Free University of Berlin

Kaiserswerther Straße 16-18, Berlin 14165 Germany |

Free University of Berlin Summary

The Free University of Berlin is a public institution that was founded in 1948. The university has three main campuses in Berlin. Additionally, Free University and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin jointly operate the Charite – Medical University of Berlin, which enrolls students affiliated with both universities. In a recent year, roughly 16 percent of the Free University student body was pursuing doctoral degrees. Students do not pay tuition for most degree programs, which is generally the case at public universities in Germany. Student housing is available, though the accommodations are not located on campus and are managed by outside organizations that have agreements with the university.

The university has 11 academic departments, the joint medical school as well as three central institutes that offer degrees in Eastern European, Latin American and North American studies. In all, Free University offers some 180 bachelor's and master's degree programs as well as around 50 doctoral programs. The university’s academic calendar is semester-based, with courses beginning in October and April. The primary language of instruction is German, though the university offers some English-taught programs, most of which are at the master's level. The English-taught master's offerings include programs in computational sciences, international health and North American studies. Around 600 international scholars and scientists come to the university each year to serve in teaching and research roles. Among the university’s interdisciplinary research focus areas are plant sciences, functional materials at the nanoscale and disease in human aging.

Free University of Berlin Data

Total number of students

36,792

Number of international students

8,050

Total number of academic staff

631

Number of international staff

Number of undergraduate degrees awarded

2,504

Number of master's degrees awarded

1,624

Number of doctoral degrees awarded

539

Number of research only staff

399

Number of new undergraduate students

6,062

Number of new master's students

2,963

Number of new doctoral students

653

Free University of Berlin Rankings

Free University of Berlin is ranked #87 in Best Global Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

Free University of Berlin Rankings

#87
in Best Global Universities

#28
in Best Global Universities in Europe

#5
in Best Global Universities in Germany

Free University of Berlin Subject Rankings

2022-2023 Indicator Rankings

Thirteen indicators were used to calculate Free University of Berlin's overall Best Global Universities rank. Here is a breakdown of how this institution ranked relative to other schools for each indicator.

Read the Methodology

#87
in Best Global Universities

Global score

71.7

Global research reputation

#111

Regional research reputation

#45

Publications

#78

Books

#44

Conferences

#745

Normalized citation impact

#143

Total citations

#61

Number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#76

Percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#273

International collaboration - relative to country

#804

International collaboration

#480

Number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#63

Percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#170

#177
in Agricultural Sciences (tie)

Agricultural Sciences overall score

47.4

Agricultural Sciences global research reputation

#99

Agricultural Sciences regional research reputation

#44

Agricultural Sciences publications

#327

Agricultural Sciences normalized citation impact

#125

Agricultural Sciences total citations

#283

Agricultural Sciences number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#281

Agricultural Sciences percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#187

Agricultural Sciences international collaboration - relative to country

#81

Agricultural Sciences international collaboration

#65

Agricultural Sciences number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#133

Agricultural Sciences percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#46

#76
in Arts and Humanities

Arts and Humanities overall score

63.2

Arts and Humanities global research reputation

#27

Arts and Humanities regional research reputation

Arts and Humanities publications

#53

Arts and Humanities books

#13

Arts and Humanities normalized citation impact

#320

Arts and Humanities total citations

#149

Arts and Humanities number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#159

Arts and Humanities percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#312

Arts and Humanities international collaboration - relative to country

#211

Arts and Humanities international collaboration

#169

#69
in Biology and Biochemistry (tie)

Biology and Biochemistry overall score

58.0

Biology and Biochemistry global research reputation

#213

Biology and Biochemistry regional research reputation

#52

Biology and Biochemistry publications

#51

Biology and Biochemistry normalized citation impact

#139

Biology and Biochemistry total citations

#41

Biology and Biochemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#62

Biology and Biochemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#298

Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration - relative to country

#259

Biology and Biochemistry international collaboration

#180

Biology and Biochemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#51

Biology and Biochemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#165

#97
in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology overall score

41.0

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology publications

#130

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology conferences

#197

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology normalized citation impact

#80

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology total citations

#99

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#151

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#162

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology international collaboration - relative to country

