Stockholm among the best cities in Europe for prospective researchers

Press release 5 November 2007

CHE Excellence Ranking: Stockholm among the best cities in Europe for prospective researchers

Gütersloh 4 December 2007. The Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) in Germany has released a “Ranking of Excellent European Graduate Programmes” in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. The ranking aims to simplify the search for a suitable higher education institution for a masters or doctoral programme in Europe.

An initial selection process based on four criteria (number of publications, citations relative to global standards, most cited researchers and participants in the European Union’s Marie Curie Programmes) identified about 500 disciplines at around 250 higher education institutions in 20 European countries. The selected institutions demonstrated excellent performance in at least one of the categories, and were accordingly awarded a bronze, silver, or gold medal. The faculties awarded a silver or gold medal are included in the Top Group. A minimum of three silver medals are needed to qualify for the Excellence Group. While at least one medal per discipline was awarded to around 120 higher education institutions – placing them in the Top Group – only around 25 of these made it into the Excellence Group.

Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet and The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in the Excellence Group

Out of five Swedish universities that made it into the Excellence Group, Stockholm University took three or more silver medals in chemistry, biology and mathematics. KTH received gold and silver medals in chemistry and mathematics in the “publications”, “citations” and “Marie Curie project” categories. Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet distinguished themselves in biology with medals in all categories. Karolinska Institutet received three gold medals and a bronze medal, while Stockholm University was awarded three silver medals and a bronze medal. The Department of Mathematics at Stockholm University made it into the leading group, as did the mathematics and physics departments at KTH.

Over and above the quantitative rankings, the Excellence Ranking provides a great deal of useful information, particularly about masters and doctoral programmes, research groups and the research focus at the faculties as well as information about student accommodation and tuition fees. Future Excellence Rankings will expand to include other disciplines.

Facts CHE:

The Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) is an independent institution that works for reform in the higher education system. Its head office is in Gütersloh and each year it produces CHE Higher Education Rankings of German and international higher education institutions for prospective students. The CHE Excellence Ranking is the first ranking process to compare the best research institutions in Europe for prospective masters or doctoral students. The results are available free of charge on the Internet.

More information on CHE and the analysis:

www.che-excellence-ranking.eu.

www.excellence-ranking.org.

Email: excellence@che-ranking.de

Telephone: +49 5241 211 79-71

For more information on Stockholm Science City/Vetenskapsstaden:

Charlotte Törsleff, Stockholm Science City

Mobile: +46 708 383238

E-mail: charlotte.torsleff@ssci.se

www.ssci.se

The universities: