100 Best universities for Physics in Germany

Updated: July 18, 2023

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Physics. A graph of 87.4M citations received by 3.77M academic papers made by 166 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. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Physics

#8 in Europe

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 44,000
Male:Female: 63:37
Founded: 1868

2. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Physics

#11 in Europe

#77 in the World

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

3. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Physics

#19 in Europe

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 44,517
Founded: 1870

4. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Physics

#24 in Europe

#117 in the World

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

5. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Physics

#28 in Europe

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 26,457
Founded: 1829

6. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Physics

#41 in Europe

#162 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

7. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Physics

#42 in Europe

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 50,918
Founded: 1472

8. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Physics

#45 in Europe

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 28,413
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1386

9. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Physics

#46 in Europe

#170 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

10. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Physics

#49 in Europe

#173 in the World

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

11. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#50 in Europe

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

12. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Physics

#52 in Europe

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 44,692
Founded: 1780

13. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#58 in Europe

#195 in the World

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

14. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Physics

#60 in Europe

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 33,132
Founded: 1946

15. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Physics

#62 in Europe

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Enrollment: 24,391
Founded: 1457

16. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Physics

#66 in Europe

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 28,515
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1477

17. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Physics

#71 in Europe

#223 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

18. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Physics

#74 in Europe

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 46,429
Founded: 1914

19. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Physics

#75 in Europe

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 18,219
Founded: 1558

20. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#77 in Europe

#240 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

21. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Physics

#80 in Europe

#244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 28,878
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1402

22. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Physics

#82 in Europe

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Enrollment: 25,840
Founded: 1877

23. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Physics

#87 in Europe

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 49,382
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1388

24. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#92 in Europe

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

25. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Physics

#108 in Europe

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 23,900
Founded: 1831

26. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Physics

#109 in Europe

#301 in the World

Enrollment: 21,558
Founded: 1962

27. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Physics

#111 in Europe

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 24,758
Founded: 1527

28. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Physics

#119 in Europe

#320 in the World

Enrollment: 25,277
Founded: 1665

29. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Physics

#122 in Europe

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 10,747
Founded: 1967

30. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Physics

#132 in Europe

#357 in the World

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

31. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Physics

#134 in Europe

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

32. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Physics

#135 in Europe

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 13,300
Founded: 1972

33. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Physics

#145 in Europe

#386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 25,015
Founded: 1969

34. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Physics

#147 in Europe

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 20,037
Founded: 1745

35. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Physics

#150 in Europe

#397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 16,749
Founded: 1948

36. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Physics

#151 in Europe

#401 in the World

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

37. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Physics

#154 in Europe

#405 in the World

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

38. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Physics

#159 in Europe

#411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 27,727
Founded: 1607

39. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Physics

#164 in Europe

#423 in the World

Enrollment: 19,234
Founded: 1971

40. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Physics

#167 in Europe

#429 in the World

Enrollment: 14,594
Male:Female: 60:40
Founded: 1970

41. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Physics

#177 in Europe

#458 in the World

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

42. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Physics

#196 in Europe

#514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 20,390
Founded: 1817

43. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#197 in Europe

#515 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

44. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Physics

#203 in Europe

#535 in the World

Enrollment: 21,949
Founded: 1972

45. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Physics

#205 in Europe

#541 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

46. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Physics

#206 in Europe

#548 in the World

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

47. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Physics

#210 in Europe

#554 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 20,316
Founded: 1972

48. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Physics

#225 in Europe

#622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Enrollment: 20,467
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1970

49. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Physics

#241 in Europe

#664 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

50. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Physics

#246 in Europe

#676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

51. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Physics

#258 in Europe

#698 in the World

Enrollment: 14,427
Founded: 1993

52. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#268 in Europe

#721 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

53. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Physics

#274 in Europe

#732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 4,963
Founded: 1775

54. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Physics

#291 in Europe

#782 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Enrollment: 16,136
Male:Female: 61:39
Founded: 1971

