QS Subject Rankings 2026:
Hohenheim University’s agricultural research is No. 1 in Germany [25.03.26]
Ranked 1st in Germany, 6th in Europe, and 17th worldwide: University of Hohenheim regains top position in agricultural and food sciences
Top ranking for cutting-edge research: In agricultural sciences, including food sciences, the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart has regained the No. 1 position in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, released today. Across Europe, it ranks among the top ten in this field at No. 6. It is also among the world’s leading universities in agricultural sciences: it ranks 17th out of 479 universities listed in this subject. Detailed results at www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings.
Back at the top in Germany for agricultural science and food science: The QS World University Rankings by Subject, published today by the British education provider QS Quacquarelli Symonds, lists the University of Hohenheim in first place in Germany, sixth in Europe, and 17th worldwide. This ranking evaluates a wide range of factors such as academic reputation, scientific publications, the international research network, and the reputation of graduates among employers.
After a neck-and-neck race with the University of Göttingen over the past two years, the University of Hohenheim has regained the top spot this year. Professor Ralf Vögele, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, emphasizes: “It’s great to be back at the top! However, recent years have shown that the leading group has grown closer together. We will therefore not slacken in our efforts to adapt to new circumstances and trends.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences is also delighted with the shared success: “Retaining the top position is a great tribute to the ‘Hohenheim Spirit.’ It shows that top-level achievements in research and teaching are attained where people with great commitment and passion pull together,” says Professor Jan Frank.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject focuses on research strength. For Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, which include Food Sciences, it assesses the factors of academic reputation (50%), citations of individual publications (15%), the H-index as a measure of individual researchers’ standing in their fields (15%), the international research network (10%), and the reputation of graduates among employers (10%). In total, this year’s ranking assessed 55 subjects at more than 1,900 universities.
Top positions in the current QS ranking also for partners of the University of Hohenheim
The context in which the QS Ranking by Subject places the University of Hohenheim is also encouraging. Among the top ten in Europe are Wageningen University & Research (WUR) (Netherlands), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) (Sweden), the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norway), and L’Institut Agro (France).
The University of Hohenheim is connected to these institutions through the European Bioeconomy University (EBU) and the EuroLeague of Life Sciences Universities (ELLS). This alliance focuses on joint research projects, study programs, and intensive exchange of students and faculty.
China Agricultural University (CAU, China) ranks first in China and fifth worldwide this year. The University of Hohenheim has maintained a partnership with CAU for nearly 40 years—including, since 2018, through the German-Chinese international DFG Research Training Group AMAIZE-P on resource-efficient phosphate use.
Top Lists for Agricultural Research in Germany, Europe, and the World According to the 2026 QS Ranking
GERMANY
1. University of Hohenheim
2. University of Göttingen
3. Technical University of Munich
4. University of Bonn
5. University of Freiburg
Worldwide ranking group 101 to 150: HU Berlin, University of Kiel, JLU Gießen, University of Halle-Wittenberg
Global ranking group 201 to 250: TU Dresden
Global ranking group 301 to 350: University of Münster
Global ranking group 401–475: University of Rostock
EUROPE
1. Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands
2. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
3. ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
4. Ghent University, Belgium
5. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Norway
6. University of Hohenheim
7. L'Institut Agro, France
8. University of Reading, United Kingdom
9. University of Göttingen
10. University of Copenhagen, Denmark
WORLD
1. Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands
2. University of California, Davis, USA
3. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
4. Cornell University, USA
5. China Agricultural University, China (Mainland)
6. Purdue University, USA
7. Iowa State University, USA
8. ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
9. Ghent University, Belgium
10. Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Norway
17. University of Hohenheim
Note: Starting at world ranking position 100, the QS Ranking no longer lists exact rankings. Instead, it groups universities into clusters for positions 101–150, 151–200, etc., within which the universities are sorted alphabetically.
Further information
QS Ranking for Agricultural Research 2026: www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings University of Hohenheim Rankings: https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/rankings-en
Text: Stuhlemmer / Elsner
