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Field · Physics and Astronomy · Germany

Physics and Astronomy research in Germany

Technical University of Munich ranks first in Germany for Physics and Astronomy research in 2022–2025 (#53 worldwide), followed by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

Germany's world rank
#3
of 79 countries, 2022–2025
Works, 2022–2025
26k
Top-10% rate
24.5%
Ranked institutions
60

Research strength only: this says nothing about teaching, admissions or cost.

What is the best university for Physics and Astronomy in Germany?

#InstitutionWorld rankScoreTop-10% rateWorks
1Technical University of MunichMunich #5346.430.6%779
2Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenMunich #6044.733.8%525
3Johannes Gutenberg University MainzMainz #7441.934.6%421
4Universität HamburgHamburg #8140.729.9%561
5Heidelberg UniversityHeidelberg #8639.932.8%697
6Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyKarlsruhe #9139.126.9%714
7Munich Center for Quantum Science and TechnologyMunich #10437.341.1%163
8Freie Universität BerlinBerlin #13134.223.6%241
9Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESYHamburg #13533.825.4%819
10Forschungszentrum JülichJülich #14432.918.4%501
11Max Planck Institute of Quantum OpticsGarching #14732.636.2%127
12University of WürzburgWürzburg #16131.426.5%296
13Technische Universität DresdenDresden #16531.121.6%361
14University of BonnBonn #17830.030.6%452
15Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-NürnbergErlangen #18729.422.3%398
16Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of MatterHamburg #18829.333.6%111
17Ruhr University BochumBochum #19428.923.6%430
18GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion ResearchDarmstadt #20428.223.0%588
19RWTH Aachen UniversityAachen #20827.916.7%624
20Leibniz University HannoverHanover #21127.723.3%367
21Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex SystemsDresden #21827.327.5%180
22University of StuttgartStuttgart #22127.117.4%369
23University of CologneCologne #23226.526.1%271
24Technische Universität DarmstadtDarmstadt #23726.228.5%328
25Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-RossendorfDresden #25925.029.2%198
26Technische Universität BerlinBerlin #26224.818.9%329
27Physikalisch-Technische BundesanstaltBraunschweig #26924.516.8%180
28Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of SolidsDresden #27224.327.6%97
29Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinBerlin #28423.730.3%263
30Max Planck Institute for Nuclear PhysicsHeidelberg #29523.242.3%294
31Max Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchStuttgart #30622.721.9%134
32Friedrich Schiller University JenaJena #31122.522.1%285
33Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfDüsseldorf #31622.328.7%156
34Max Planck Institute for AstronomyHeidelberg #32621.942.4%280
35University of RegensburgRegensburg #32821.827.2%200
36University of KonstanzKonstanz #33521.518.6%157
37Goethe University FrankfurtFrankfurt am Main #34920.929.9%403
38University of TübingenTübingen #35620.724.3%340
39University of RostockRostock #38119.817.4%146
40Max Planck Institute for the Science of LightErlangen #38219.719.1%108
41University of GöttingenGöttingen #39019.426.2%236
42University of FreiburgFreiburg im Breisgau #39719.222.6%227
43University of MünsterMünster #41518.620.9%295
44Max-Born-Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse SpectroscopyBerlin #44217.815.2%122
45Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials ResearchDresden #44717.618.3%101
46Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)Cologne #45417.417.2%359
47Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck SocietyBerlin #45917.225.4%68
48Universität UlmUlm #46217.224.8%91
49Institute for Advanced StudyBerlin #46617.041.2%87
50University of AugsburgAugsburg #48216.617.1%116
51Center for Free-Electron Laser ScienceHamburg #48816.422.3%79
52Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielKiel #50116.116.2%175
53Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und EnergieBerlin #50515.915.9%100
54Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergHalle #51015.820.8%73
55Max Planck Institute for Gravitational PhysicsPotsdam #53615.153.8%242
56Max Planck Institute for AstrophysicsGarching #54315.045.4%241
57European Southern ObservatoryGarching bei München #59513.735.6%152
58University of Duisburg-EssenEssen #60213.613.0%180
59Max Planck Institute for PhysicsMunich #61313.351.8%227
60TU Dortmund UniversityDortmund #61613.319.9%213

Institutions in Germany above the floor of 40 fractional works in Physics and Astronomy, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.

Who are the top Physics and Astronomy researchers in Germany?

A. Khodinov, F. Berghaus and J. E. Derkaoui rank highest among researchers based in Germany.

  1. 1A. Khodinov#236 worldwide overall5.6k citations · 234 works
  2. 2F. Berghaus#248 worldwide overall5.2k citations · 189 works
  3. 3J. E. Derkaoui#249 worldwide overall5.5k citations · 227 works
  4. 4Ph. Gris#251 worldwide overall4.9k citations · 190 works
  5. 5E. Musto#265 worldwide overall5.1k citations · 183 works
  6. 6E. Górnicki#270 worldwide overall5.5k citations · 222 works
  7. 7Fr. Pastore#277 worldwide overall5.8k citations · 241 works
  8. 8D. Chromek-Burckhart#286 worldwide overall5.6k citations · 238 works
  9. 9S. Cheatham#289 worldwide overall5.8k citations · 252 works
  10. 10A. I. Etienvre#291 worldwide overall5.3k citations · 216 works
  11. 11S. Binet#294 worldwide overall5.3k citations · 222 works
  12. 12J. Pína#313 worldwide overall5.1k citations · 189 works
  13. 13V. Grassi#316 worldwide overall5.1k citations · 168 works
  14. 14S. Gadatsch#320 worldwide overall5k citations · 215 works
  15. 15J.-B. Blanchard#322 worldwide overall5.2k citations · 210 works

How Germany compares with other countries in Physics and Astronomy