Overview
For Students
For Professionals
profile logo default

Humboldt University of Berlin

Ranked
Germany
=84th in World University Rankings 2025
  • About
  • Rankings
  • Impact Rankings
  • Key stats
  • Jobs
  • Subjects
  • Downloads
  • FAQs
  • Suggested universities
chevron up

About

Basic information and contact details for Humboldt University of Berlin

institution

Established more than 200 years ago, in 1810, the Humboldt University of Berlin is one of the most prestigious universities not only in Germany, but in Europe. It has a world class reputation in arts and humanities fields.

Originally known simply as the University of Berlin, it was given its current name in 1949, and is named after both its founder, Wilhelm von Humboldt, and his brother, the esteemed naturalist and alumnus of the institution, Alexander von Humboldt.

HU Berlin is recognised as one of Europe’s pioneering higher education institutions. Wilhelm von Humboldt is credited with developing a model for universities that saw a closer relationship between research and teaching - a model that is still followed in higher education institutions across the world today.

The institution’s academic clout is evidenced by the fact that it has educated no fewer than 29 Nobel prizewinners, including Max Born, who won the prize for physics in 1954; Theodor Mommsen, who won the prize for for literature in 1902; and Wassily Leontief who won the prize for economics in 1973.

In 2006, the federal government’s German Universities Excellence Initiative began allocating additional funding to institutions that proved they were leaders in science and research. In 2012, HU Berlin, was one of 11 institutions to receive this money, enhancing its reputation as one of the country’s elite universities.

Among HU Berlin’s famous alumni are Marxism founders Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, as well as novelist Alfred Döblin, and theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher. Composer Felix Mendelssohn was also a student there, while Albert Einstein spent time as a professor at the university.

chevron up

Rankings

Select the type of rankings below to see stats

Explore our featured universities

Find out more about studying, research and jobs at these universities

the colour logo

suggested

chevron down

Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at Humboldt University of Berlin

globe fill
International student percentage
18% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
58 (1)
student
Student total
34916 (1)

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

lightbulb up

Do you work for this institution?

Build your profile to connect with students and professionals around the world

chevron down
chevron down

Subjects Taught at Humboldt University of Berlin

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

Life Sciences83rd

  • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Sport Science
  • Biological Sciences

Law31st

  • Law

Education66th

  • Education

Arts and Humanities19th

  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Archaeology
  • Art, Performing Art and Design

Computer Science251–300th

  • Computer Science

Social Sciences=42nd

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

Psychology=39th

  • Psychology

Physical Sciences=74th

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