One app for all your study abroad needs
Free University of Berlin Ranking: The Free University of Berlin or Freie Universität Berlin continues to build its position as one of the premier institutions to study in Germany and Europe. In the latest QS World University Rankings for 2025, the university placed 97th globally, up one spot from the previous year, and 4th among German universities. Furthermore, these rankings are because of academic prestige, research work, and commitment to internationalisation.
| Location | Berlin, Germany |
| Type | National Public University |
| Established | 1948 |
| Motto in English | Truth, Justice, Liberty |
| Official Website | https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/index.html |
| Rankings | #97 (QS World University Ranking 2025) #102 (THE World Ranking 2024) #66 (US News and World Report 2024) |
| National Ranking | 4th |
| Ranking in Europe | 39th |
This Blog Includes:
- Free University of Berlin: Overview
- Free University of Berlin Ranking: QS World Ranking 2025
- Free University of Berlin THE World Ranking 2024
- Free University of Berlin US News and World Report 2024
- Free University of Berlin Subjectwise Ranking
- Free University of Berlin Ranking 2024: In Germany
- Free University of Berlin Ranking 2024: In Europe
- Free University of Berlin Ranking: Yearwise Comparison
- Free University of Berlin: Eligibility Criteria
- Application Process
- Free University of Berlin: Acceptance Rate
- FAQs
Check out: Freie Universität Berlin Courses
Free University of Berlin: Overview
The Free University of Berlin is a famous public research university located in Berlin, Germany. Here is an overview of the institution.
- The university was founded in 1948 during the early Cold War with American support. This was in response to the political repression faced by students at the former University of Berlin, which was located in East Berlin.
- There are 11 departments each providing a diverse range of academic disciplines.
- The Free University of Berlin is recognised for its research output, with over 109,000 academic publications and approximately 2.46 million citations.
- It has been designated as a “University of Excellence” under Germany’s Universities Excellence Initiative, hence highlighting its high-quality research and education.
- The university’s seal features the Latin terms for Truth, Justice, and Liberty, which conveys its foundational principles and mission.
Explore: Masters in Berlin Germany
Free University of Berlin Ranking: QS World Ranking 2025
As of 2025, the Free University of Berlin (Freie Universitaet Berlin) ranks #97 according to the QS World University Rankings 2024. Given below are the factors and their scores which help decide the institute’s worldwide ranking for this popular framework:
| Factor | Score (out of 100) |
| Academic Reputation | 80.3 |
| Citations per Faculty | 71.7 |
| Employment Outcomes | 32.8 |
| Employer Reputation | 56.9 |
| Faculty Student Ratio | 5 |
| International Faculty Ratio | 62.4 |
| International Research Network | 93.1 |
| International Students Ratio | 43.7 |
| Sustainability | 31.3 |
Also Read: Private Universities in Berlin That You Must Look At!
Free University of Berlin THE World Ranking 2024
Meanwhile, Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings rank the Free University of Berlin at #102 for 2024. Here are the factors and their scores based on which the framework decides to rank the institute worldwide:
| Factor | Score (out of 100) |
| Overall | 66.5 |
| Teaching | 52.1 |
| Research Environment | 59.7 |
| Research Quality | 82.5 |
| Industry | 71.6 |
| International Outlook | 82.4 |
Read More: Free Education in Germany for Indian Students
Free University of Berlin US News and World Report 2024
According to the US News and World Report, the Free University of Berlin ranking stands at the #66 spot among the Best Global Universities in 2024. Here’s how the system ranked the institute this year on the following factors to decide its global position:
| Global Score | 74.6 |
| Global Research Reputation | #122 |
| Regional Research Reputation | #35 |
| Publications | #73 |
| Books | #38 |
| Conferences | #739 |
| Normalised Citation Impact | #137 |
| Total Citations | #58 |
| Number of publications that are among the 10% most cited | #75 |
| Percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited | #264 |
| International collaboration – relative to the country | #773 |
| International collaboration | #542 |
| Number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited | #50 |
| Percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited | #118 |
Check out: Top Universities and Colleges in Berlin
Free University of Berlin Subjectwise Ranking
The Free University of Berlin is famous for its world-class courses offered in a range of disciplines, ranking among the top universities in Germany and globally. Let’s look at the Free University of Berlin ranking for its popular subjects below.
