QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026 – The University of Freiburg is a national leader in the area of Environmental Education
Freiburg, 21/11/2025
In the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, the University of Freiburg ranks 5th out of the 65 German universities listed. Internationally, it ranks 118th out of nearly 2,000 institutions.
The rankings assess the universities’ commitment to sustainability in three categories: Social Impact, Environmental Impact and Governance. In the Environmental Impact category, in which the University of Freiburg is ranked fifth nationally, the University of Freiburg stands out in the areas of Environmental Education and Environmental Research.
It ranks 1st nationally and 53rd internationally in the area of Environmental Education. The assessment covers academic reputation in the area of sustainable education, the influence of alumni on environmental sustainability in the public and non-profit sectors, and the availability of courses on the environment and sustainability.
Second place nationwide in the area of Environmental Research
Ranked 2nd nationwide, the University of Freiburg is listed internationally in 37th place in the area of Environmental Research. The indicators in this area measure the contribution of research to selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), national statistics on research expenditure and the existence of a research institution focused on environmental sustainability. Citations in policy documents relating to specific SDGs are also taken into account.
Fourth place nationwide in the area of Health and Wellbeing
In the Social Impact category, the University of Freiburg is ranked sixth nationally. As in the previous year, it ranks 4th nationally and 32nd internationally in the area of Health and Wellbeing. Indicators that measure the contribution of research in the area of specific SDGs and healthcare on campus are taken into account. National statistics on quality of life are also applied.
The University of Freiburg achieved further rankings among the top ten German universities in the Social Impact category in the areas of Knowledge Exchange (sixth place), Impact of Education (ninth place) and Equality (10th place).
Methodology
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability examine the contribution of universities to a sustainable environment and society. In the Environmental Impact category, the activities of universities for a sustainable environment in teaching and research as well as for ecological sustainability are evaluated. The Social Impact category examines the activities of universities in the areas of Equality, Knowledge Exchange, Impact of Education, Employability & Opportunities, and Health and Wellbeing. The Governance category assesses whether universities demonstrate responsible leadership.
Various data sources are used to determine the rankings, including data provided by universities, reputation studies and bibliometric analyses of publications by the scientific publisher Elsevier.