The best German universities in 2022

There are two distinct and highly respected university rankings in the world, namely The QS World Rankings and Times Higher Education Rankings (THE). They list all universities in the world and rank them in the top 1000.

The QS World Rankings is an annual publication that organizes international rankings using their own methodology. Its system covers a range of subject and school lists and is the only international ranking to receive the approval of the International Ranking Expert Group (IREG). Times Higher Education (THE) is a London-based weekly magazine that specifically deals with topics related to higher education. Previously, THE magazine operated in parallel with the QS rankings; however, the Times developed a new ranking methodology and separated from QS, using the Thomson Reuters analysts' database. Nevertheless, both rankings are held in the highest regard and are considered the best source for university rankings.

In 2022, Germany is one of the ten most popular destinations in the world for international students. According to the latest DAAD statistics, in the winter semester 2021/2022, 349,438 international students are studying in Germany. Despite the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Germany still recorded an increase in the number of international students of more than 7% compared to the previous year. If you are curious to know why Germany is still the preferred destination for international students, these 13 reasons to study in Germany will give you many convincing arguments. In terms of global higher education standards, many German universities rank among the best in the world. They are appreciated for the diversity of study programs, excellent study conditions, modern facilities, world-class teaching staff, employment opportunities, and career prospects.

Here are the top 20 German universities according to both rankings for the year 2022.

The best German universities in 2022 that appear on both lists:

1. Technical University of Munich (TUM)
2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)
3. Heidelberg University
4. Humboldt University of Berlin
5. Free University of Berlin
6. RWTH Aachen University
7. University of Tübingen
8. University of Freiburg
9. University of Bonn
10. University of Göttingen

Naturally, choosing the university that best suits you is of crucial importance. As international students, we have compiled a list of the most important criteria for choosing a university, beyond the ranking, based on our own experience of studying and living in Germany. Check out the lists of the best universities in Germany for Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, and Russian students to learn more about the specific criteria that depend more on your origin. The rest of this article will introduce you to the top 5 universities in Germany 2022 with their most popular degrees, cross-referenced from both lists:

1. Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München – TUM)

• Founded: April 12, 1868
• Location: Munich — the 3rd largest city in Germany (~1.5 million inhabitants)
• Popular programs: mathematics, physics, computer science
• Website: https://www.tum.de/

2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)

• Founded: June 26, 1472
• Location: Munich — the 3rd largest city in Germany (~1.5 million inhabitants)
• Popular programs: medicine, natural sciences, law, economics and social sciences.
• Website: https://www.uni-muenchen.de/

3. Heidelberg University (Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg)

• Founded: October 18, 1386
• Location: Heidelberg — the 50th largest city in Germany (~160,000 inhabitants)
• Popular programs: finance, medicine, and psychology
• Website: https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/de

4. Humboldt University of Berlin (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)

• Founded: October 15, 1810
• Location: Berlin — the largest city in Germany (~3.6 million inhabitants)
• Popular programs: neuroscience, biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology
• Website: https://www.hu-berlin.de/de/

5. Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin)

• Founded: December 1948
• Location: Berlin — the largest city in Germany (~3.6 million inhabitants)
• Popular programs: business administration, computer science, biology, and political science
• Website: https://www.fu-berlin.de/

##Conclusion

If you are looking for the best German universities in terms of rankings, there are 5 well-known rankings that you will encounter in newspapers and on the Internet:

• The Shanghai Uni Ranking, the Times Higher Education Rankings (THE), and the QS World Rankings are international and rank German universities worldwide;
• The CHE Ranking and the Wirtschaftswoche Universitätsranking für Deutschland are among the most important ranking lists at the national level.

But note that: A good position in an international or national university ranking does not mean that the university in question is the best for you! Because:

• Perhaps your personal criteria are very different from and more important than those considered in the university ranking.
• Most rankings only evaluate the university as a whole, but the differences between faculties or departments should also be taken into account. This is important because a university that leads in one field may not do so in another.
• Universities have two main tasks: research and teaching. If you are looking for a bachelor's program, the quality of teaching and studies is generally more important to you than that of research.
• Universities of applied sciences are hardly considered in rankings. If you wish to study at a university of applied sciences, you can ignore the "ranking".