Best Universities for Neurosurgery in Europe

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Europe ranked based on their research performance in Neurosurgery. A graph of 606K citations received by 27.7K academic papers made by 226 universities in Europe 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 College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

2. Sapienza University of Rome

For Neurosurgery

#1 in Italy

#5 in the World

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

3. Heidelberg University - Germany

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Neurosurgery

#8 in the World

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

4. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Italy | Lombardy

For Neurosurgery

#2 in Italy

#10 in the World

Founded: 1921

5. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Germany | Brandenburg

For Neurosurgery

#14 in the World

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

6. Pierre and Marie Curie University

France | Ile-de-France

For Neurosurgery

#1 in France

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

7. University of Liverpool

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#2 in the United Kingdom

#17 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

8. University of Bern

Switzerland Flag

Switzerland | Bern

For Neurosurgery

#1 in Switzerland

#18 in the World

Enrollment: 19,608

9. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Germany | Hesse

For Neurosurgery

#21 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

10. University of Oxford

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#3 in the United Kingdom

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

11. Lund University

For Neurosurgery

#1 in Sweden

#24 in the World

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

12. University of Milan

Italy | Lombardy

For Neurosurgery

#3 in Italy

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Enrollment: 65,234
Founded: 1924

13. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Neurosurgery

#28 in the World

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

14. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#4 in the United Kingdom

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

15. Medical University of Vienna

Austria | Vienna

For Neurosurgery

#33 in the World

Enrollment: 7,915
Founded: 2004

16. University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Neurosurgery

#35 in the World

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

17. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Germany | Rhineland-Palatinate

For Neurosurgery

#36 in the World

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

18. University of Padua

For Neurosurgery

#4 in Italy

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 70,000
Founded: 1222

19. University of Ulm

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Neurosurgery

#41 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

20. University of Turin

Italy | Piedmont

For Neurosurgery

#5 in Italy

#42 in the World

Founded: 1404

21. University of Verona

For Neurosurgery

#6 in Italy

#44 in the World

Enrollment: 23,000
Founded: 1959

22. Federico II University of Naples

Italy | Campania

For Neurosurgery

#7 in Italy

#47 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1224

23. RWTH Aachen University

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Neurosurgery

#52 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

24. University of Bonn

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Neurosurgery

#55 in the World

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

25. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Neurosurgery

#2 in Sweden

#56 in the World

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

26. Radboud University

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Nijmegen

For Neurosurgery

#1 in the Netherlands

#58 in the World

Founded: 1923

27. University of Hamburg

Germany | Hamburg State

For Neurosurgery

#10 in Germany

#63 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

28. Hannover Medical School

Germany | Lower Saxony

For Neurosurgery

#11 in Germany

#64 in the World

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

29. University of Zurich

Switzerland Flag

Switzerland | Zurich

For Neurosurgery

#2 in Switzerland

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 25,732

30. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Germany | Bavaria

For Neurosurgery

#12 in Germany

#67 in the World

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

31. Saarland University

Germany | Saarland

For Neurosurgery

#13 in Germany

#73 in the World

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

32. University of Bergen

Norway | Bergen

For Neurosurgery

#1 in Norway

#74 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1946

33. University of Tubingen

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Neurosurgery

#14 in Germany

#77 in the World

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

34. Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

France | Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

For Neurosurgery

#2 in France

#84 in the World

Enrollment: 38,007
Founded: 1809

35. University of Cologne

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Neurosurgery

#15 in Germany

#89 in the World

Enrollment: 52,204
Founded: 1388

36. University of Florence

Italy | Tuscany

For Neurosurgery

#8 in Italy

#93 in the World

Founded: 1321

37. University of Wurzburg

Germany | Bavaria

For Neurosurgery

#16 in Germany

#94 in the World

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

38. University of Freiburg

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Neurosurgery

#17 in Germany

#96 in the World

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

39. University of Marburg

Germany | Hesse

For Neurosurgery

#18 in Germany

#97 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

40. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Neurosurgery

#98 in the World

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

41. Umea University

For Neurosurgery

#3 in Sweden

#99 in the World

Enrollment: 34,237
Founded: 1965

42. University of Gottingen

Germany | Lower Saxony

For Neurosurgery

#19 in Germany

#100 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

43. Technical University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Neurosurgery

#20 in Germany

#101 in the World

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

44. Free University of Berlin

Germany | Brandenburg

For Neurosurgery

#21 in Germany

#102 in the World

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

45. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Neurosurgery

#2 in the Netherlands

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

46. Medical University of Innsbruck

Austria | Innsbruck

For Neurosurgery

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 3,607
Founded: 2004

47. University of Messina

For Neurosurgery

#9 in Italy

#110 in the World

Enrollment: 24,780
Founded: 1548

48. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Neurosurgery

#5 in the United Kingdom

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

49. University of Gothenburg

Sweden | Gothenburg

For Neurosurgery

#4 in Sweden

#113 in the World

Enrollment: 36,003
Founded: 1891

50. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Greece | Athens

For Neurosurgery

#1 in Greece

#116 in the World

Enrollment: 70,461
Founded: 1837

51. University of Pisa

Italy | Tuscany

For Neurosurgery

#10 in Italy

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Enrollment: 47,736
Founded: 1343

