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

55. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Philosophy

#297 in Europe

#709 in the World

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

56. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Philosophy

#302 in Europe

#732 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

57. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Philosophy

#309 in Europe

#765 in the World

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

58. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Philosophy

#310 in Europe

#766 in the World

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

59. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Philosophy

#319 in Europe

#796 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

60. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Philosophy

#322 in Europe

#804 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

61. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Philosophy

#327 in Europe

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

62. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Philosophy

#347 in Europe

#880 in the World

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

63. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Philosophy

#354 in Europe

#909 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

64. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Philosophy

#357 in Europe

#918 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

65. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Philosophy

#367 in Europe

#946 in the World

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

66. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Philosophy

#369 in Europe

#951 in the World

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

67. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Philosophy

#370 in Europe

#952 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

68. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#372 in Europe

#956 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

69. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Philosophy

#376 in Europe

#961 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

70. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Philosophy

#388 in Europe

#992 in the World

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

71. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Philosophy

#434 in Europe

#1141 in the World

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

72. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Philosophy

#439 in Europe

#1164 in the World

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

73. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Philosophy

#442 in Europe

#1176 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

74. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#444 in Europe

#1190 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

75. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Philosophy

#449 in Europe

#1213 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

76. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Philosophy

#451 in Europe

#1217 in the World

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

77. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Philosophy

#456 in Europe

#1233 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

78. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Philosophy

#473 in Europe

#1312 in the World

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

79. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Philosophy

#475 in Europe

#1314 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

80. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Philosophy

#483 in Europe

#1337 in the World

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

81. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Philosophy

#495 in Europe

#1387 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

82. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Philosophy

#498 in Europe

#1392 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

83. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Philosophy

#527 in Europe

#1475 in the World

Enrollment: 11,170
Founded: 1971

84. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Philosophy

#536 in Europe

#1516 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

85. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Philosophy

#549 in Europe

#1568 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

86. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Philosophy

#556 in Europe

#1585 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

87. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Philosophy

#571 in Europe

#1676 in the World

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

88. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Philosophy

#586 in Europe

#1758 in the World

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

89. University of Applied Science Koblenz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Philosophy

#598 in Europe

#1800 in the World

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

90. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ludwigsburg

For Philosophy

#620 in Europe

#1879 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 5,620
Founded: 1962

91. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Philosophy

#627 in Europe

#1916 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

92. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Philosophy

#629 in Europe

#1927 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

93. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#641 in Europe

#1990 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

94. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Philosophy

#644 in Europe

#2000 in the World

Enrollment: 14,167
Founded: 1994

95. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Philosophy

#646 in Europe

#2005 in the World

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

96. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Philosophy

#656 in Europe

#2046 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

97. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Philosophy

#658 in Europe

#2055 in the World

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

98. Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Philosophy

#677 in Europe

#2116 in the World

Enrollment: 15,362
Founded: 1971

99. Munster University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Philosophy

#681 in Europe

#2123 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1971

100. University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Philosophy

#699 in Europe

#2184 in the World

Enrollment: 47,098
Founded: 1993

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

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