77 Best universities for Operations Research 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 Operations Research. A graph of 528K citations received by 21.3K academic papers made by 77 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. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Operations Research

#29 in Europe

#112 in the World

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

2. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Operations Research

#37 in Europe

#132 in the World

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

3. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Operations Research

#38 in Europe

#138 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

4. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Operations Research

#53 in Europe

#174 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Operations Research

#57 in Europe

#181 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

6. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Operations Research

#70 in Europe

#210 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

7. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Operations Research

#80 in Europe

#237 in the World

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

8. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Operations Research

#94 in Europe

#272 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

9. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Operations Research

#101 in Europe

#301 in the World

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

10. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Operations Research

#103 in Europe

#306 in the World

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

11. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Operations Research

#107 in Europe

#331 in the World

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

12. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Operations Research

#111 in Europe

#344 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

13. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Operations Research

#118 in Europe

#354 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

14. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Operations Research

#122 in Europe

#376 in the World

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

15. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Operations Research

#130 in Europe

#389 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

16. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Operations Research

#133 in Europe

#399 in the World

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

17. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Operations Research

#135 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

18. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Operations Research

#138 in Europe

#408 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

19. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Operations Research

#152 in Europe

#450 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

20. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Operations Research

#156 in Europe

#461 in the World

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

21. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Operations Research

#168 in Europe

#487 in the World

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

22. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Operations Research

#170 in Europe

#491 in the World

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

23. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Operations Research

#172 in Europe

#499 in the World

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

24. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Operations Research

#175 in Europe

#507 in the World

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

25. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Operations Research

#177 in Europe

#509 in the World

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

26. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Operations Research

#180 in Europe

#526 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

27. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Operations Research

#191 in Europe

#560 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

28. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Operations Research

#209 in Europe

#607 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

29. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Operations Research

#214 in Europe

#616 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

30. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Operations Research

#217 in Europe

#620 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

31. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Operations Research

#222 in Europe

#629 in the World

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

32. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Operations Research

#224 in Europe

#633 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

33. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Operations Research

#226 in Europe

#636 in the World

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

34. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Operations Research

#234 in Europe

#651 in the World

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

35. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Operations Research

#236 in Europe

#654 in the World

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

36. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Operations Research

#240 in Europe

#681 in the World

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

37. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Operations Research

#250 in Europe

#705 in the World

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

38. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Operations Research

#260 in Europe

#731 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

39. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Operations Research

#264 in Europe

#736 in the World

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

40. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Operations Research

#266 in Europe

#743 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

41. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Operations Research

#268 in Europe

#750 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

42. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Operations Research

#288 in Europe

#806 in the World

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

43. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Operations Research

#301 in Europe

#856 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

44. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Operations Research

#306 in Europe

#867 in the World

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

45. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Operations Research

#315 in Europe

#903 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

46. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Operations Research

#317 in Europe

#908 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

47. University of Kassel

For Operations Research

#333 in Europe

#970 in the World

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

48. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Operations Research

#335 in Europe

#980 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

49. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Operations Research

#338 in Europe

#998 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

50. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Operations Research

#347 in Europe

#1022 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

51. Berlin School of Economics and Law

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Operations Research

#355 in Europe

#1037 in the World

Enrollment: 12,246
Founded: 1971

52. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Operations Research

#370 in Europe

#1083 in the World

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

53. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Operations Research

#380 in Europe

#1109 in the World

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

54. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Operations Research

#381 in Europe

#1110 in the World

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

55. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Operations Research

#396 in Europe

#1155 in the World

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

56. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Operations Research

#398 in Europe

#1158 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

57. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Operations Research

#404 in Europe

#1180 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

58. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Operations Research

#413 in Europe

#1203 in the World

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

59. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Operations Research

#414 in Europe

#1209 in the World

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

60. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Operations Research

#416 in Europe

#1219 in the World

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

61. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Operations Research

#423 in Europe

#1247 in the World

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

62. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Operations Research

#426 in Europe

#1251 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

63. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Operations Research

#433 in Europe

#1294 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

64. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Operations Research

#440 in Europe

#1335 in the World

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

65. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Operations Research

#441 in Europe

#1337 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

66. Kuhne Logistics University

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Operations Research

#456 in Europe

#1410 in the World

Enrollment: 450
Founded: 2010

67. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Operations Research

#461 in Europe

#1425 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

68. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Operations Research

#467 in Europe

#1473 in the World

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

69. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Operations Research

#479 in Europe

#1514 in the World

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

70. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Operations Research

#483 in Europe

#1529 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

71. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Operations Research

#509 in Europe

#1610 in the World

Enrollment: 16,136
Founded: 1971

72. European University Viadrina

Brandenburg | Frankfurt

For Operations Research

#520 in Europe

#1652 in the World

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

73. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Operations Research

#531 in Europe

#1709 in the World

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

74. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Operations Research

#543 in Europe

#1768 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

75. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Operations Research

#579 in Europe

#1905 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

76. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Operations Research

#581 in Europe

#1907 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

77. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Operations Research

#611 in Europe

#2045 in the World

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

The best cities to study Operations Research in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Karlsruhe, Munich, Aachen, and Hamburg.

Mathematics subfields in Germany

Actuarial Science63

Applied Mathematics83

Blockchain and Cryptography82

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics108

Math Teachers94