Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) offers master and pre-doctoral students of chemistry and physics excellent research conditions and international orientation. This is obvious from the just published Europe-wide “2010 CHE Excellence Ranking”. According to the CHE ranking, KIT is in the “excellence group” in both subjects in Europe.
The ranking covered the subjects of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics. In total, 130 universities in Europe were found to be strong in research and have an international orientation in these subjects. Hence, they belong to one or several “excellence groups”. While KIT was only in one “excellence group” in 2009, it now is among the best in two subjects. The ranking was based on eight criteria: The number of publications and citations, the mobility of students and lecturers, and the number of Erasmus-Mundus masters or Marie Curie projects. It is also important whether researchers at the departments were awarded an ERC grant or the Nobel Prize.
In Germany, 54 scientific departments of 26 universities were ranked in one or several “excellence groups”. Hence, the ranking of Germany corresponds to that of Great Britain. In the past year, the subjects of economics, psychology, and political sciences were analyzed. The ranking comprises information about more than 4500 research groups in 19 states. The CHE Excellence Ranking is aimed at supporting future master and PhD students in their Europe-wide search for a suitable university.
Apart from quantitative parameters, the ranking also provides information on master and PhD study courses as well as facts on research groups and focuses at the departments, the size of the departments, acceptance conditions, and accommodation options. In addition, current students pass on their opinions to persons interested in starting studies.
The non-profit Center for University Development (CHE) is an independent institution located in Gütersloh, Germany. Detailed results of the ranking are available on the internet at www.zeit.de/excellenceranking and will be published in the weekly magazine DIE ZEIT on October 28.
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.