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Free University of Berlin

Ranked
Berlin, Germany
=104th in World University Rankings 2025
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About Free University of Berlin

Basic information and contact details for Free University of Berlin

institution

The Free University of Berlin was founded in 1948, in the turmoil of post-war Germany, when students of the former Universität Unter den Linden, then located in the Soviet sector of the city, were facing persecution because of their views. With international support, the Free University was established, allowing scholars to pursue their teaching and learning without political interference.

Truth, justice and freedom remain the university’s core values with these words imprinted on the university seal.

In the 1960s, the university was the site of several student protests and demonstrations. In 1990, German reunification brought about changes in the management of the university, and, with it, came a newfound focus on research. Today, it is one of only eleven designated ‘German Universities of Excellence’.

Set in the leafy suburb of Dahlem in southwest Berlin, the university is home to more than 32,000 students and offers over 150 degree programmes. It has 17 collaborative research centres, an academic staff of almost 5,000 and partnerships with universities the world over, as well as seven international liaison offices in Beijing, Brussels, Cairo, Moscow, New Delhi, New York, and Sao Paulo.

The university also boasts five Nobel Prize winners among its staff and 17 winners of the Leibniz Prize. With women employed in 30 per cent of its professorships, the university is also at the forefront of German higher education institutions when it comes to gender representation.

Over the years, the Free University of Berlin has hosted many influential figures, including President John F. Kennedy who chose it as the location to deliver his ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech in 1963.

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Rankings

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World University Rankings 2025
20406080
Overall 65.8
Teaching 49.9
Research Environment 59.6
Research Quality 82.7
Industry 71
International Outlook 81.7
60626466201620172018201920202021202220232024202563.263.762.161.460.160.464.864.266.565.8

Breakdown via year: Overall

Ranking positions 2016 to 2025
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Impact Rankings

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Impact Rankings 2024

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Impact Ranking positions 2021 to 2024
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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at Free University of Berlin

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
63 F : 37 M (1)
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International student percentage
22% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
42.5 (1)
student
Student total
24727 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2025

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Subjects Taught at Free University of Berlin

See below for a range of subjects taught at Free University of Berlin

Physical Sciences101–125th

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Physics and Astronomy
  • Mathematics and Statistics

Computer Science151–175th

  • Computer Science

Social Sciences42nd

  • Sociology
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Geography
  • Communication and Media Studies

Life Sciences80th

  • Veterinary Science
  • Biological Sciences

Law70th

  • Law

Business and Economics151–175th

  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Business and Management
  • Accounting and Finance

Arts and Humanities29th

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology

Education126–150th

  • Education

Psychology=72nd

  • Psychology