Universities in Germany

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 355 Universities in Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal republic composed of 16 states (German: Länder), which are further subdivided into districts (German: Kreise), with the exception of the city-states of Berlin and Hamburg, as well as the state of Bremen. The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are concentrated in the most densely populated states, including North Rhine-Westphalia (Düsseldorf), Baden-Württemberg (Stuttgart), and Bavaria (Munich). The following uniRank league tables and sub-rankings consider all states that include at least one German higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

Baden-Wurttemberg (61)  
Bavaria (43)  
Berlin (32)  
Brandenburg (10)  
Bremen (6)  
Hamburg (16)  
Hesse (22)  
Lower Saxony (26)  
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (6)  
North Rhine-Westphalia (62)  
Rhineland-Palatinate (18)  
Saarland (4)  
Saxony (18)  
Saxony-Anhalt (9)  
Schleswig-Holstein (11)  
Thuringia (11)  

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The Higher Education System in Germany

The German higher education system is supervised and under the responsibility of the German federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung), and the education government bodies in each German state.

Types of higher education institutions in Germany

In Germany there are two different types of higher education institutions:

1. Universities: Universitäten are German multidisciplinary or specialized institutions of higher education and research that can provide academic degrees and education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including doctorates. Specialized universities which have the formal status of Universität include Technical Universities (Technische Universitäten), Universities of Education (Pädagogische Hochschulen), Universities of Arts (Kunsthochschulen) and Universities of Music (Musikhochschulen). uniRank currently includes more than 150 German Universities.
2. Universities of Applied Sciences: Fachhochschulen are specialized higher education institutions that can provide academic degrees and education in a few specific scientific fields at undergraduate and postgraduate levels but have no power to award PhD-level degrees, at least not in their own right. uniRank currently includes more than 180 Universities of Applied Sciences.

Access to higher education in Germany

German students access higher education after a total of at least 13 years of primary, secondary and higher secondary school studies, from the age of 6 to the age of 18, and after obtaining the certificate of general qualification for university entrance (Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as Abiturzeugnis or shortly Abitur) which is the official German certificate awarded after candidates have passed their final higher secondary school exams; it is also the document which contains their grades in both the last and second last school year and formally enables them to attend university. Thus, it encompasses the functions of both a secondary school graduation certificate and a University entrance qualification.

Languages of Instruction in Germany

University programs and courses are mainly taught in the German national language.

Stages of higher education in Germany

1. First stage: the first stage of University-level higher education in Germany can last from 3 to 4 years, depending on the area of study, and leads to the award of the Bachelor's degree.
2. Second stage: once obtained a Bachelor's degree, the second stage of University-level higher education generally lasts between 1 and 2 years, depending on the area of study, and leads to the award of the Master's degree.
3. Third stage: the fourth and last stage of University-level higher education in Germany can last from 2 to 6 years, depending on the area of study, and leads to the award of a Ph.D. or Doctoral degree. While it is not an academic degree formally, the Habilitation is an additional higher, post-doctoral academic qualification for teaching independently at Universities.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about German universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Germany
  Explore the most traditional and long-established German post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Germany
  Search for German higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• German Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular German town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Germany
  Discover German public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Germany
  Find out about German private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Germany
  Explore German not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Germany
  Look for German for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top German Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Germany have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top German Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Germany that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top German Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Germany are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top German Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Germany with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.