100 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 48.7M citations received by 1.95M 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. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Physics

#11 in Europe

#57 in the World

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

2. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Physics

#13 in Europe

#76 in the World

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

3. Heidelberg University - Germany

Baden-Wurttemberg | Heidelberg

For Physics

#17 in Europe

#100 in the World

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

4. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Physics

#23 in Europe

#116 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

5. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Physics

#28 in Europe

#122 in the World

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

6. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Physics

#30 in Europe

#126 in the World

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

7. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Physics

#31 in Europe

#127 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

8. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#42 in Europe

#153 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

9. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Physics

#46 in Europe

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

10. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Physics

#50 in Europe

#178 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

11. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#52 in Europe

#180 in the World

Enrollment: 35,149
Founded: 1946

12. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Physics

#56 in Europe

#186 in the World

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

13. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Physics

#57 in Europe

#189 in the World

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

14. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Physics

#60 in Europe

#192 in the World

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

15. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Physics

#64 in Europe

#202 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

16. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Physics

#67 in Europe

#210 in the World

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

17. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#68 in Europe

#214 in the World

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

18. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Physics

#73 in Europe

#225 in the World

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

19. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Physics

#78 in Europe

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

20. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Physics

#88 in Europe

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

21. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Physics

#90 in Europe

#265 in the World

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

22. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Physics

#95 in Europe

#279 in the World

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

23. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Physics

#98 in Europe

#284 in the World

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

24. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#101 in Europe

#287 in the World

Enrollment: 36,378
Founded: 1809

25. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Physics

#115 in Europe

#310 in the World

Enrollment: 28,817
Founded: 1831

26. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Physics

#120 in Europe

#320 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

27. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Physics

#127 in Europe

#330 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

28. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Physics

#128 in Europe

#334 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

29. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Physics

#129 in Europe

#335 in the World

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

30. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Physics

#130 in Europe

#337 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

31. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Physics

#138 in Europe

#360 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

32. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Physics

#141 in Europe

#367 in the World

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

33. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Physics

#144 in Europe

#374 in the World

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

34. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Physics

#145 in Europe

#376 in the World

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

35. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Physics

#152 in Europe

#398 in the World

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

36. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Physics

#155 in Europe

#404 in the World

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

37. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Physics

#156 in Europe

#406 in the World

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

38. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Physics

#162 in Europe

#416 in the World

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

39. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Physics

#168 in Europe

#426 in the World

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

40. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Physics

#170 in Europe

#430 in the World

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

41. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Physics

#173 in Europe

#438 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

42. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Physics

#186 in Europe

#477 in the World

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

43. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#202 in Europe

#526 in the World

Enrollment: 8,877
Founded: 1710

44. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Physics

#209 in Europe

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 20,878
Founded: 1991

45. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Physics

#214 in Europe

#565 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

46. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Physics

#215 in Europe

#566 in the World

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

47. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Physics

#222 in Europe

#586 in the World

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

48. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Physics

#229 in Europe

#613 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

49. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Physics

#239 in Europe

#647 in the World

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

50. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Physics

#253 in Europe

#683 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

51. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#267 in Europe

#714 in the World

Enrollment: 7,832
Founded: 1978

52. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Physics

#273 in Europe

#724 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

53. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Physics

#290 in Europe

#762 in the World

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

54. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Physics

#294 in Europe

#782 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

55. University of Kassel

For Physics

#296 in Europe

#788 in the World

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

56. Hannover Medical School

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Physics

#309 in Europe

#830 in the World

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

57. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Physics

#314 in Europe

#842 in the World

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

58. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Physics

#325 in Europe

#869 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

59. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Physics

#334 in Europe

#893 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

60. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Physics

#337 in Europe

#897 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

61. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Physics

#364 in Europe

#985 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

62. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Physics

#366 in Europe

#989 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

63. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Physics

#371 in Europe

#1010 in the World

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

64. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Physics

#377 in Europe

#1031 in the World

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

65. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Physics

#404 in Europe

#1139 in the World

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

66. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Physics

#406 in Europe

#1147 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

67. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Physics

#409 in Europe

#1167 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

68. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Physics

#427 in Europe

#1241 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

69. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Physics

#488 in Europe

#1481 in the World

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

70. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Physics

#555 in Europe

#1763 in the World

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

71. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#557 in Europe

#1775 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

72. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Physics

#588 in Europe

#1912 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

73. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Physics

#589 in Europe

#1918 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

74. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Physics

#613 in Europe

#2000 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

75. Witten/Herdecke University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Witten

For Physics

#629 in Europe

#2085 in the World

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

76. German Sport University Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Physics

#654 in Europe

#2198 in the World

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

77. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Physics

#660 in Europe

#2257 in the World

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

78. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Physics

#667 in Europe

#2298 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

79. University of Passau

Bavaria | Passau

For Physics

#677 in Europe

#2332 in the World

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

80. University of Koblenz-Landau

Rhineland-Palatinate | Koblenz

For Physics

#684 in Europe

#2368 in the World

Enrollment: 15,757
Founded: 1990

81. Leuphana University of Luneburg

Lower Saxony | Luneburg

For Physics

#688 in Europe

#2406 in the World

Enrollment: 9,620
Founded: 1946

82. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Physics

#704 in Europe

#2507 in the World

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

83. University of Bamberg

Bavaria | Bamberg

For Physics

#708 in Europe

#2545 in the World

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

84. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

Saxony-Anhalt | Merseburg

For Physics

#726 in Europe

#2610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 3,034
Founded: 1992

85. Deggendorf Institute of Technology

Bavaria | Deggendorf

For Physics

#757 in Europe

#2743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 5,760
Founded: 1994

86. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#760 in Europe

#2752 in the World

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

87. University of Hildesheim

Lower Saxony | Hildesheim

For Physics

#789 in Europe

#2894 in the World

Enrollment: 8,307
Founded: 1978

88. Munster University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Physics

#791 in Europe

#2900 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1971

89. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Physics

#799 in Europe

#2932 in the World

Enrollment: 17,125
Founded: 1970

90. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Physics

#810 in Europe

#3019 in the World

Enrollment: 27,000
Founded: 1971

91. Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Furtwangen

For Physics

#817 in Europe

#3051 in the World

Enrollment: 6,687
Founded: 1971

92. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Physics

#844 in Europe

#3196 in the World

Enrollment: 4,081
Founded: 1832

93. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

Bavaria | Eichstatt

For Physics

#845 in Europe

#3197 in the World

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

94. WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management

Rhineland-Palatinate | Vallendar

For Physics

#851 in Europe

#3227 in the World

Enrollment: 1,669
Founded: 1984

95. Regensburg University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Physics

#863 in Europe

#3259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 10,586
Founded: 1971

96. TH Bingen University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Bingen

For Physics

#877 in Europe

#3344 in the World

Enrollment: 2,466
Founded: 1897

97. Offenburg University of Applied Sciences

Baden-Wurttemberg | Offenburg

For Physics

#878 in Europe

#3347 in the World

Enrollment: 4,161
Founded: 1967

98. Bremen University of Applied Sciences

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Physics

#881 in Europe

#3360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 8,672
Founded: 1982

99. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Physics

#883 in Europe

#3374 in the World

Enrollment: 14,326
Founded: 1994

100. Reutlingen University

Baden-Wurttemberg | Reutlingen

For Physics

#887 in Europe

#3396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 5,700
Founded: 1855

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

Physics subfields in Germany

Acoustical Engineering126

Applied/Engineering Physics62

Astrophysics and Astronomy126

Atomic and Molecular physics76

Condensed Matter Physics82

Materials Science158

Medical Physics49

Nanotechnology114

Nuclear Physics98

Optical Engineering145

Quantum and Particle physics163

Theoretical Physics73