The University of Bonn in National and International University Rankings
The University of Bonn is the most successful University of Excellence in Germany and one of the best-performing universities worldwide. This is reflected not least in the leading positions that the University and a number of its departments currently occupy in national and international university rankings. These rankings draw on various performance indicators, data sources and reputation surveys to rate the quality of research and teaching, aspects such as internationalization and digitalization and the number of citations and publications.
#4
We are 4th in the list of Germany’s best universities
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the “Shanghai Ranking”, put the University of Bonn in an outstanding 4th place in Germany.
This impressive performance is thanks in particular to the exceptional quality of the University’s researchers, who scored highest in Germany for “Prizes and awards won by researchers.” The high citation rate and impact achieved by their publications were also rated very positively.
#61
We are 61st in the list of the best universities in the world
The University of Bonn is placed 61st in the global comparison provided by the Shanghai Ranking (Academic Ranking of World Universities). Representing the Rhineland as a center of excellence for teaching, this makes it one of the top 100 universities in the world. The University of Bonn’s score puts it on rank 11 in the European Union.
The main reasons behind these leading positions are the University’s many excellent researchers and alumni and the many international awards and accolades that they have won. However, the density of much-cited and highly influential publications by Bonn-based research also has a hand in this success.
#14
14th in the CWTS Leiden Ranking
The Centre for Science and Technology Studies Leiden (CWTS) put the University of Bonn 14th for the whole of Germany in 2024. According to the rankings, 11.2 percent of scientific publications from Bonn are among the 10 percent most-cited around the world.
The University of Bonn ranks 9th in Germany in the top one percent of most-cited publications. In addition, the University enjoys rank 3 in a national comparison in terms of the percentage of publications produced through international collaboration.
#16
University of Bonn is 16th in the EU
The well-known THE World University Ranking from the U.K. puts the University of Bonn 16th in the EU (27th in Europe). In the U.S. News Best Global Universities Ranking from the U.S., the university is on rank 57 in Europe.
These outstanding results are due in no small part to the excellent reputation enjoyed by the University’s research and teaching. The increasingly international feel of Bonn as a city has also contributed to the pleasing trends.
#7
7th in U.S. News’s Best Global Universities
These U.S. rankings have also assessed universities across the world every year since 2014. Matching its performance from 2022, the University of Bonn achieved a fantastic 7th place in Germany this year too. Particular praise was reserved for the institution’s reputation for research within its region and the percentage of most-cited publications penned by Bonn-based researchers.
Outstanding subject areas at the University of Bonn
As well as the University as a whole, a number of degree programs in Bonn are also proving impressive, currently occupying leading positions in German-wide and international subject rankings. Its strengths in terms of reputation for research, international cooperation and teaching are particularly prominent in a direct comparison. Learn more about the best results:
#1
Top in Germany for mathematics
Several rankings assign the University of Bonn’s renowned Department of Mathematics a superb first place in Germany. Both the U.S. News Global Universities Ranking and the Shanghai Ranking (GRAS) consider Bonn’s mathematicians to be the nationwide leaders in their field, highlighting in particular the reputation for research that the subject enjoys both regionally and globally. The excellent quality and high citation density of its publications also bear witness to the top quality of the department.
#38
Ranked 38th in mathematics worldwide
The University of Bonn’s Department of Mathematics is also a standout performer on the global stage, securing a leading position (38th) in this year’s Shanghai Ranking (GRAS). Although the department can boast a large number of illustrious awards won by its researchers and alumni, the rankings also recognize its many international partnerships, which are reflected in a large number of international co-publications, among other things. In addition, the global renown enjoyed by mathematics in Bonn is attested by its excellent performances in the U.S. News Ranking (54th worldwide) and the QS Ranking (41st worldwide).
#1
Bonn’s economists also in first place
The Department of Economics at the University of Bonn is ranked 1st in Germany in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (Shanghai Ranking), a position it has held since as long ago as 2017. With economics and econometrics in Bonn enjoying a very good 4th spot in Germany in the U.S. News Ranking, all the high-profile rankings place the department in leading positions.