52. University of Munster

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Neurosurgery

#22 in Germany

#123 in the World

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

53. Charles University

Czech Republic Flag

Czech Republic | Prague

For Neurosurgery

#1 in the Czech Republic

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 49,508
Founded: 1348

54. University of Siena

Italy | Tuscany

For Neurosurgery

#11 in Italy

#125 in the World

Founded: 1240

55. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Neurosurgery

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

56. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

Italy | Lombardy

For Neurosurgery

#12 in Italy

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1996

57. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#6 in the United Kingdom

#132 in the World

Founded: 1948

58. University of Brescia

Italy | Lombardy

For Neurosurgery

#13 in Italy

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 16,800
Founded: 1982

59. University of Lubeck

Germany | Schleswig-Holstein

For Neurosurgery

#23 in Germany

#135 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

60. University of Rome Tor Vergata

For Neurosurgery

#14 in Italy

#136 in the World

Founded: 1982

61. University of Groningen

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Groningen

For Neurosurgery

#3 in the Netherlands

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1614

62. University of Bologna

Italy | Emilia-Romagna

For Neurosurgery

#15 in Italy

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 96,945
Founded: 1088

63. University of Oslo

For Neurosurgery

#2 in Norway

#155 in the World

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

64. University of Pavia

Italy | Lombardy

For Neurosurgery

#16 in Italy

#158 in the World

Enrollment: 23,849
Founded: 1361

65. Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Rotterdam

For Neurosurgery

#4 in the Netherlands

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Founded: 1913

66. University of Palermo

For Neurosurgery

#17 in Italy

#163 in the World

Founded: 1806

67. University of Leipzig

Germany | Saxony

For Neurosurgery

#24 in Germany

#166 in the World

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

68. University of Vienna

Austria | Vienna

For Neurosurgery

#169 in the World

Enrollment: 93,628
Founded: 1365

69. Humboldt University of Berlin

Germany | Brandenburg

For Neurosurgery

#25 in Germany

#172 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

70. University of Genoa

Italy | Liguria

For Neurosurgery

#18 in Italy

#179 in the World

Enrollment: 36,728
Founded: 1481

71. University of Southern Denmark

Denmark | Odense

For Neurosurgery

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1966

72. University of Antwerp

Belgium | Antwerp

For Neurosurgery

#182 in the World

Founded: 2003

73. Maastricht University

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Maastricht

For Neurosurgery

#5 in the Netherlands

#186 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

74. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Neurosurgery

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

75. University of Parma

Italy | Emilia-Romagna

For Neurosurgery

#19 in Italy

#188 in the World

Founded: 1117

76. University of Liege

Belgium | Liege

For Neurosurgery

#189 in the World

Enrollment: 27,678
Founded: 1817

77. University of Barcelona

Spain | Barcelona

For Neurosurgery

#1 in Spain

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 64,236

78. Imperial College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#7 in the United Kingdom

#191 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

79. University of Milano-Bicocca

Italy | Lombardy

For Neurosurgery

#20 in Italy

#195 in the World

Enrollment: 33,741
Founded: 1998

80. Medical University of Graz

For Neurosurgery

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 4,346
Founded: 2004

81. University of Glasgow

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Neurosurgery

#8 in the United Kingdom

#199 in the World

Founded: 1451

82. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Norway | Trondheim

For Neurosurgery

#3 in Norway

#200 in the World

Enrollment: 44,000
Founded: 1996

83. University of Bari

For Neurosurgery

#21 in Italy

#202 in the World

Founded: 1924

84. University of Montpellier

France | Occitanie

For Neurosurgery

#3 in France

#204 in the World

Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1289

85. University of Oulu

For Neurosurgery

#205 in the World

Enrollment: 2,900
Founded: 1958

86. University of Innsbruck

Austria | Innsbruck

For Neurosurgery

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 28,278
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1669

87. University of Graz

For Neurosurgery

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 32,230
Founded: 1585

88. Utrecht University

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Neurosurgery

#6 in the Netherlands

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1636

89. Free University of Brussels

Belgium | Brussels

For Neurosurgery

#215 in the World

Enrollment: 31,606
Founded: 1834

90. King's College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#9 in the United Kingdom

#216 in the World

Founded: 1829

91. University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

Italy | Campania

For Neurosurgery

#22 in Italy

#221 in the World

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1991

92. University of Catania

For Neurosurgery

#23 in Italy

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 44,338
Founded: 1434

93. Autonomous University of Barcelona

Spain | Cerdanyola del Valles

For Neurosurgery

#2 in Spain

#231 in the World

Enrollment: 30,926

94. University of Giessen

Germany | Hesse

For Neurosurgery

#26 in Germany

#236 in the World

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

95. Polytechnical University of Marche

For Neurosurgery

#24 in Italy

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1969

96. University of Duisburg - Essen

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

For Neurosurgery

#27 in Germany

#241 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

97. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Greece | Thessaloniki

For Neurosurgery

#2 in Greece

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 92,090
Founded: 1925

98. Free University Amsterdam

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Neurosurgery

#7 in the Netherlands

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1880

99. University of Manchester

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Neurosurgery

#10 in the United Kingdom

#247 in the World

Founded: 1824

100. University of Regensburg

Germany | Bavaria

For Neurosurgery

#28 in Germany

#248 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

Medicine subfields in Europe

Anatomy and Physiology1021

Anesthesiology711

Bioethics/Medical Ethics374

Biomedical Engineering565

Clinical Psychology812

Critical Care Nursing611

Epidemiology417

Family medicine687

Forensic Science312

Gastroenterology and Hepatology572

Health Science929

Healthcare Management (MHA)759

Medical Physics365

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)771

Occupational Therapy460

Oncology and Cancer research795

Ophthalmology514

Orthodontics645

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine632

Pharmacology793

Physical Therapy953

Plastic Surgery314

Public Health1151

Radiation Therapy473

Radiology and Nuclear medicine1040

Respiratory Therapy333

Sonography and Ultrasound343

Sports / Exercise science460

Sports Medicine767