The Top 5 Universities in Germany for Postgraduate Study

#1 Technical University of Munich

First up on the list is TUM, or the Technical University of Munich. It prides itself on outstanding research and innovation and its distinctive character as an entrepreneurial university. This means that it offers support and advice to graduates and researchers who run promising high-tech start-ups.

Taking 30th place in the world rankings, TUM boasts of a score of 69.8 in teaching and 85.1 in research. Plus, in 2019 it secured the title “University of Excellence” for the third time in a row. With a focus on technology, TUM is a great option for those looking to study Engineering, Natural Science, Life Science, Medicine, Management or Social Science at a postgraduate level.

#2 LMU Munich

Next up on the list is Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, or LMU Munich for short. Times Higher Education ranked them the 38th best university in the world and it’s easy to see why. With a score of 65.3 in teaching and 76.8 in research, it’s a great option for both taught and research courses alike.

Founded in 1472 as Bavaria’s first university, LMU has a long history of excellence. Sitting at the heart of Munich’s network of research institutions, universities and businesses, its placement makes it a focal point of scholarship and culture. In addition, it has 600 partner universities across all five continents, making it a highly cosmopolitan place to study.

#3 Heidelberg University

At number 47 in the world university rankings is Heidelberg University. Founded in 1386, Heidelberg is a well-established institution that has continued to innovate, focusing on future-oriented scientific concepts alongside its traditional academic values. Plus, if you’re looking for heritage, Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university!

Heidelberg boasts a teaching score of 67.7 and a research score of 64.3. But don’t think a lower research score means that this university wouldn’t be great for MRes or PhD study – Heidelberg has been home to multiple Nobel Prize winners over the years. The earliest was achieved in 1901 and the most recent in 2014 for a variety of subjects including Physics, Medicine and Literature.

#4 Humboldt University of Berlin

Tied with another German university at 87th is Humboldt University. This was one of the first German universities to align their Bachelors and Masters degrees with the European Bologna Process in 2001. This meant that their degrees were assessed against and part of an internationally agreed standard of quality. Moreover, its newest library, the Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum, gives students access to over four million books and periodicals both physically and online.

With slightly higher scores than its affiliate, Humboldt achieved a 55.3 in teaching and 63.7 in research. According to its website, it also fosters strong student environments outside of academia, housing almost 100 different sport clubs and an accessible language centre. This centre offers a variety of courses including German language for international students at a variety of levels.

#5 RWTH Aachen University

At 87th in the world is RWTH Aachen University. Founded in 1870, RWTH has a long history in the fields of industrial engineering and the natural sciences. Today the University is a place of innovation and interdisciplinary research, with a teaching score of 54.9 and a research score of 64.8. Located close to both Belgium and the Netherlands, RWTH encourages the sharing of knowledge across borders and has developed strong connections with local industry.