In particular, the results take account of a high academic reputation, a significantly high citation rate for publications and their relevance to top-level research.
#41
Economics placed 41st globally
The Department of Economics at the University of Bonn has also been able to keep pace with the rest of the global field and has performed fantastically in international rankings for many years now.
For instance, the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (Shanghai Ranking) puts it in an excellent 41st place worldwide, followed closely by an outstanding 56th in the QS Subject Rankings, demonstrating the strong global reputation and respect that the department enjoys. Its particular plus points include its high citation rate and international focus.
#3
Agriculture among the top in Germany
The Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Bonn has also been among the leading performers for some time now, and not just since it achieved Cluster of Excellence status (PhenoRob). The Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (Shanghai Ranking) rates agriculture in Bonn as 3rd in Germany, both the U.S. News and the QS Subject Rankings as 4th. The department’s good performance is thanks mainly to its outstanding collaboration with leading institutions around the world and to the number of publications that appear in the major specialist journals.
#34
Agriculture secures top positions worldwide
The scientific excellence and good reputation of the University of Bonn’s Faculty of Agriculture have also translated into an impressive performance on the global stage. For instance, it has come on an excellent 34th rank worldwide in the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (Shanghai Ranking), rank 73 in the QS Subject Ranking and rank 91 in the U.S. News Ranking. Among other things, this recognition is built on the excellent research going on in the city of Bonn and the strong reputation that it enjoys.
Other successful subject areas and degree programs
With its six Clusters of Excellence, twelve Collaborative Research Centers, around 200 subjects taught and numerous illustrious researchers, many other departments at the University of Bonn have also succeeded in holding their own against the competition both in Germany and worldwide.
Leading positions compared with the rest of Germany
Physical Science 3rd (THE Subject Ranking)
Physics 8th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Space Science 3rd (U.S. News)
Food Science and Technology 3rd (U.S. News)
Infectious Diseases 6th (U.S. News)
Cell Biology 5th (U.S. News)
Neurosciences and Behaviour 5th (U.S. News)
Molecular Biology and Genetics 8th (U.S. News)
Pharmacology and Toxicology 4th (U.S. News)
Archaeology 6th (QS Subject Ranking)
Life Sciences 9th (THE Subject Ranking)
Top-100 positions of subject areas in a global comparison
Physical Sciences 40th (THE Subject Rankings)
Cell Biology 65rd (U.S. News)
Neurosciences and Behavior 66th (U.S. News)
Human Biological Sciences 51st-75th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Remote Sensing 51st-75th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Archaeology 51st–100th (QS Subject Ranking)
Atmospheric Sciences 76th–100th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Biological Sciences 76th–100th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Life Sciences 86th (THE Subject Ranking)
Dentistry and Oral Sciences 76th–100th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Medical Technology 76th–100th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Statitics 76th–100th (Shanghai/GRAS)
Computer Science 95th (THE Subject Ranking)
Space Science 98th (U.S. News)
National rankings—CHE University Ranking
Published by the CHE (Centre for Higher Education) and “DIE ZEIT” since 1998, these university rankings are the most comprehensive and important ones of their kind for Germany. They are intended primarily for prospective students and offer a detailed analysis of departments more so than an overall comparison in order to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each German university. The CHE also incorporates surveys of teachers and students into its calculations.
Geography
In particular, the CHE praises the Department of Geography for the high research output as well as for the excellent support it provides for new students and for studying abroad. Students at the University of Bonn rate the department extremely highly overall, pointing out the outstanding general study situation and the organization of the studies as well as the good introduction to scientific working, among other things.
Computer Sciences
For Computer Sciences in Bonn, the CHE highlightes in particular the excellent support it provides for new students and the good rate of doctoral candidates per professor. Students were most impressed by how their studies were organized, and by the rooms and premises.
Mathematics
The CHE Ranking also awards a top score to mathematics at the University of Bonn. Among other things, it highlights the very good level of support for new students, an outstanding completion rate for undergraduate degree programs and the share of research funding and output per researcher. Students concur with this assessment and were particularly impressed with the organization of degree programs, and the course offerings.
