Top 10 Universities in Germany

It is only in the recent past that Germany seems to be attracting Indian students at quite an early stage; read – undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Traditionally Germany has always attracted top-quality PhD students from India. Most of these students focus on specialised areas in Chemistry, Automotive Engineering and Microbiology. With options in the USA and the UK becoming quite pricey the offer of studying for free in Germany is too attractive to dismiss. Most state-run German universities offer tuition-free education. Students would still pay for accommodation, food, travel and entertainment.

Universities offer programmes in both German and English and it is mandatory that you ascertain the medium of instruction before you submit your application form. If you are really keen on studying in Germany, a year’s worth of classes in passing German language exams in India would really boost your admission chances and help you acclimatise to life in Germany with ease! To offer you the right platform to help you prepare to study in Germany we list down the top ten universities in Germany.

Top Ten University List

Here are the top ten universities in Germany with brief descriptions about each of them.

Technische Universität München (TUM)

Consistently ranked among Europe’s best universities TUM holds the distinction of being one of the first German universities to be named as a ‘University of Excellence’. TUM was started in 1868 to offer people in the state of Bavaria a strong technical education and transform the state’s agricultural economy into a strong industrial one. Currently, TUM comprises 13 distinct departments that offer a wide variety of degrees to over 39,000 students. More than 22% of TUM students come from outside Germany. TUM has one full-fledged off-shore campus in Singapore known as TUM Asia and TUM also has academic partnerships with over 37 institutions in 17 countries. In the year 2014 alone, patents were granted for 165 inventions designed by researchers at TUM; this shows the quality of the research output at TUM. TUM is also known as ‘the entrepreneurial university’.

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg / Heidelberg University   

Heidelberg University was established in 1386 making it Germany’s oldest university. Programmes are offered in the humanities, the social sciences, law, natural sciences, and the life sciences, including medicine. The University comprises 12 faculties and has a total strength of over 30,000 students. The University’s Computing Centre and the Library are consistently ranked as the best in Germany. The University is at the centre of a research network that includes a large number of non-university research institutions and companies in Heidelberg and the Rhine-Neckar region. The University has academic partnerships with many leading universities around the world to facilitate study abroad programmes for students.

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich)

LMU Munich was established in 1472. Since its inception the University has attracted some of the finest minds in the form of students and teachers. Today LMU continues maintain the high standards of learning that it originally offered. LMU is home to students from all parts of Germany and more than 130 countries from all over the world. Accredited programmes are offered in subject areas as diverse as the humanities and cultural studies through law, economics and social sciences to medicine and natural sciences. LMU comprises 18 distinct faculties and manages a state-of-the-art Medical Centre, which can accommodate over 2,300 patients.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, briefly referred to as KIT, was established by the merger of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH and the Universität Karlsruhe (TH) on October 01, 2009. Engineering sciences, natural sciences, the humanities, and social sciences make up the scope of subjects covered by KIT. There are over 140 research institutes associated with KIT. Be it sustainable energy, nanotechnology, polymers, Particle Physics or Artificial Intelligence, researchers are actively focused on creating innovations for a better future. KIT offers international students a great study experience and a fantastic environment to grow!

Freie Universität Berlin

Freie Universität Berlin was established on December 4, 1948. The University owes a lot to the American government and politicians in Berlin who heeded to the request of local students for the establishment of a proper university that would support their intellectual pursuit. Freie Universität is located in the southwest of Berlin, in the garden district of Dahlem. Albert Einstein, Werner Heisenberg, and Max Planck are associated with the University for their pioneering work in nuclear energy. Currently there are over 29,000 students enrolled on various undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes that are offered via 11 academic departments and one medical school.

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

The Humboldt University of Berlin was established in 1810 in Berlin. The University is popularly known as HU Berlin. The University went through a tumultuous time during the Second World War and the years that followed with the creation of East and West Germany. The unification of Germany as one country brought in new fervour and additional funding and today HU Berlin is a leading university in Europe. The University comprises nine faculties, which offer an excellent selection of programmes to over 34,000 students from around the world. Research is carried out by ten Collaborative Research Centres that look at areas as diverse as economics and neuroscience.

Universität Freiburg

The University of Freiburg was established in 1457 and has been a centre for academic excellence right since its inception. The University offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the humanities, natural and engineering sciences, medicine, law, and theology. The University comprises 11 faculties and has over 24,000 students who are taught by over 7,000 professors and lecturers. The University welcomes students from over 100 countries and also has strategic partnerships with leading international universities to facilitate study abroad programmes. The University is home to over 20 research centres that focus on key areas like medicine, genetics, biology and technology.

Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen – RWTH Aachen University

RWTH Aachen University was established in 1870 and is a research-oriented technological university based out of Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia. RWTH comprises nine faculties, 260 institutes and nine collaborative research centres. The University is home to nearly 50,000 students enrolled on various programmes. The University’s management is committed to fostering an entrepreneurship culture among students and students are inspired and guided to start their own enterprises. The 'Aachen Way' is a defining factor in the University’s academic fibre that essentially brings together the right people, creates the right atmosphere and right resources to create success stories!

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen   

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen is a research-focused university, which was established in 1737. The University is distinguished by the rich diversity of its subject spectrum particularly in the humanities and its excellent facilities for the pursuit of scientific research. The University comprises 13 faculties, which offer an excellent selection of programmes across diverse subject categories. Research is on key areas like agriculture, nanotechnology, computing and ecology. The University has a strong global alumni network.

Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen  

Eberhard Karls Universität is a public research university based out of Tubingen. Established in 1477, the University’s subject areas of strength are - medicine, natural sciences, theology, religion and the humanities. Tubingen is a classical university town with academic departments functioning from various buildings all around the town. The University comprises 14 distinct faculties and offers a unique learning experience. Areas of research excellence are life sciences, medicine and social sciences. Over the years many key faculty members of the University have been awarded a Nobel Prize for their contributions. Over a third of the town’s population is made up of students and the University offers a vibrant and multi-cultural learning experience.

We hope you found this article useful and will consider Germany as a potential study abroad destination for your higher education plans! Get in touch with our dedicated team of study abroad counsellors for more information on studying in Germany.