55. University of Kassel

For Physics

#294 in Europe

#789 in the World

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

56. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Physics

#300 in Europe

#807 in the World

Enrollment: 19,785
Founded: 1972

57. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Physics

#314 in Europe

#849 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

58. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Physics

#317 in Europe

#858 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 3,256
Founded: 1965

59. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Physics

#321 in Europe

#868 in the World

Enrollment: 6,612
Founded: 1953

60. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Physics

#325 in Europe

#873 in the World

Enrollment: 14,106
Founded: 1974

61. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Physics

#357 in Europe

#972 in the World

Enrollment: 11,736
Founded: 1456

62. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Physics

#365 in Europe

#1014 in the World

Enrollment: 9,283
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1818

63. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Physics

#375 in Europe

#1037 in the World

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

64. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Physics

#393 in Europe

#1130 in the World

Enrollment: 1,253
Founded: 2001

65. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Physics

#398 in Europe

#1144 in the World

Enrollment: 3,345
Founded: 1964

66. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Physics

#400 in Europe

#1154 in the World

Enrollment: 11,800
Founded: 1907

67. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Physics

#402 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 2,944
Founded: 1973

68. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Physics

#415 in Europe

#1190 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

69. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Physics

#489 in Europe

#1525 in the World

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

70. Hannover University of Applied Sciences

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Physics

#516 in Europe

#1638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 10,040
Founded: 1971

71. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Physics

#542 in Europe

#1734 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 15,260
Founded: 1970

72. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#554 in Europe

#1792 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

73. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Physics

#571 in Europe

#1850 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

74. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Physics

#584 in Europe

#1906 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

75. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Physics

#605 in Europe

#1988 in the World

Enrollment: 4,072
Founded: 1860

76. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Physics

#631 in Europe

#2108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Enrollment: 2,326
Founded: 1982

77. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Physics

#640 in Europe

#2139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 1947

78. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Physics

#646 in Europe

#2179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 8,371
Founded: 1878

79. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Physics

#664 in Europe

#2309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Enrollment: 12,581
Founded: 1973

80. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Physics

#675 in Europe

#2355 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

81. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Physics

#695 in Europe

#2491 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 2,727
Founded: 1992

82. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Physics

#698 in Europe

#2512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Enrollment: 12,161
Founded: 1972

83. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Physics

#699 in Europe

#2514 in the World

Enrollment: 9,076
Founded: 1946

84. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Physics

#709 in Europe

#2550 in the World

Enrollment: 5,473
Founded: 1996

85. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Physics

#720 in Europe

#2602 in the World

Enrollment: 6,048
Founded: 1978

86. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Physics

#722 in Europe

#2608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 2,459
Founded: 1778

87. Deggendorf Institute of Technology

Bavaria | Deggendorf

For Physics

#751 in Europe

#2749 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 5,760
Founded: 1994

88. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#756 in Europe

#2775 in the World

Enrollment: 13,494
Male:Female: 66:34
Founded: 1971

89. Munster University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Physics

#787 in Europe

#2916 in the World

Enrollment: 15,050
Founded: 1971

90. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Physics

#805 in Europe

#2991 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

91. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#806 in Europe

#2993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

92. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Physics

#811 in Europe

#3010 in the World

Enrollment: 8,532
Founded: 1971

93. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Physics

#813 in Europe

#3020 in the World

Enrollment: 6,687
Founded: 1971

94. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Physics

#826 in Europe

#3086 in the World

Enrollment: 3,738
Founded: 1832

95. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Physics

#837 in Europe

#3166 in the World

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

96. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Physics

#842 in Europe

#3200 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

97. University of Applied Sciences Wildau

Brandenburg | Wildau

For Physics

#871 in Europe

#3337 in the World

Enrollment: 4,152
Founded: 1991

98. Regensburg University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Physics

#873 in Europe

#3340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 11,000
Founded: 1971

99. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#875 in Europe

#3363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Enrollment: 14,326
Founded: 1994

100. Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

Saxony | Leipzig

For Physics

#880 in Europe

#3388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Enrollment: 6,111
Founded: 1992

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

Physics subfields in Germany

Acoustical Engineering116

Applied/Engineering Physics63

Astrophysics and Astronomy118

Atomic and Molecular physics76

Condensed Matter Physics80

Materials Science152

Medical Physics49

Nanotechnology109

Nuclear Physics94

Optical Engineering140

Quantum and Particle physics160

Theoretical Physics70