About the University of Tübingen

Basic info and contact details for the University of Tübingen
The Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen is a well-respected institution known for its excellence in humanities, natural sciences, and theology. It’s located in the charming German town of Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg—a place famous for its scenic boat rides and the beautiful old-town architecture of Hölderlin.
Founded in 1477 by Count Eberhard of Württemberg, the university has a rich history. A hundred years later, its Protestant theology department played a key role in shaping the work of astronomer Johannes Kepler. Over time, the university grew quickly, becoming the first in Germany to establish a Natural Sciences department and a university hospital.
Today, the University of Tübingen has 14 faculties offering 280 degree programs at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. As part of Germany’s Excellence Initiative, it stands among the top international academic institutions. The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds cutting-edge research here in fields like neuroscience, particle physics, and nanotechnology.
The university has strong ties with over 150 institutions across 62 countries, including the University of Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, and the University of St. Andrews. This gives students the chance to study abroad for a year or welcome international students to Tübingen for research opportunities.
While the university doesn’t have a traditional campus vibe, the town of Tübingen makes up for it with a lively events calendar—think concerts with famous artists and orchestras. The university also offers courses in photography, journalism, and creative writing, helping students explore their artistic side.
Some of its most notable alumni include neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer and former EU commissioner Martin Bangemann.
The university’s motto? “I dare.”
Rankings
Check out the stats below for different rankings:
- World University Rankings 2025 – =100th
- Arts & Humanities 2025 – =33rd
- Medical & Health 2025 – 98th
- Computer Science 2025 – =86th
- Education Studies 2025 – 58th
- Life Sciences 2025 – 66th
- Physical Sciences 2025 – 176–200th
- Psychology 2025 – =53rd
- Social Sciences 2025 – 126–150th
World University Rankings 2025 Breakdown:
- Overall: 66.2
- Teaching: 47.8
- Research Environment: 55.1
- Research Quality: 89
- Industry: 99.8
- International Outlook: 73
Similar Universities
Want to explore more? Check out these institutions:
- Paderborn University (Germany, est. 1972)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany, est. 1558)
- University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany, est. 1743)
- Technische Universität Ilmenau (Germany)
- Heidelberg University (Germany, est. 1386)
Key Student Stats
Here’s a quick look at student life at Tübingen:
- Gender ratio: 59% female, 41% male
- International students: 15%
- Students per staff: 27.8
- Total students: 21,337
Jobs You Might Like
Interested in academic roles? Here are a few opportunities:
- Post-doctoral Fellow in Nursing (Uni of Hong Kong)
- Media Producer (Uni of Southampton)
- Lecturer in Modern US History (Queen’s Uni Belfast)
- Research Assistant in Computer Science (NYU Abu Dhabi)
- Research Operations Manager (King’s College London)
Subjects Taught at Tübingen
Here’s what you can study:
- Computer Science (=86th)
- Medicine & Dentistry (98th)
- Other Health
- Languages, Literature & Linguistics (=33rd)
- History, Philosophy & Theology
- Archaeology
- Psychology (=53rd)
- Sport Science (66th)
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry (176–200th)
- Geology & Environmental Sciences
- Physics & Astronomy
- Mathematics & Statistics
- Sociology (126–150th)
- Politics & International Studies
- Geography
- Communication & Media Studies
- Education (58th)