Further results of the CHE ranking
Each year, only around a third of the range of subjects in the CHE ranking is assessed. The respective subjects are then re-assessed every three years.
Physics
Physics in Bonn has also scored top marks in the CHE ranking. Besides the good support provided at the start of their studies, students also highlighted the overall study situation and the introduction to scientific working as being particularly good.
The main rankings at a glance
# 89 in the world
# 27 in Europe
# 5 in Germany
The THE rankings have been published by the U.K. magazine Times Higher Education (THE) every year since 2004. The THE has released numerous special issues and specific rankings over this period, such as the THE Impact Ranking.
Its World University Rankings are based primarily on reputation surveys, data reporting and publication data.
The University of Bonn came on an amazing 89th rank worldwide and 27th in Europe (16th in the EU) in the THE World University Rankings for 2025. It scored especially high in the category research quality.
# 61 in the world
# 21 in Europe
# 4 in Germany
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) originated as a project that ran from 1999 to 2001 at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This led in 2003 to the publication of the first global university rankings, the so-called “Shanghai Ranking”, which has appeared every year since and is one of the most-cited university rankings in the media. It focuses particularly on using publication and citation data as well as world-renowned prizes and awards to measure research performance.
The 2024 Shanghai Ranking recognizes the University of Bonn as the fourth-best university in Germany. The University has improved significantly on last year’s placings both within Europe (21st), the EU (11th) and the whole world (61st).
This outstanding result was due in particular to the number of prestigious awards won by University of Bonn researchers as well as their high publication output.
# 227 in the world
# 95 in Europe
# 13 in Germany
The U.K. company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) combined its publications with those of Times Higher Education between 2004 and 2009, since when the QS World University Rankings have appeared separately. QS also publishes a number of other rankings, including for individual subjects and regions.
This year, the University of Bonn came 227th worldwide and 95th in Europe. Within Germany, QS sees the University of Bonn in 13th place and highlights the university's high academic reputation worldwide as well as the good student-teacher ratio. Furthermore, the university performs very well in the International Research Network indicator, which depicts the diversity of international research networks.
# 157 in the world
# 57 in Europe
# 7 in Germany
Initially specializing primarily in the U.S. market, U.S. News & World Reporting also introduced a Global Universities Ranking in 2014, which also assessed foreign universities for the first time. U.S. News uses Clarivate Analytics as its database.
The University of Bonn came a strong 157th worldwide in the “U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Ranking” and secured an good 7th place within Germany.
# 350 in the world
# 135 in Europe
# 14 in Germany
The rankings produced by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands (known as the CWTS or Leiden Ranking) have been published annually since 2007. The CWTS Ranking is purely bibliometric in nature and uses data provided by Clarivate Analytics.
The Leiden Ranking puts the University of Bonn 350th in the world and 14th in Germany (share of top 10 % most cited publications).
# 194 in the world
# 71 in Europe
# 8 in Germany
The Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities is published by the National Taiwan University (NTU). The ranking was first published in 2007 by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT). This ranking system evaluates the research performance of universities based on publication and citation data.
In this year’s NTU ranking, the University of Bonn was ranked 194th worldwide, 8th in Germany and 71st in Europe. Her best rating is in the average citation rate.
The University of Bonn has once again demonstrated its excellence as a research institution in the latest Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024—part of the high-profile Shanghai Ranking. Mathematics and Economics held on to their respective first-place rankings in Germany, enjoyed for several years now. Agricultural Sciences now ranks third nationally.
The University of Bonn has further advanced in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2025, now ranking 89th worldwide—up two slots since last year. In Germany it improved as well, climbing one slot to fifth place, in the company of the country’s other leading institutions like Technical University of Munich, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the University of Heidelberg and Humboldt University of Berlin.
Two recently published sets of rankings, from CWTS Leiden and QS Europe, highlight the extensive international networks contributing to the University of Bonn’s research.
The University of Bonn did very well in the QS World University rankings released yesterday, being amongst the top 100 worldwide in roughly a third of the ranked Subjects. Mathematics is again our highest-ranking subject (41st internationally, 1st in Germany).
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