100 Best universities for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 14.6M citations received by 470K academic papers made by 167 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 Sociology

#47 in Europe

#164 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#56 in Europe

#181 in the World

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

3. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#62 in Europe

#195 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

4. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#91 in Europe

#274 in the World

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

5. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#97 in Europe

#289 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

6. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#106 in Europe

#313 in the World

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

7. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#120 in Europe

#339 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

8. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Sociology

#121 in Europe

#343 in the World

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

9. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Sociology

#129 in Europe

#362 in the World

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

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Sociology

#132 in Europe

#372 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#133 in Europe

#373 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

12. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Sociology

#144 in Europe

#405 in the World

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

13. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#146 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

14. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Sociology

#147 in Europe

#410 in the World

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

15. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Sociology

#149 in Europe

#412 in the World

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

16. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Sociology

#150 in Europe

#415 in the World

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

17. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Sociology

#151 in Europe

#422 in the World

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

18. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Sociology

#152 in Europe

#424 in the World

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

19. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Sociology

#154 in Europe

#431 in the World

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

20. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Sociology

#156 in Europe

#436 in the World

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

21. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Sociology

#177 in Europe

#480 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

22. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Sociology

#186 in Europe

#512 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

23. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Sociology

#190 in Europe

#523 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

24. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Sociology

#192 in Europe

#525 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

25. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#196 in Europe

#533 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

26. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Sociology

#198 in Europe

#538 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

27. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Sociology

#199 in Europe

#539 in the World

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

28. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Sociology

#204 in Europe

#549 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

29. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Sociology

#206 in Europe

#553 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

30. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Sociology

#220 in Europe

#591 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

31. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Sociology

#227 in Europe

#610 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

32. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Sociology

#228 in Europe

#614 in the World

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

33. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Sociology

#233 in Europe

#623 in the World

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

34. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Sociology

#245 in Europe

#649 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

35. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Sociology

#265 in Europe

#693 in the World

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

36. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#267 in Europe

#704 in the World

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

37. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Sociology

#281 in Europe

#735 in the World

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

38. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Sociology

#286 in Europe

#753 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

39. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Sociology

#287 in Europe

#764 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

40. University of Kassel

For Sociology

#288 in Europe

#765 in the World

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

41. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Sociology

#305 in Europe

#820 in the World

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

42. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Sociology

#306 in Europe

#823 in the World

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

43. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Sociology

#308 in Europe

#829 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

44. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Sociology

#314 in Europe

#847 in the World

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

45. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#315 in Europe

#848 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

46. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Sociology

#319 in Europe

#868 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

47. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Sociology

#321 in Europe

#873 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

48. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Sociology

#324 in Europe

#880 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

49. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Sociology

#335 in Europe

#915 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

50. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Sociology

#337 in Europe

#921 in the World

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

51. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Sociology

#343 in Europe

#942 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

52. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Sociology

#356 in Europe

#995 in the World

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

53. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Sociology

#362 in Europe

#1015 in the World

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

54. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Sociology

#377 in Europe

#1059 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

55. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Sociology

#390 in Europe

#1089 in the World

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

56. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Sociology

#413 in Europe

#1148 in the World

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

57. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Sociology

#426 in Europe

#1223 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

58. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Sociology

#429 in Europe

#1231 in the World

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

59. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Sociology

#435 in Europe

#1249 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

60. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Sociology

#442 in Europe

#1275 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

61. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Sociology

#444 in Europe

#1281 in the World

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

62. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Sociology

#459 in Europe

#1332 in the World

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

63. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Sociology

#473 in Europe

#1392 in the World

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

64. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Sociology

#483 in Europe

#1432 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

65. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Sociology

#486 in Europe

#1441 in the World

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

66. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Sociology

#511 in Europe

#1530 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

67. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Sociology

#540 in Europe

#1638 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

68. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#549 in Europe

#1679 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

69. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#569 in Europe

#1778 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

70. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Sociology

#570 in Europe

#1794 in the World

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

71. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Sociology

#572 in Europe

#1798 in the World

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

72. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#575 in Europe

#1828 in the World

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

73. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#602 in Europe

#1934 in the World

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

74. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Sociology

#614 in Europe

#1999 in the World

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

75. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#638 in Europe

#2103 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

76. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#639 in Europe

#2120 in the World

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

77. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Sociology

#654 in Europe

#2194 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

78. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Sociology

#656 in Europe

#2225 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

79. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#675 in Europe

#2308 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

80. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Sociology

#678 in Europe

#2334 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

81. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Sociology

#724 in Europe

#2569 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

82. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Sociology

#725 in Europe

#2571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

83. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Sociology

#735 in Europe

#2620 in the World

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

84. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#763 in Europe

#2762 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

85. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Sociology

#767 in Europe

#2813 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

86. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Sociology

#792 in Europe

#2947 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

87. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Sociology

#796 in Europe

#2975 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

88. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Sociology

#802 in Europe

#2986 in the World

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

89. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#813 in Europe

#3036 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

90. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#830 in Europe

#3124 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

91. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ludwigsburg

For Sociology

#832 in Europe

#3126 in the World

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

92. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#841 in Europe

#3179 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

93. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#849 in Europe

#3217 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

94. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#873 in Europe

#3347 in the World

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

95. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Sociology

#877 in Europe

#3365 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

96. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Sociology

#888 in Europe

#3447 in the World

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

97. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Sociology

#909 in Europe

#3574 in the World

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

98. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Sociology

#929 in Europe

#3698 in the World

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

99. Fulda University of Applied Sciences

For Sociology

#930 in Europe

#3713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 9,289
Founded: 1974

100. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Sociology

#938 in Europe

#3789 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

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