Rankings Attest to Excellent Research at the University of Würzburg

11/09/2023

In the THE and Shanghai rankings, the areas for which JMU has submitted Cluster of Excellence outlines are in an outstanding position: Life Sciences, Physics, Biodiversity Research, Medical Technology, Clinical Medicine.

The JMU main building. (Image: Daniel Peter / Universität Würzburg)

Every year, the British magazine Times Higher Education (THE) and the Chinese Shanghai Ranking Consultancy independently publish rankings of the best universities worldwide. The so-called "Subject Rankings" of both providers have recently been published. These assess different fields of research based on individual performance indicators. Among other factors, the rankings consider the reputation of the institutions in research and teaching as well as the number of publications and citations.

Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg performs outstanding in both subject rankings. "The differentiated assessment according to research fields reflects the diversity of research at JMU. The very good ratings of the areas with submitted Cluster of Excellence outlines provide a tailwind. At the same time, the rankings demonstrate a pleasing diversity of excellent ideas and researchers at our university. This is the structural and cultural basis of our success," says University President Paul Pauli.

THE: Strong in the Life Sciences

"THE World University Ranking by subject" compares the performance of more than 1,900 universities worldwide in eleven different subject areas. Research quality, research environment, teaching, internationalisation and transfer factor into the equation for the assessment.

The latest THE subject ranking rates the life sciences at the University of Würzburg as the best: JMU is ranked between 101 and 125 worldwide. In Germany, it ranks among the top eleven universities, and in Bavaria it is in third place. The university's excellence in the life sciences is particularly evident in the quality of its research, where it achieved an overall score of 95.5 (out of 100).

JMU also scores excellently in transfer with a value of 86.1. In addition, the university improved its ranking in physics, psychology and computer sciences. It is now among the top 10% internationally in these subjects.

ShanghaiRanking: Top in Ecology and Medical Technology

The ShanghaiRanking assesses the performance of more than 1,900 universities from 104 countries in 55 different fields of research. It compares the number, citation frequency and internationality of publications as well as the number of science awards received.

In the recently published edition for individual research fields, the "Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS)", JMU achieved its best rankings in ecology and medical technology.

In ecology and biodiversity research, it ranks among the world's top 75 universities, among the top six universities in Germany and second in Bavaria.

JMU performs similarly well in medical technology, which includes the fields of neuroimaging, nuclear medicine and radiology in addition to laboratory technologies: Here it is among the top 75 universities worldwide; in Germany it ranks ninth and in Bavaria third.

JMU shines with further top scientific achievements in biology and ranks among the top 100 universities in the world. It is ranked fifth in Germany and second in Bavaria.

The GRAS also reflects JMU's excellent research performance in physics. It is among the top 10% internationally and ranks tenth in Germany and third in Bavaria.

In human biology, dentistry and communication research, the university has achieved further outstanding rankings. It is one of the top 150 university locations here. Compared to 2022, JMU improved above all in clinical medicine, where it moved into the group of the top 200 universities in 2023.