76 Best universities for Theoretical Physics 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 Theoretical Physics. A graph of 3.22M citations received by 91.8K academic papers made by 76 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 Theoretical Physics

#8 in Europe

#35 in the World

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

2. University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Theoretical Physics

#19 in Europe

#53 in the World

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

3. Technical University of Munich

Bavaria | Munich

For Theoretical Physics

#20 in Europe

#54 in the World

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

4. University of Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Theoretical Physics

#22 in Europe

#58 in the World

Enrollment: 43,957
Founded: 1919

5. Humboldt University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Theoretical Physics

#24 in Europe

#66 in the World

Enrollment: 36,232
Founded: 1809

6. University of Bonn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bonn

For Theoretical Physics

#25 in Europe

#67 in the World

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

7. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Baden-Wurttemberg | Karlsruhe

For Theoretical Physics

#26 in Europe

#70 in the World

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

8. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Theoretical Physics

#32 in Europe

#86 in the World

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

9. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

Hesse | Frankfurt

For Theoretical Physics

#37 in Europe

#94 in the World

Enrollment: 43,461
Founded: 1914

10. University of Stuttgart

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Theoretical Physics

#40 in Europe

#97 in the World

Enrollment: 22,616
Founded: 1829

11. University of Cologne

North Rhine-Westphalia | Cologne

For Theoretical Physics

#46 in Europe

#108 in the World

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

12. University of Freiburg

Baden-Wurttemberg | Freiburg im Breisgau

For Theoretical Physics

#50 in Europe

#115 in the World

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

13. University of Tubingen

Baden-Wurttemberg | Tubingen

For Theoretical Physics

#51 in Europe

#117 in the World

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

14. Free University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Theoretical Physics

#55 in Europe

#127 in the World

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

15. University of Bielefeld

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bielefeld

For Theoretical Physics

#59 in Europe

#133 in the World

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

16. RWTH Aachen University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Theoretical Physics

#62 in Europe

#136 in the World

Enrollment: 47,521
Founded: 1870

17. University of Munster

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Theoretical Physics

#64 in Europe

#138 in the World

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

18. Leibniz University of Hanover

Lower Saxony | Hanover

For Theoretical Physics

#65 in Europe

#139 in the World

Enrollment: 28,018
Founded: 1831

19. University of Leipzig

Saxony | Leipzig

For Theoretical Physics

#66 in Europe

#143 in the World

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

20. Ruhr University Bochum

North Rhine-Westphalia | Bochum

For Theoretical Physics

#72 in Europe

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 42,954
Founded: 1962

21. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

Thuringia | Jena

For Theoretical Physics

#80 in Europe

#163 in the World

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

22. University of Gottingen

Lower Saxony | Gottingen

For Theoretical Physics

#83 in Europe

#171 in the World

Enrollment: 31,619
Founded: 1734

23. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

Bavaria | Erlangen

For Theoretical Physics

#87 in Europe

#178 in the World

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

24. University of Regensburg

Bavaria | Regensburg

For Theoretical Physics

#91 in Europe

#189 in the World

Enrollment: 20,702
Founded: 1962

25. University of Wuppertal

North Rhine-Westphalia | Wuppertal

For Theoretical Physics

#94 in Europe

#193 in the World

Enrollment: 22,601
Founded: 1972

26. Technical University of Berlin

Brandenburg | Berlin

For Theoretical Physics

#99 in Europe

#204 in the World

Enrollment: 34,842
Founded: 1946

27. University of Wurzburg

Bavaria | Wurzburg

For Theoretical Physics

#108 in Europe

#220 in the World

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

28. Darmstadt University of Technology

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Theoretical Physics

#124 in Europe

#258 in the World

Enrollment: 24,969
Founded: 1877

29. University of Duisburg - Essen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Theoretical Physics

#126 in Europe

#261 in the World

Enrollment: 43,281
Founded: 2003

30. University of Ulm

Baden-Wurttemberg | Ulm

For Theoretical Physics

#129 in Europe

#266 in the World

Enrollment: 10,164
Founded: 1967

31. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

Rhineland-Palatinate | Kaiserslautern

For Theoretical Physics

#135 in Europe

#284 in the World

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

32. TU Dortmund University

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dortmund

For Theoretical Physics

#145 in Europe

#303 in the World

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

33. Dresden University of Technology

Saxony | Dresden

For Theoretical Physics

#149 in Europe

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 1828

34. University of Augsburg

Bavaria | Augsburg

For Theoretical Physics

#158 in Europe

#327 in the World

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

35. University of Potsdam

Brandenburg | Potsdam

For Theoretical Physics

#162 in Europe

#337 in the World

Enrollment: 20,406
Founded: 1991

36. University of Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Theoretical Physics

#172 in Europe

#357 in the World

Enrollment: 17,984
Founded: 1971

37. University of Konstanz

Baden-Wurttemberg | Konstanz

For Theoretical Physics

#181 in Europe

#372 in the World

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

38. University of Paderborn

North Rhine-Westphalia | Paderborn

For Theoretical Physics

#182 in Europe

#375 in the World

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

39. University of Giessen

Hesse | Giessen

For Theoretical Physics