#121

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology international collaboration

#77

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#70

Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#58

#9
in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (tie)

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems overall score

80.0

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems publications

#21

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems conferences

#54

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems normalized citation impact

#25

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems total citations

#12

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#19

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#52

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems international collaboration - relative to country

#26

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems international collaboration

#48

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#10

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#31

#50
in Cell Biology

Cell Biology overall score

56.8

Cell Biology publications

#71

Cell Biology conferences

#27

Cell Biology normalized citation impact

#22

Cell Biology total citations

#38

Cell Biology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#73

Cell Biology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#152

Cell Biology international collaboration - relative to country

#166

Cell Biology international collaboration

#90

Cell Biology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#57

Cell Biology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#100

#146
in Chemistry (tie)

Chemistry overall score

64.1

Chemistry global research reputation

#123

Chemistry regional research reputation

#23

Chemistry publications

#138

Chemistry normalized citation impact

#469

Chemistry total citations

#155

Chemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#198

Chemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#612

Chemistry international collaboration - relative to country

#481

Chemistry international collaboration

#339

Chemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#169

Chemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#365

#80
in Clinical Medicine

Clinical Medicine overall score

71.2

Clinical Medicine global research reputation

#426

Clinical Medicine regional research reputation

#110

Clinical Medicine publications

#42

Clinical Medicine normalized citation impact

#260

Clinical Medicine total citations

#37

Clinical Medicine number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#38

Clinical Medicine percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#130

Clinical Medicine international collaboration - relative to country

#183

Clinical Medicine international collaboration

#231

Clinical Medicine number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#41

Clinical Medicine percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#211

#370
in Computer Science (tie)

Computer Science overall score

38.9

Computer Science global research reputation

#249

Computer Science regional research reputation

#60

Computer Science publications

#413

Computer Science conferences

#592

Computer Science normalized citation impact

#439

Computer Science total citations

#440

Computer Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#497

Computer Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#409

Computer Science international collaboration - relative to country

#170

Computer Science international collaboration

#233

Computer Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#610

Computer Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#621

#169
in Condensed Matter Physics

Condensed Matter Physics overall score

37.9

Condensed Matter Physics publications

#175

Condensed Matter Physics conferences

#142

Condensed Matter Physics normalized citation impact

#152

Condensed Matter Physics total citations

#171

Condensed Matter Physics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#179

Condensed Matter Physics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#173

Condensed Matter Physics international collaboration - relative to country

#217

Condensed Matter Physics international collaboration

#100

Condensed Matter Physics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#168

Condensed Matter Physics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#160

#59
in Endocrinology and Metabolism (tie)

Endocrinology and Metabolism overall score

64.2

Endocrinology and Metabolism publications

#37

Endocrinology and Metabolism conferences

#27

Endocrinology and Metabolism normalized citation impact

#133

Endocrinology and Metabolism total citations

#49

Endocrinology and Metabolism number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#63

Endocrinology and Metabolism percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#165

Endocrinology and Metabolism international collaboration - relative to country

#50

Endocrinology and Metabolism international collaboration

#47

Endocrinology and Metabolism number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#48

Endocrinology and Metabolism percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#103

#151
in Environment/Ecology (tie)

Environment/Ecology overall score

64.5

Environment/Ecology global research reputation

#309

Environment/Ecology regional research reputation

#73

Environment/Ecology publications

#251

Environment/Ecology normalized citation impact

#36

Environment/Ecology total citations

#157

Environment/Ecology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#202

Environment/Ecology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#155

Environment/Ecology international collaboration - relative to country

#241

Environment/Ecology international collaboration

#136

Environment/Ecology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#99

Environment/Ecology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#31

#117
in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (tie)

Gastroenterology and Hepatology overall score

44.6

Gastroenterology and Hepatology publications

#70

Gastroenterology and Hepatology conferences

Gastroenterology and Hepatology normalized citation impact

#151

Gastroenterology and Hepatology total citations

#102

Gastroenterology and Hepatology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#111

Gastroenterology and Hepatology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#147

Gastroenterology and Hepatology international collaboration - relative to country

#166

Gastroenterology and Hepatology international collaboration

#95

Gastroenterology and Hepatology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#107

