100 Best universities for Sociology in Germany

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 13.8M citations received by 458K 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

#185 in the World

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

3. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#61 in Europe

#195 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

4. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#90 in Europe

#276 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

#108 in Europe

#314 in the World

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

7. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Sociology

#119 in Europe

#340 in the World

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

8. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#120 in Europe

#344 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

9. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Sociology

#127 in Europe

#356 in the World

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

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Sociology

#131 in Europe

#370 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#132 in Europe

#373 in the World

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

12. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Sociology

#142 in Europe

#403 in the World

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

13. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Sociology

#143 in Europe

#404 in the World

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

14. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#144 in Europe

#410 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

15. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Sociology

#147 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

16. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Sociology

#148 in Europe

#414 in the World

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

17. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Sociology

#150 in Europe

#419 in the World

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

18. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Sociology

#152 in Europe

#422 in the World

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

19. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Sociology

#153 in Europe

#427 in the World

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

20. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Sociology

#158 in Europe

#440 in the World

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

21. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Sociology

#172 in Europe

#473 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

22. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Sociology

#185 in Europe

#514 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

23. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Sociology

#187 in Europe

#517 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

24. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Sociology

#189 in Europe

#519 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

25. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#193 in Europe

#531 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

26. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Sociology

#195 in Europe

#533 in the World

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

27. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Sociology

#197 in Europe

#536 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

28. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Sociology

#200 in Europe

#546 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

29. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Sociology

#202 in Europe

#549 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

30. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Sociology

#220 in Europe

#593 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

31. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Sociology

#222 in Europe

#598 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

32. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Sociology

#227 in Europe

#609 in the World

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

33. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Sociology

#228 in Europe

#618 in the World

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

34. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Sociology

#241 in Europe

#639 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

35. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Sociology

#264 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

#701 in the World

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

37. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Sociology

#282 in Europe

#738 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

38. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Sociology

#283 in Europe

#739 in the World

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

39. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Sociology

#285 in Europe

#750 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

40. University of Kassel

For Sociology

#290 in Europe

#771 in the World

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

41. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Sociology

#305 in Europe

#819 in the World

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

42. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Sociology

#306 in Europe

#822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,300
Founded: 1948

43. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Sociology

#309 in Europe

#828 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

44. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#313 in Europe

#847 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

45. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Sociology

#314 in Europe

#853 in the World

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

46. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Sociology

#321 in Europe

#876 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

47. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Sociology

#323 in Europe

#878 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

48. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Sociology

#324 in Europe

#880 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

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

#348 in Europe

#955 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

#358 in Europe

#1003 in the World

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

54. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Sociology

#372 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

55. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Sociology

#387 in Europe

#1086 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

#1149 in the World

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

57. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Sociology

#425 in Europe

#1218 in the World

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

58. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Sociology

#426 in Europe

#1223 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

59. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Sociology

#434 in Europe

#1242 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

60. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Sociology

#438 in Europe

#1262 in the World

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

61. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Sociology

#441 in Europe

#1270 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

62. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Sociology

#460 in Europe

#1338 in the World

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

63. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Sociology

#469 in Europe

#1381 in the World

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

64. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Sociology

#481 in Europe

#1423 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

65. University of Erfurt

Thuringia | Erfurt

For Sociology

#482 in Europe

#1439 in the World

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

66. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Sociology

#506 in Europe

#1522 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

67. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Sociology

#536 in Europe

#1631 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

68. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#547 in Europe

#1683 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

69. Hertie School of Governance

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#571 in Europe

#1796 in the World

Enrollment: 586
Founded: 2003

70. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Sociology

#574 in Europe

#1812 in the World

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

71. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Sociology

#575 in Europe

#1813 in the World

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

72. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#576 in Europe

#1815 in the World

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

73. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#601 in Europe

#1936 in the World

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

74. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Sociology

#609 in Europe

#1981 in the World

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

75. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Sociology

#633 in Europe

#2086 in the World

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

76. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#637 in Europe

#2111 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

77. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Sociology

#645 in Europe

#2175 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

78. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Sociology

#652 in Europe

#2212 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

79. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Sociology

#672 in Europe

#2307 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

80. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Sociology

#681 in Europe

#2358 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

81. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Sociology

#714 in Europe

#2539 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

82. Zeppelin University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Friedrichshafen

For Sociology

#722 in Europe

#2573 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 805
Founded: 2003

83. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Sociology

#735 in Europe

#2629 in the World

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

84. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Sociology

#755 in Europe

#2737 in the World

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

85. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#761 in Europe

#2760 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

86. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Sociology

#784 in Europe

#2914 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

87. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Sociology

#787 in Europe

#2925 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

88. University of Flensburg

Schleswig-Holstein | Flensburg

For Sociology

#800 in Europe

#2983 in the World

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

89. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#811 in Europe

#3020 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

90. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ludwigsburg

For Sociology

#825 in Europe

#3107 in the World

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

91. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Sociology

#827 in Europe

#3118 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

92. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Sociology

#834 in Europe

#3148 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

93. ESMT Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Sociology

#850 in Europe

#3224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 233
Founded: 2002

94. University of Banking of Frankfurt

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Sociology

#866 in Europe

#3333 in the World

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

95. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Sociology

#869 in Europe

#3348 in the World

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

96. University of Vechta

Lower Saxony | Vechta

For Sociology

#879 in Europe

#3394 in the World

Enrollment: 4,540
Founded: 1830

97. EBS University for business and law

Hesse | Wiesbaden

For Sociology

#908 in Europe

#3556 in the World

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

98. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Sociology

#922 in Europe

#3646 in the World

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

99. Fulda University of Applied Sciences

For Sociology

#930 in Europe

#3726 in the World

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

100. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Sociology

#934 in Europe

#3762 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 History76

Communications and Public Relations106

Criminology and Criminal Justice50

Early Childhood Education38

Education Majors106

Forensic Science33

Gender Studies73

Human Rights Law37

Intellectual Property and Patent Law37

International Law43

International Relations and Diplomacy36

Journalism and Digital Media65

Law Enforcement34

Library and Information science104

Media Studies59

Military science36

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution52

Occupational Safety and Health32

Political Economy63

Political Science174

Public Policy / Administration69

Radio and Television broadcasting35

Special Education41

Sports / Exercise science47

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies106

Urban and Regional planning53