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27 Best Public Professional Universities in Germany

Of the 27 Public Professional universities in Germany, Heidelberg University ranks highest at #80 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. RWTH Aachen University (QS World #105) and Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (QS World #487) complete the top three. Across the whole list there are 56 courses to choose from.

27 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
13Ranked
HF Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen logo
#115 in Germany Germany
#115 in Germany · by research impact
79,364 citations · h-index 120

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How these universities are ranked

3 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #80 (Heidelberg University) to #487 (Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Heidelberg University has the largest research record in this group, with 44,319,490 citations and an h-index of 1,646. 3 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 27 public to 0 private institutions. By location, Baden-Württemberg (1) and North Rhine-Westphalia (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Heidelberg University, founded in 1386. RWTH Aachen University is the largest, with 47,000 students.

Inside the course list

The most common subjects are Business & Management (28), Medicine & Health Sciences (10), Law (9) and Engineering (4). The usual length is 3–4 years and 4 Semester. 66% are full-time and 6 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (75% of courses with a stated intake) and Summer (2% of courses with a stated intake). Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen offers the widest choice, with 8 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 2 of these universities. RWTH Aachen University is the least expensive at USD 600 a year and Heidelberg University the most at USD 3,000; the middle of the range is about USD 3,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Public Professional in Germany?

Heidelberg University (QS World #80), RWTH Aachen University (QS World #105) and Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (QS World #487) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Professional in Germany?

Of those with published fees, RWTH Aachen University is the least expensive at about USD 600 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Public Professional in Germany?

27 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Professional course take in Germany?

Most listed courses run 3–4 years, with 4 Semester the next most common.

When do Public Professional courses start in Germany?

Fall is the main intake — 75% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Summer is the second.

Can I study Public Professional online with a university in Germany?

6 of these courses are listed as online.

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