#183 in Europe

#380 in the World

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

40. University of Marburg

Hesse | Marburg

For Theoretical Physics

#196 in Europe

#411 in the World

Enrollment: 22,612
Founded: 1527

41. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Lower Saxony | Oldenburg

For Theoretical Physics

#198 in Europe

#415 in the World

Enrollment: 15,899
Founded: 1973

42. University of Bayreuth

Bavaria | Bayreuth

For Theoretical Physics

#209 in Europe

#454 in the World

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

43. Saarland University

Saarland | Saarbrucken

For Theoretical Physics

#210 in Europe

#457 in the World

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

44. University of Siegen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Siegen

For Theoretical Physics

#215 in Europe

#467 in the World

Enrollment: 17,805
Founded: 1972

45. Kiel University

Schleswig-Holstein | Kiel

For Theoretical Physics

#233 in Europe

#517 in the World

Enrollment: 27,468
Founded: 1665

46. University of Kassel

For Theoretical Physics

#237 in Europe

#528 in the World

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

47. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia | Dusseldorf

For Theoretical Physics

#244 in Europe

#549 in the World

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

48. University of Rostock

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Rostock

For Theoretical Physics

#248 in Europe

#559 in the World

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

49. Folkwang University of the Arts

North Rhine-Westphalia | Essen

For Theoretical Physics

#249 in Europe

#564 in the World

Enrollment: 1,506
Founded: 1927

50. Braunschweig University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Braunschweig

For Theoretical Physics

#259 in Europe

#590 in the World

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

51. Clausthal University of Technology

Lower Saxony | Clausthal-Zellerfeld

For Theoretical Physics

#264 in Europe

#598 in the World

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

52. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

Saxony-Anhalt | Halle

For Theoretical Physics

#272 in Europe

#624 in the World

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

53. Chemnitz University of Technology

Saxony | Chemnitz

For Theoretical Physics

#279 in Europe

#648 in the World

Enrollment: 9,873
Founded: 1836

54. Osnabruck University

Lower Saxony | Osnabruck

For Theoretical Physics

#294 in Europe

#696 in the World

Enrollment: 13,628
Founded: 1974

55. University of Greifswald

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | Greifswald

For Theoretical Physics

#305 in Europe

#729 in the World

Enrollment: 10,366
Founded: 1456

56. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Aachen

For Theoretical Physics

#308 in Europe

#739 in the World

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

57. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Hesse | Darmstadt

For Theoretical Physics

#310 in Europe

#752 in the World

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

58. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

Saxony-Anhalt | Magdeburg

For Theoretical Physics

#315 in Europe

#764 in the World

Enrollment: 13,143
Founded: 1993

59. Jacobs University Bremen

Bremen State | Bremen City

For Theoretical Physics

#325 in Europe

#803 in the World

Enrollment: 1,531
Founded: 2001

60. University of Mannheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Mannheim

For Theoretical Physics

#359 in Europe

#923 in the World

Enrollment: 11,532
Founded: 1907

61. Freiberg University of Technology

Saxony | Freiberg

For Theoretical Physics

#387 in Europe

#1032 in the World

Enrollment: 4,016
Founded: 1765

62. Hamburg University of Technology

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Theoretical Physics

#396 in Europe

#1063 in the World

Enrollment: 7,223
Founded: 1978

63. University of Hagen

North Rhine-Westphalia | Hagen

For Theoretical Physics

#421 in Europe

#1155 in the World

Enrollment: 71,351
Founded: 1974

64. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

Hamburg State | Hamburg City

For Theoretical Physics

#434 in Europe

#1218 in the World

Enrollment: 2,587
Founded: 1972

65. Ilmenau University of Technology

Thuringia | Ilmenau

For Theoretical Physics

#435 in Europe

#1226 in the World

Enrollment: 4,889
Founded: 1953

66. University of Hohenheim

Baden-Wurttemberg | Stuttgart

For Theoretical Physics

#477 in Europe

#1398 in the World

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

67. University of Trier

Rhineland-Palatinate | Trier

For Theoretical Physics

#495 in Europe

#1468 in the World

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

68. Bauhaus - University Weimar

Thuringia | Weimar

For Theoretical Physics

#509 in Europe

#1544 in the World

Enrollment: 3,988
Founded: 1860

69. University of Lubeck

Schleswig-Holstein | Lubeck

For Theoretical Physics

#512 in Europe

#1556 in the World

Enrollment: 5,968
Founded: 1964

70. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

Bavaria | Neubiberg

For Theoretical Physics

#517 in Europe

#1573 in the World

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

71. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Rhineland-Palatinate | Mainz

For Theoretical Physics

#525 in Europe

#1613 in the World

Enrollment: 5,786
Founded: 1996

72. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

Brandenburg | Senftenberg

For Theoretical Physics

#542 in Europe

#1715 in the World

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

73. Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

Saxony | Leipzig

For Theoretical Physics

#543 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Enrollment: 6,111
Founded: 1992

74. Munich School of Philosophy

Bavaria | Munich

For Theoretical Physics

#557 in Europe

#1783 in the World

Enrollment: 342
Founded: 1925

75. Munich University of Applied Sciences

Bavaria | Munich

For Theoretical Physics

#612 in Europe

#2104 in the World

Enrollment: 18,183
Founded: 1971

76. Munster University of Applied Sciences

North Rhine-Westphalia | Munster

For Theoretical Physics

#632 in Europe

#2239 in the World

Enrollment: 15,000
Founded: 1971

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

Physics subfields in Germany

Acoustical Engineering127

Applied/Engineering Physics66

Astrophysics and Astronomy129

Atomic and Molecular physics79

Condensed Matter Physics85

Materials Science161

Medical Physics45

Nanotechnology112

Nuclear Physics101

Optical Engineering147

Quantum and Particle physics163