Paderborn University has once again achieved excellent rankings in the 2026 ‘Global Ranking of Academic Subjects’ (GRAS), also known as the Shanghai Subject Ranking. In the ‘Research Impact’ category, the subject of Mathematics recorded the highest published score among the German universities listed. The subjects of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, as well as Computer Science, are also represented in the ranking.
The ranking covers 57 subjects and around 2,000 universities from some 100 countries and regions. The assessment of selected research achievements is based on nine indicators across five categories. Factors taken into account include scientific publications and their citation impact, international collaboration, as well as awards and leadership roles in research. These indicators relate to publications from 2021 to 2025.
Mathematics leads the way nationwide in ‘Research Impact’
Mathematics at Paderborn University is ranked in the 101–150 range globally and in the 6–12 range nationally. This makes it the university’s highest-ranked subject in the current edition. Research ranges from pure Mathematics to industrial collaborations and the teaching of Mathematics. One example of basic research is the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregional Research Network (CRC) 358‘Integer Structures in Geometry and Representation Theory’. Researchers from Paderborn University and Bielefeld combine their expertise within this project, and the results are already demonstrating how geometry, analysis and algebra are interlinked.
The ‘Research Impact’ category measures the citation impact of academic publications. It is based on the ‘Category Normalised Citation Impact’ (CNCI). This measures the citation frequency relative to the average citation frequency of publications in the same subject area, publication year and document type. In this way, differing citation practices and the age of the publications are taken into account.
Electrical and Information Engineering and Computer Science listed
Paderborn’s Electrical and Information Engineering is ranked in the 401–500 range worldwide in the subject area ‘Electrical & Electronic Engineering’. In a German comparison, this corresponds to groups 12 to 14. Researchers are working, for example, on modern communication technologies and renewable energy systems. Computer Science is also ranked in the 401–500 range globally in the ‘Computer Science & Engineering’ subject area and is in the 20–25 range nationally. The strengths of computer science research lie, amongst other things, in the fields of data science, IT security and quantum computing.
Recognition for the researchers
Prof. Dr Thomas Tröster, Vice-President for Research and Academic Careers at Paderborn University, praises the results: “We are delighted that our Mathematics programme ranks at the top of the Research Impact rankings amongst the German universities listed in this subject. But the outstanding rankings for Electrical Engineering and Information Technology as well as Computer Science also impressively demonstrate the achievements and commitment of our researchers. The ranking raises the profile of their research on the international stage.”
The results of the GRAS 2026 are available online.
This test was translated automatically.