Ranking Ranking the Best Universities: Heidelberg in Second Place in Germany

Ruperto Carola has been able to again improve on its excellent placing among the “top three” best universities in Germany. After coming third last year, Heidelberg University has now moved to second place in the QS World University Ranking for 2021/2022 after Technical University of Munich (50) and ahead of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (64), with which Heidelberg now swaps places. Internationally Heidelberg University ranks 63rd; Europe-wide it is number 18. It has consequently edged up one place in all three categories. Heidelberg and the two Munich universities are the only German universities represented in the QS ranking’s “top 100”.

The QS World University Ranking weights academic reputation (40 percent), staff-student ratio, and citations per staff member (20 percent each). Other criteria are employer reputation (10 percent) and the share of international scholars and international students (five percent each). The current ranking rates 1,300 universities from more than 90 countries.