QS Subjectwise Ranking
Here are the subject rankings of the institute as per the QS framework:
| Subject | QS WUR Ranking By Subject 2024 |
| Engineering and Technology | #=228 |
| Accounting and Finance | #201-250 |
| Life Sciences and Medicine | #=143 |
| Economics and Econometrics | #151-200 |
| Mathematics | #130 |
| English Language and Literature | #=42 |
| Psychology | #=88 |
| Law and Legal Studies | #65 |
US News Subjectwise Ranking
Here are the subject rankings of the institute as per the US News and World Report framework:
| Subject | US News Subject Rankings |
| Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems | #9 |
| Arts and Humanities | #74 |
| Immunology | #38 |
| Biology and Biochemistry | #57 |
| Neuroscience and Behaviour | #41 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | #47 |
| Psychology/Psychiatry | #52 |
| Surgery | #49 |
Also Read: 5 Reasons to Study in Germany for Indian Students
Free University of Berlin Ranking 2024: In Germany
As for its reputation in Germany, the Free University of Berlin always ranks among the top 10 universities in the country. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, the university is placed 4th among German universities.
Here are Requirements To Study In Germany For Indian Students
Free University of Berlin Ranking 2024: In Europe
When it comes to the Free University of Berlin’s ranking in Europe, it is placed 18th by the CWUR (Center for World University Rankings) for 2024 and 39th according to the QS World University Rankings for Europe 2024.
Evaluate: Want to Study in Germany? Here’s How You Can
Free University of Berlin Ranking: Yearwise Comparison
The Free University of Berlin has always ranked among the top universities in Germany as well as globally. Here is the yearwise ranking comparison of the university as per the frameworks.
| Framework | Year | Rank |
| QS World University Rankings | 2024 | 97 |
| 2023 | 98 | |
| 2022 | 106 | |
| THE World University Rankings | 2024 | 102 |
| 2023 | 101 | |
| 2022 | 96 |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Germany: A Guide
Free University of Berlin: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for international students applying to the Free University of Berlin depends on the type of program (undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral) as well as on your educational background. Here is a general requirement for admission to FU Berlin:
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You must have completed secondary education equivalent to the German Abitur.
- Proficiency in German is normally required, though some programs may be offered in English.
Read More: How to Study in Germany After 12th?
Application Process
Uni-assist reviews applications from non-German graduates to guarantee they meet formal and subject-specific prerequisites. Processing an application usually takes 4-6 weeks, but can take longer towards the end of the application period. Moreover, incomplete applications will be excluded from the admission procedure.
- If your application is successful, you will receive an admission notice necessary for enrollment.
- To begin your studies, you must enroll by submitting additional documents and paying the semester and other additional fees.
Documents Required
Here are the general documents you have to submit:
- Notice of Admission
- Control View from Online Data Entry
- Completed Application for Enrollment
- Valid Identification (eg. Passport)
- Health Insurance Notification (from a German health insurance provider)
- University Entrance Qualification
- Proof of Language Proficiency
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letters of Recommendation
- Motivation Letter
- Transcripts
- Confirmation of membership in the Dahlem Research School (for Doctoral programs)
Also Read: All About Germany Study Visa
Free University of Berlin: Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at the Free University of Berlin is around 15% as it is one of the top universities in Germany and has a highly competitive admission process. This means that out of every 100 applicants, only about 15 are admitted to the university. The low acceptance rate is due to the high number of applicants and the university’s strict eligibility criteria. However, 23% of the applicants are international students.
Related Reads
FAQs
Yes, the Free University of Berlin is a good university because of its strong academic reputation and research work. Moreover, it ranks among the top institutions in Germany, Europe and the world.
The ranking of the Free University of Berlin in the world is 97th according to the QS World University Rankings, 102nd as per THE World Ranking and 66th as per the US News and World Report in 2024.
The Free University of Berlin is not entirely free for international students. There are certain programs that do not charge tuition fees including those for international students. However, there are semester contributions that need to be paid irrespective of whether you are an EU or non-EU student.
This was all about the Free University of Berlin Ranking. Evaluate all study abroad options with Leverage Edu. Stay tuned with Leverage Live classes and get 30-minute free counselling by calling our toll-free number 1800 572 000 and realise your dream of studying in Germany.
45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.