23rd place in the international Times Higher Education Ranking

For the fifth time in succession, Bielefeld University has been rated among the world's best young universities. The East Westphalian university takes 23rd place in the “THE 150 Under 50” ranking, which was published on Wednesday evening (6/4/2016). This is its best ranking ever and a huge improvement over last year’s 57th place. Since 2012, the “Times Higher Education” (THE), a British magazine for higher education, has been comparing the world’s leading universities founded less than 50 years ago.

Bielefeld University, established in 1969, has improved in almost all categories, including teaching and industry income but especially in research. The categories include the reputation of the university, the number of publications and the amount of income earned from industry.

Ten German universities achieved a place in the ranking. On a national level, Bielefeld University ranks fifth in the comparison of universities – behind the University of Konstanz, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Ulm University and the University of Duisburg-Essen. In North-Rhine Westphalia, Bielefeld takes second place.

The “THE 150 Under 50” ranking is considered an internationally influential comparison of universities. The ranking compares universities in 13 performance indicators grouped into five areas: research, teaching, industry income, citations and international outlook. The comparison of young universities complements the “World University Ranking”, in which academic reputation is weighted heavily. Long-established universities often attain better rankings than their younger rivals, which first have to gain a reputation. To better illustrate the current and future potential of these “rising stars”, the THE has been conducting a separate ranking since 2012, the “THE 150 Under 50”. Here, less weight is given to academic reputation. Topping this year’s ranking in first place is the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland.

Bielefeld University is the biggest university in the East Westphalia-Lippe region. Some 23,600 people are currently studying here. The subjects range from humanities to natural sciences and from social sciences to engineering sciences.

Further information is available online at:
THE Ranking: www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings
Profile of Bielefeld University: www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/universitat-bielefeld?ranking-dataset=167425