Gastroenterology and Hepatology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#129

#134
in Geosciences (tie)

Geosciences overall score

54.1

Geosciences global research reputation

#103

Geosciences regional research reputation

#48

Geosciences publications

#125

Geosciences normalized citation impact

#254

Geosciences total citations

#133

Geosciences number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#133

Geosciences percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#250

Geosciences international collaboration - relative to country

#331

Geosciences international collaboration

#155

Geosciences number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#135

Geosciences percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#205

#35
in Immunology

Immunology overall score

60.8

Immunology global research reputation

#67

Immunology regional research reputation

#38

Immunology publications

#23

Immunology normalized citation impact

#27

Immunology total citations

#13

Immunology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#22

Immunology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#60

Immunology international collaboration - relative to country

#100

Immunology international collaboration

#75

Immunology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#19

Immunology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#53

#22
in Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases overall score

70.5

Infectious Diseases publications

#65

Infectious Diseases conferences

Infectious Diseases normalized citation impact

#12

Infectious Diseases total citations

#32

Infectious Diseases number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#47

Infectious Diseases percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#24

Infectious Diseases international collaboration - relative to country

#107

Infectious Diseases international collaboration

#73

Infectious Diseases number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#42

Infectious Diseases percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#49

#217
in Materials Science (tie)

Materials Science overall score

47.6

Materials Science global research reputation

#241

Materials Science regional research reputation

#68

Materials Science publications

#418

Materials Science normalized citation impact

#202

Materials Science total citations

#326

Materials Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#292

Materials Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#222

Materials Science international collaboration - relative to country

#239

Materials Science international collaboration

#164

Materials Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#319

Materials Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#297

#207
in Mathematics (tie)

Mathematics overall score

47.7

Mathematics global research reputation

#137

Mathematics regional research reputation

#72

Mathematics publications

#269

Mathematics normalized citation impact

#161

Mathematics total citations

#253

Mathematics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#321

Mathematics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#331

Mathematics international collaboration - relative to country

#93

Mathematics international collaboration

#85

Mathematics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#166

Mathematics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#152

#61
in Microbiology

Microbiology overall score

50.6

Microbiology global research reputation

#105

Microbiology regional research reputation

#24

Microbiology publications

#43

Microbiology normalized citation impact

#35

Microbiology total citations

#23

Microbiology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#53

Microbiology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#126

Microbiology international collaboration - relative to country

#66

Microbiology international collaboration

#64

Microbiology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#59

Microbiology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#109

#78
in Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology and Genetics overall score

55.3

Molecular Biology and Genetics global research reputation

#125

Molecular Biology and Genetics regional research reputation

#34

Molecular Biology and Genetics publications

#79

Molecular Biology and Genetics normalized citation impact

#19

Molecular Biology and Genetics total citations

#36

Molecular Biology and Genetics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#64

Molecular Biology and Genetics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#125

Molecular Biology and Genetics international collaboration - relative to country

#188

Molecular Biology and Genetics international collaboration

#108

Molecular Biology and Genetics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#39

Molecular Biology and Genetics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#59

#244
in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology overall score

28.0

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology publications

#227

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology conferences

#307

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology normalized citation impact

#230

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology total citations

#234

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#247

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#249

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology international collaboration - relative to country

#183

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology international collaboration

#84

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#256

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#271

#40
in Neuroscience and Behavior

Neuroscience and Behavior overall score

63.4

Neuroscience and Behavior global research reputation

#128

Neuroscience and Behavior regional research reputation

#52

Neuroscience and Behavior publications

#20

Neuroscience and Behavior normalized citation impact

#55

Neuroscience and Behavior total citations

#19

Neuroscience and Behavior number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#22

Neuroscience and Behavior percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#69

Neuroscience and Behavior international collaboration - relative to country

#124

Neuroscience and Behavior international collaboration

#109

Neuroscience and Behavior number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#22

Neuroscience and Behavior percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#64

#72
in Oncology (tie)

