100 Best universities for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 9.77M citations received by 408K academic papers made by 165 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

#48 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

#61 in Europe

#198 in the World

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

3. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#64 in Europe

#208 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

4. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#98 in Europe

#290 in the World

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

5. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#102 in Europe

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

6. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#110 in Europe

#317 in the World

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

7. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Sociology

#117 in Europe

#334 in the World

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

8. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#119 in Europe

#342 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

9. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Sociology

#121 in Europe

#344 in the World

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

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Sociology

#124 in Europe

#351 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#131 in Europe

#373 in the World

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

12. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#132 in Europe

#376 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

13. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Sociology

#140 in Europe

#396 in the World

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

14. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Sociology

#142 in Europe

#403 in the World

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

15. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Sociology

#143 in Europe

#405 in the World

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

16. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Sociology

#145 in Europe

#408 in the World

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

17. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Sociology

#147 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

18. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Sociology

#153 in Europe

#424 in the World

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

19. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Sociology

#160 in Europe

#441 in the World

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

20. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Sociology

#170 in Europe

#467 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

21. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Sociology

#175 in Europe

#475 in the World

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

22. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Sociology

#181 in Europe

#494 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

23. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#186 in Europe

#504 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

24. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Sociology

#188 in Europe

#507 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

25. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Sociology

#190 in Europe

#512 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

26. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Sociology

#192 in Europe

#518 in the World

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

27. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Sociology

#196 in Europe

#528 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

28. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Sociology

#205 in Europe

#546 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

29. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Sociology

#208 in Europe

#551 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

30. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Sociology

#210 in Europe

#561 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

31. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Sociology

#214 in Europe

#570 in the World

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

32. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Sociology

#215 in Europe

#573 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

33. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Sociology

#220 in Europe

#581 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

34. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Sociology

#232 in Europe

#606 in the World

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

35. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#250 in Europe

#650 in the World

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

36. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Sociology

#273 in Europe

#710 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

37. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Sociology

#274 in Europe

#715 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

38. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Sociology

#275 in Europe

#717 in the World

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

39. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Sociology

#277 in Europe

#723 in the World

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

40. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Sociology

#282 in Europe

#746 in the World

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

41. University of Kassel

For Sociology

#288 in Europe

#766 in the World

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

42. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Sociology

#290 in Europe

#775 in the World

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

43. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Sociology

#298 in Europe

#793 in the World

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

44. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Sociology

#301 in Europe

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

45. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Sociology

#303 in Europe

#804 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

46. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Sociology

#306 in Europe

#816 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

47. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#311 in Europe

#827 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

48. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Sociology

#318 in Europe

#848 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

49. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Sociology

#333 in Europe

#888 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

50. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Sociology

#335 in Europe

#891 in the World

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

51. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Sociology

#349 in Europe

#952 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

52. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Sociology

#353 in Europe

#969 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

53. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Sociology

#363 in Europe

#995 in the World

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

54. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Sociology

#387 in Europe

#1059 in the World

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

55. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Sociology

#397 in Europe

#1091 in the World

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

56. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Sociology

#404 in Europe

#1116 in the World

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

57. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Sociology

#416 in Europe

#1162 in the World

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

58. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Sociology

#425 in Europe

#1198 in the World

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

59. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Sociology

#429 in Europe

#1207 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

60. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Sociology

#434 in Europe

#1230 in the World

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

61. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Sociology

#442 in Europe

#1260 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

62. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Sociology

#446 in Europe

#1272 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

63. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Sociology

#447 in Europe

#1278 in the World

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

64. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Sociology

#466 in Europe

#1355 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

65. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Sociology

#471 in Europe

#1368 in the World

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

66. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Sociology

#489 in Europe

#1428 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

67. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Sociology

#534 in Europe

#1639 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

68. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#537 in Europe

#1643 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

69. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#548 in Europe

#1699 in the World

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

70. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Sociology

#555 in Europe

#1733 in the World

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

71. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#566 in Europe

#1790 in the World

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

72. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Sociology

#571 in Europe

#1812 in the World

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

73. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Sociology

#575 in Europe

#1831 in the World

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

74. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#581 in Europe

#1854 in the World

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

75. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#603 in Europe

#1937 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

76. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Sociology

#633 in Europe

#2083 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

77. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Sociology

#636 in Europe

#2105 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

78. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Sociology

#639 in Europe

#2122 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

79. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#641 in Europe

#2131 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

80. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#692 in Europe

#2472 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

81. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Sociology

#694 in Europe

#2476 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

82. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Sociology

#712 in Europe

#2565 in the World

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

83. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Sociology

#718 in Europe

#2597 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

84. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Sociology

#721 in Europe

#2604 in the World

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

85. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#738 in Europe

#2664 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

86. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#753 in Europe

#2734 in the World

Enrollment: 11,828
Founded: 1971

87. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#761 in Europe

#2780 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

88. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ludwigsburg

For Sociology

#765 in Europe

#2801 in the World

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

89. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Sociology

#767 in Europe

#2804 in the World

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

90. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Sociology

#771 in Europe

#2835 in the World

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

91. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Sociology

#780 in Europe

#2909 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

92. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Sociology

#803 in Europe

#3028 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

93. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#811 in Europe

#3080 in the World

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

94. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#820 in Europe

#3144 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

95. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#823 in Europe

#3154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

96. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Sociology

#842 in Europe

#3246 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

97. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Sociology

#858 in Europe

#3341 in the World

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

98. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Sociology

#859 in Europe

#3346 in the World

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

99. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Sociology

#890 in Europe

#3551 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

100. Fulda University of Applied Sciences

For Sociology

#897 in Europe

#3585 in the World

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

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

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