Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

20 Best Universities in North Rhine-Westphalia for Software Engineering

Focusing specifically on Software Engineering, our data science engine identified the 20 most influential universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. Our methodology evaluated 1.03M subject-specific papers and 28.02M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Software Engineering North Rhine-Westphalia Clear All

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1

Aachen

RWTH Aachen University

For Software Engineering

#2 in Germany #13 in Europe

35% Acceptance

47,521 Enrollment

1870 Founded

2

Dortmund

TU Dortmund University

For Software Engineering

#11 in Germany #64 in Europe

59% Acceptance

34,616 Enrollment

1968 Founded

3

Bochum

Ruhr University Bochum

For Software Engineering

#22 in Germany #135 in Europe

28% Acceptance

42,954 Enrollment

1962 Founded

4

Munster

University of Munster

For Software Engineering

#33 in Germany #195 in Europe

14% Acceptance

43,728 Enrollment

1780 Founded

5

Bonn

University of Bonn

For Software Engineering

#36 in Germany #208 in Europe

36% Acceptance

38,043 Enrollment

1818 Founded

6

Cologne

University of Cologne

For Software Engineering

#52 in Germany #317 in Europe

33% Acceptance

52,204 Enrollment

1388 Founded

7

Essen

University of Duisburg – Essen

For Software Engineering

#12 in Germany #65 in Europe

51% Acceptance

43,281 Enrollment

2003 Founded

8

Cologne

Cologne University of Applied Sciences

For Software Engineering

#82 in Germany #597 in Europe

51% Acceptance

27,000 Enrollment

1971 Founded

9

Essen

Folkwang University of the Arts

For Software Engineering

#100 in Germany #737 in Europe

46% Acceptance

1,506 Enrollment

1927 Founded

10

Cologne

German Sport University Cologne

For Software Engineering

#76 in Germany #532 in Europe

30% Acceptance

6,000 Enrollment

1947 Founded

11

Aachen

Aachen University of Applied Sciences

For Software Engineering

#68 in Germany #423 in Europe

51% Acceptance

13,671 Enrollment

1971 Founded

12

Hagen

University of Hagen

For Software Engineering

#42 in Germany #240 in Europe

43% Acceptance

71,351 Enrollment

1974 Founded

13

Siegen

University of Siegen

For Software Engineering

#49 in Germany #291 in Europe

54% Acceptance

17,805 Enrollment

1972 Founded

14

Paderborn

University of Paderborn

For Software Engineering

#9 in Germany #52 in Europe

60% Acceptance

19,110 Enrollment

1972 Founded

15

Wuppertal

University of Wuppertal

For Software Engineering

#63 in Germany #400 in Europe

40% Acceptance

22,601 Enrollment

1972 Founded

16

Lemgo

Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences

For Software Engineering

#79 in Germany #555 in Europe

40% Acceptance

5,938 Enrollment

1971 Founded

17

Bielefeld

University of Bielefeld

For Software Engineering

#46 in Germany #273 in Europe

50% Acceptance

23,342 Enrollment

1969 Founded

18

Dortmund

University of Applied Sciences and Arts

For Software Engineering

#88 in Germany #651 in Europe

68% Acceptance

14,373 Enrollment

1971 Founded

19

Dusseldorf

Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

For Software Engineering

#55 in Germany #332 in Europe

51% Acceptance

37,473 Enrollment

1965 Founded

20

Sankt Augustin

Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences

For Software Engineering

#80 in Germany #571 in Europe

51% Acceptance

8,000 Enrollment

1995 Founded