With a historic higher education system and many specialist research centres, it makes sense that Germany has some of the top ranked universities in the world. Not only that, Germany is the birthplace of the modern PhD, so it’s no wonder that the country is such a popular place to study.
We’ve examined the latest international university rankings to identify some of the best universities for PhD study in Germany.
The following table lists the 20 best universities Germany has to offer, based on the latest global rankings.
| University | THE 2020 | QS 2021 | ARWU 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMU Munich | =32 | 63 | 52 |
| Technical University of Munich | 43 | 50 | 57 |
| Heidelberg University | 44 | 64 | 47 |
| Humboldt University of Berlin | 74 | 117 | - |
| Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin | =80 | - | - |
| University of Freiburg | 86 | =175 | 101-150 |
| University of Tübingen | =91 | =175 | 151-200 |
| RWTH Aachen University | =99 | 145 | 201-300 |
| University of Bonn | =105 | =240 | 70 |
| Free University of Berlin | =117 | 130 | - |
| University of Göttingen | 125 | 195 | 101-150 |
| Ulm University | =141 | =344 | 201-300 |
| University of Hamburg | =149 | =228 | 201-300 |
| Technical University of Berlin | =149 | 148 | 301-400 |
| University of Cologne | =157 | =282 | 151-200 |
| University of Mannheim | =157 | 307 | - |
| TU Dresden | =157 | =173 | 201-300 |
| University of Würzburg | 163 | =437 | 201-300 |
| Bielefeld University | =166 | 801-1,000 | 501-600 |
| Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | =175 | 131 | 201-300 |
| Information in this table is based on the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Visit their websites for more information. | |||
With eight universities in the 2020 Times Higher Education top 100 (behind only the UK and USA), Germany is one of the best-ranked countries for higher education.
The fact that it charges no fees for PhD study and has many English-language doctorates makes Germany an excellent destination for postgraduate study.
Rankings for PhD study is not as straightforward as it seems. For a more detailed overview of how the system works and how to get the best out of it, check our guide to PhD rankings.
Ready to start looking for your ideal study abroad opportunity? Browse PhDs in Germany on FindAPhD.com or read our guide to studying a PhD in Germany.
Last updated 22/07/2020
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