Oncology overall score

57.0

Oncology publications

#71

Oncology conferences

#132

Oncology normalized citation impact

#148

Oncology total citations

#70

Oncology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#68

Oncology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#141

Oncology international collaboration - relative to country

#163

Oncology international collaboration

#97

Oncology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#69

Oncology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#144

#34
in Pharmacology and Toxicology

Pharmacology and Toxicology overall score

71.0

Pharmacology and Toxicology global research reputation

#84

Pharmacology and Toxicology regional research reputation

Pharmacology and Toxicology publications

#56

Pharmacology and Toxicology normalized citation impact

#20

Pharmacology and Toxicology total citations

#31

Pharmacology and Toxicology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#57

Pharmacology and Toxicology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#121

Pharmacology and Toxicology international collaboration - relative to country

#246

Pharmacology and Toxicology international collaboration

#103

Pharmacology and Toxicology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#88

Pharmacology and Toxicology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#220

#219
in Physical Chemistry (tie)

Physical Chemistry overall score

52.4

Physical Chemistry publications

#179

Physical Chemistry conferences

#92

Physical Chemistry normalized citation impact

#319

Physical Chemistry total citations

#202

Physical Chemistry number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#252

Physical Chemistry percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#396

Physical Chemistry international collaboration - relative to country

#347

Physical Chemistry international collaboration

#191

Physical Chemistry number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#216

Physical Chemistry percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#289

#277
in Physics

Physics overall score

55.6

Physics global research reputation

#79

Physics regional research reputation

#63

Physics publications

#436

Physics normalized citation impact

#321

Physics total citations

#413

Physics number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#453

Physics percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#439

Physics international collaboration - relative to country

#677

Physics international collaboration

#494

Physics number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#320

Physics percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#184

#74
in Plant and Animal Science (tie)

Plant and Animal Science overall score

73.6

Plant and Animal Science global research reputation

#66

Plant and Animal Science regional research reputation

#44

Plant and Animal Science publications

#99

Plant and Animal Science normalized citation impact

#130

Plant and Animal Science total citations

#72

Plant and Animal Science number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#101

Plant and Animal Science percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#287

Plant and Animal Science international collaboration - relative to country

#457

Plant and Animal Science international collaboration

#220

Plant and Animal Science number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#81

Plant and Animal Science percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#195

#72
in Psychiatry/Psychology

Psychiatry/Psychology overall score

60.4

Psychiatry/Psychology global research reputation

#135

Psychiatry/Psychology regional research reputation

#55

Psychiatry/Psychology publications

#57

Psychiatry/Psychology normalized citation impact

#168

Psychiatry/Psychology total citations

#59

Psychiatry/Psychology number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#69

Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#212

Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration - relative to country

#68

Psychiatry/Psychology international collaboration

#142

Psychiatry/Psychology number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#46

Psychiatry/Psychology percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#113

#120
in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health (tie)

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health overall score

54.5

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health publications

#139

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health conferences

#179

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health normalized citation impact

#67

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health total citations

#102

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#135

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#138

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health international collaboration - relative to country

#147

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health international collaboration

#133

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#158

Public, Environmental and Occupational Health percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#193

#51
in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (tie)

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging overall score

63.4

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging publications

#27

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging conferences

#165

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging normalized citation impact

#128

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging total citations

#40

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#34

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#111

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging international collaboration - relative to country

#108

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging international collaboration

#94

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#69

Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#170

#173
in Social Sciences and Public Health (tie)

Social Sciences and Public Health overall score

53.6

Social Sciences and Public Health global research reputation

#66

Social Sciences and Public Health regional research reputation

#10

Social Sciences and Public Health publications

#157

Social Sciences and Public Health normalized citation impact

#452

Social Sciences and Public Health total citations

#185

Social Sciences and Public Health number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#203

Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#487

Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration - relative to country

#466

Social Sciences and Public Health international collaboration

#338

Social Sciences and Public Health number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#241

Social Sciences and Public Health percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#460

#60
in Surgery

Surgery overall score

60.5

Surgery publications

#50

Surgery conferences

#55

Surgery normalized citation impact

#164

Surgery total citations

#59

Surgery number of publications that are among the 10% most cited

#54

Surgery percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited

#153

Surgery international collaboration - relative to country

#52

Surgery international collaboration

#51

Surgery number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#80

Surgery percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% most cited

#163

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