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The University of Stuttgart ranks among the top 15 percent of European universities in the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026. It achieved particularly high marks for its international outlook, research excellence, sustainability efforts, and the successful preparation of students for the global job market. The ranking underscores the University of Stuttgart’s attractiveness to students from Germany and around the world.
“Our success in the QS Europe Ranking shows that our university combines cutting-edge research with international networking and a strong, active commitment to sustainability. At the same time, it confirms that we are on the right path in educating students who are internationally mobile and highly valued by employers, while continuously strengthening our international profile,” says Prof. Alexander Brem, Vice Rector for Science Transfer and International Affairs at the University of Stuttgart.
In the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026, the University of Stuttgart ranks 140th in Europe and 20th nationally, placing it among the top 15 percent of the nearly 1,000 European universities listed.
Internationalization as a key factor for study and career success
The University of Stuttgart’s international orientation is clearly reflected in student exchange and mobility. In the indicator “Outbound Exchange Students,” which measures the number of students who complete part of their studies at partner universities abroad, the university is ranked second in Germany and 19th in Europe, placing it in the top 2 percent Europe-wide. In the “Inbound Exchange Students” category, which counts students coming from abroad, the University of Stuttgart is among the top ten universities in Germany. The University maintains a strong international network of partner institutions and actively promotes the mobility of students and academic staff.
Excellent performance in research
In the ranking, the University of Stuttgart also excels in research. Its highest rating – 17th in Europe, places it in the top 2 percent of European universities, and 7th in Germany. This was achieved in the “research publications per faculty member” indicator. This result reflects the university’s research activity and visibility within the academic community and highlights the high quality of its scientific work.
Students are successfully prepared for the global job market
Another positive signal for prospective and current students is the strong rating in the category “Employer Reputation,” which measures international employers’ perception of graduates’ employability. In this indicator, the University of Stuttgart ranks among the top 10 percent in Europe. The University also improved in the “Employment Outcomes” indicator, which evaluates graduates’ actual career success and their impact in the professional world. Together, these results underline the close connection between study, research, and practical experience at the university, as well as the high employability of the university’s graduates.
Further strengthening sustainability
The University of Stuttgart has also improved in the area of sustainability. Ranked 94th in Europe and 11th in Germany, it is among the top 10 percent of European universities in this category. The “Sustainability” indicator evaluates the university’s strategies, initiatives, and achievements in environmental management, research, teaching, and social responsibility, highlighting the university’s commitment to sustainable development.
About the QS World University Ranking: Europe
The QS World University Rankings: Europe evaluates European universities based on a broad set of criteria, with a primary focus on exchange and internationalization. In its third edition, 958 universities from 42 countries were listed, including 102 German institutions. In addition to academic reputation, employer perception, and graduates’ career outcomes, the ranking also considers indicators such as international student diversity, inbound and outbound exchange students, international research network, research performance, research papers per faculty, sustainability, and international faculty.
https://www.topuniversities.com/europe-university-rankings Website of the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026
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