Bonn and Aachen remain universities of excellence until 2033 - Ten German universities retain elite 'Excellence' status in latest review

Ten German universities and consortia have kept their elite status after a fresh round of evaluations. An international panel of experts assessed their performance over several months. Five more slots for the prestigious title are now up for grabs.

The selected institutions will receive funding until 2033, with decisions on new applicants expected in October 2026.

The latest review saw ten universities or university groups retain their 'University of Excellence' designation. These include RWTH Aachen, University of Bonn, Berlin University Alliance, and TU Dresden. Others, such as the University of Heidelberg, KIT Karlsruhe, and LMU Munich, also kept their status. However, the University of Konstanz lost its elite position this time.

To qualify, each institution had to secure funding for at least three Clusters of Excellence. RWTH Aachen, for example, leads projects on sustainable liquid fuels, quantum computing, and eco-friendly construction. The federal and state governments are backing the programme with €148 million in total.

Meanwhile, two North Rhine-Westphalian universities—the University of Cologne and a joint bid from Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund—have applied for the title. If successful, they would join the existing elite group. The next round of decisions will take place in early October 2026.

The ten universities will continue receiving funding for another seven years, ensuring long-term support for their research. Five additional places remain open for new contenders. The programme's future will depend on the outcomes of the 2026 selection process.