Berlin is one of the most attractive cities in the world to study in, according to a study by Quacquarelli Symonds, which also regularly publishes the prestigious QS World University Ranking. According to the most recent evaluation the German capital ranks 8 in a comparison of university places all over the world. Nationally Berlin is number 1 followed by Munich ranked 13th.

Freie Universität contributed to Berlin's good performance. In the current QS World University Ranking of September 2011 Freie Universität reached the 66th place worldwide and the fourth place nationwide. Freie Universität Berlin was the only Berlin University in the top 100. Only four of the nine winning universities in the Excellence Initiative of the federal government and states were listed among the top 100. The success of Free University  is reportedly due to the high scientific level of the subjects and the increased prestige among employers.