Award Apr 06, 2021

World University Ranking names TU Munich the best university in the EU

The Technical University of Munich (TU) takes a proud 50th place in the the annual QS World University Ranking. As a result, TU is in first place within the European Union, followed by the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in second place. In the competition for the title of best university, 51 disciplines are analysed at over 1,400 institutions worldwide. The leaders in the ranking are mainly American and British universities.

Top results in 10 disciplines


With TU Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, no less than two universities from Bavaria’s capital city have made it onto the podium. TU Munich proves itself within the top 50 worldwide in ten study programmes in total:

  • Electrical engineering
  • Physics/Astronomy
  • Architecture/Urban development
  • Architecture/Urban development
  • Chemistry
  • Agricultural and forestry sciences
  • Computer science/Information technology
  • Statistics/Operational research
  • Biology
  • Materials science


The already somewhat more broadly positioned LMU ranks in the World University Ranking in 16 subjects, including departments such as communication sciences, medicine, economics and pharmacy.


Universities compared: the ranking methods


The QS World University Ranking  is based on data from over 13 million academic papers as well as 70,000 responses from academics and 40,000 responses from employers. The high-quality research and innovative analytical approaches take numerous different indicators into account. Among the criteria to be considered for the overall ranking are:

  • An index of the productivity and influence of a scientist’s or scholar’s publications
  • The number of employees who hold a PhD
  • The percentage of international faculty members and students
  • An assessment of how successful an institution’s alumni have been
  • The percentage of graduates from an institution of higher education who are employed up to twelve months after graduation


Bavaria also has a strong lead with non-university successes. For example, the Max Planck Society with its office in Munich, ranks third among the best research institutions in the world, behind the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Harvard University. The capital also boasts the UnternehmerTUM, the largest centre for start-ups and innovation in Europe – docked onto TU Munich.