The University of Freiburg is part of a global network encompassing over 300 partnerships with prestigious higher education institutions on all five continents. In the 2015/16 winter semester more than 4000 international students from around 130 countries were matriculated at the university – more than ever before.
Already a comprehensive university at its founding in 1457, the University of Freiburg still offers undergraduate and graduate studies as well as professorial qualification in all important disciplines today: the humanities, natural and engineering sciences, medicine, law, and theology. This diversity also provides an ideal environment for innovative interdisciplinary studies.
Research
The University of Freiburg is one of Europe’s strongest research universities. Thanks to its broad spectrum of academic fields, the University of Freiburg has great potential for innovative fundamental research – both at the core of individual disciplines and in collaborative interdisciplinary research. Freiburg researchers maintain close contact with other researchers at all levels – both locally and worldwide – at other universities and research institutions, as well as with industry partners.
Career
The University of Freiburg's "Freiburg Career Advancement" (FCA) program combines various institutions and departments focusing on career development. In addition, the university has also shown its support for providing excellent conditions for research, teaching, and qualification at the national and European levels .
University of FreiburgKey Statistics & Highlights
#227Ranking
1 Courses
539Academic Staff
21,416Students
2,570Students (int'l)
11,350Students (female)
Public Institution Type
Housing services
Student Services offers 4,000 residencies within 15 different dormitories throughout the region of Freiburg. The low rent, friendly neighbour’s and diverse recreational activities make these accommodations very popular. The living situation is usually mixed but studio and larger apartments are also available.
Library services
With a collection of 3.6 million volumes, the University Library is the largest research library in the region of Southern Baden. In addition, the UB and the University Computing Center run the New Media Center, which offers a variety of multimedia services. The University Librarys main purpose is to supply 20,000 employees and students with literature and information.
Medical services
The main clinical campus is situated in the western part of the city between the Stühlinger and Beurbarung districts.The off-campus clinics of the Psychiatry and Dermatology Departments are located in the city district of Herdern on Hauptstraße.The Medical Theoretical Institutes are also located in the city district of Herdern in the Institute Quarter of the University.
Sports facilities
In the fitness and health center (fgz) of the Institute for Sports and Sports Science you will find modern equipment with a "back circuit", a targeted selection of cardio equipment and many opportunities for free and functional training.
Student clubs
angLES Journal.
Arts Liberated.
Global Affairs in Dialogue.
Jack.
LESC – European Liberal Education Student Conference.
LESS – European Liberal Education Student Symposium.
Outreach Committee.
Accreditation
The teaching concept is based on a well-balanced blend of on-campus instruction and e-learning. Only shortly after its inception in 2006, the degree program received full accreditation and was accepted to the DAAD funding program "Postgraduate Degree Programs on Developing Countries at Universities in the Federal Republic of Germany." (Source: University of Freiburg Press Release)
University of FreiburgOverview
University of FreiburgRankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 1.1%Germany
Top 2%Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
Best Global Universities Rankings
227
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 15 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
2025
2026
2027
210
212
227
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
245
By TopUniversities
Dropped 44 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
212
201
245
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
No 2027 Ranking
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
128
138
-
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
No 2026 Ranking
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
2024
2025
2026
101
101
-
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
University itself is great, a lot of opportunities for research, renowned professors, and modern campus buildings. Education is a bit on the harder side, but totally manageable. Possible to design your course direction however you would like.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromUnknown
Posted onAug 2026
5/5
Good
i like to study about human and their way of living, to explore about their origin and progress through the time till today.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromApr 2025 - May 2028
Posted onSep 2025
4/5
Overall Experience
Studying at the University of Freiburg in Germany offers a rich and rewarding experience for international students. The university combines strong academic standards with a research‑oriented environment and supportive faculty. Campus life is vibrant, with many student organizations and cultural activities. Freiburg itself is a beautiful, green, and safe city, close to nature and well connected to Europe. As a Student I appreciate the mix of historic atmosphere and modern facilities. While German language skills are helpful, many courses are offered in English, making integration easier for international students. Overall, it is an excellent place to study and grow.
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2025. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 7 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
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