Ranking THE Subject Ranking: Universität Heidelberg with Top Placings
5 February 2026
Among the best three universities in Germany with four subject groups – Internationally, Ruperto Carola ranks five times in the Top 50
With an improvement of ten places, Law at Heidelberg University has achieved a top placing in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026. It has jumped from position 50 to position 40 internationally, placing third in Germany as in the previous year. Ruperto Carola is among the best three universities in Germany with a total of four subject groups; in addition to Law, these include the Life Sciences (second position) as well as Medicine and the Physical Sciences (both in third position). Internationally, the university ranks five times in the Top 50.
In the international comparison, Heidelberg University places 39th in the Life Sciences, 40th in the Physical Sciences and in Law and 46th in Medicine, which the THE subject ranking calls Medical and Health. The humanities in Heidelberg – Arts and Humanities in the terminology of the ranking – achieve the best international placing. As in the previous year, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject list them in 37th place, which means fifth position in Germany.
In the overall Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Heidelberg University – at position 49 – is among the Top 50 universities worldwide and one of the three best universities in Germany. As with this ranking, 18 different indicators are employed for the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, which are summarized in five university performance areas. They are, however, weighted differently for each subject group, with the major fields of teaching, research environment, and research quality receiving greater consideration than the areas of international outlook and industry.
The latest edition of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject was published on 21 January 2026.