University of Freiburg: Top positions in the THE Impact Rankings 2025!
The University of Freiburg achieves high rankings in the THE Impact Rankings 2025, especially in SDGs 9, 16 and 17.

University of Freiburg: Top positions in the THE Impact Rankings 2025!
The University of Freiburg has developed into the current THE Impact Rankings 2025 established as one of the leading universities in Germany. In the overall ranking, it is ranked 301-400 out of 1,963 institutions worldwide and third nationally. These rankings assess the impact of universities in relation to the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The university's performance in the area of SDG 16 is particularly outstanding, where it ranks first in Germany and 42nd internationally. In SDG 9, which focuses on industry, innovation and infrastructure, the university achieved an impressive score of 98.8 out of 100, placing it 32nd in the world. In the previous assessment, she finished 401-600, showing remarkable progress.
Achievements in various SDGs
The University of Freiburg took part in these rankings for the second time in 2024 and was able to improve in several SDGs compared to the previous year. It is now among the top 100 universities worldwide in four of the SDG rankings and also achieves notable results in SDG 12, where it ranks second in Germany.
- SDG 9 (Industrie, Innovation und Infrastruktur): 32. Platz weltweit
- SDG 16 (Frieden, Gerechtigkeit und starke Institutionen): 1. Platz in Deutschland, 42. Platz international
- SDG 12 (Verantwortungsvoller Konsum und Produktion): 2. Platz in Deutschland, 101-200 international
- SDG 17 (Partnerschaften zur Erreichung der Ziele): 2. Platz in Deutschland, 401-600 international
Additionally, the university was also ranked high in SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), ranking 81st and 92nd globally, respectively. These results demonstrate not only the university's commitment to sustainable development, but also its continued improvement in key areas.
The methodology and the context
The THE Impact Rankings methodology takes scores into account across multiple SDGs, with universities only listed in the SDG rankings for which they provide data. The University of Freiburg has submitted data in eleven SDGs, demonstrating its comprehensive approach to supporting the global sustainability goals. The overall ranking score is composed of the highest scores in at least four SDGs, including SDG 17.
A total of 2,526 universities from 130 countries were evaluated in these rankings, demonstrating global efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. Times Higher Education highlights that Asian universities occupy more than half of the places in the ranking, suggesting rapid progress in the region.
The University of Freiburg's continuous progress in the THE Impact Rankings is a clear sign of its commitment and successful strategy in sustainable development and research.