University ranking of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE)

The Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) regularly examines hundreds of universities and universities of applied sciences in Germany as well as selected universities in neighbouring countries for the largest university ranking in the German-speaking world.

Until 2004, the ranking was carried out jointly with STERN, since 2005 with ZEIT. The assessments are based on the responses of the respective students.

The CHE University Ranking offers a differentiated view of the performance of German universities. However, university libraries only feature marginally: They appear in the information on the respective subjects under the heading: 'Student judgements on the library'; occasionally, statements on library facilities and performance are also made under the heading 'Comments from the subject area on facilities'.

The grade in the field of "Library facilities" is calculated from the average of several questions on library facilities. On a scale of 1 to 6, students rate the following points, among others: the availability of literature required for their studies, the stock of books and specialist journals and how up-to-date it is, user advice, the opportunities for literature research, the availability of workstations and the opening and lending times. There are also subject-specific features.

All universities in Germany and German-speaking countries (excluding private universities) were taken into account when analysing the rankings.

Subject area Grade Rank Year
English and American Studies (Bachelor) No participation - 2016
English and American Studies (Teacher Training Programme) No participation - 2016
Business Administration (from 2011 see Economics) 1,9 19 2008
Business Administration (Master) (as of 2011 see Economics) 1,8 7 2008
Chemistry No grade - 2016
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology No grade - 2016
Education Studies No participation - 2016
German Studies and Comparative Literature (Bachelor) No participation - 2016
German and Comparative Literature (Teacher Training Programme) No participation - 2016
History (Bachelor) No grade - 2013
History (Teacher Training Programme) No grade - 2013
Computer Science 1,6 13 2015
Mechanical Engineering 1,6 7 2016
Mathematics (Bachelor) No grade - 2015
Mathematics (Teacher Training Programme) No grade 2015
Media and Communication Studies, Journalism Studies (from 2011 see Media Studies) 2,0 7 2008
Media Studies No grade - 2014
Physics No grade - 2015
Romance Studies (Bachelor) No grade - 2016
Romance Studies (Teacher Training Programme) No grade - 2016
Sport and Sports Science (Bachelor) No grade 2015
Sport and Sport Science (Teacher Training Programme) No grade - 2015
Economics (from 2011 see Economics) No grade - 2008
Business Informatics 1,6 5 2014
Industrial Engineering and Management 1,8 7 2014
Business Education 2,4 Detailed data not available 2002
Economic sciences 1,7 4 2014

There were too few responses in the corresponding CHE evaluations for the subject areas for which the note "No grade" appears in the table.

Very good grades for Paderborn University in the 2016 CHE University Ranking in the field of mechanical engineering

In the latest CHE University Ranking 2016, Paderborn University students gave the University Library very good marks for the subject area of Mechanical Engineering. (Due to the insufficient amount of "ranked" data, it was not possible to compile a ranking for Chemistry, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology and Romance Studies. English/American Studies, German Studies and Education Studies did not take part in the 2016 CHE ranking):

"Student judgements on the library"

... for English and American Studies: No participation (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 2.3 or no grade (teaching degree) - 2010: no grade or grade 2.8 (teaching degree); comments from the department on the facilities: "good library facilities". - 2007: Grade 2.4 or 2.5 (teaching degree); comments from the department on the facilities: "University library with very long opening hours". - 2004: Grade 2.2 (Lehramt) or 2.3 (Magister); comments from the department on the facilities: "good library facilities". - 2001: Grade 2.3)
... for chemistry: No grade (2016. - For comparison 2012: grade 1.8. - 2009: no grade. - 2006: grade 1.9. - 2003: no grade; comments from the department on the facilities: "excellent library")
... for Electrical Engineering and Information Technology: No grade (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 1.7. - 2010: grade 1.9. - 2007: 1.9. - 2004: no grade, comments from the department on the facilities: "excellently equipped library (open daily)". - 2000: grade 2.1)
... for Education Studies: No participation (2016. - For comparison 2013: no grade. - 2010: no grade. - 2007: no grade. - 2004: grade 2.4. - 2001: grade 2.6)
... for German Studies and Comparative Literature: No participation (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 2.5 or no grade (teaching degree). - 2010: no grade or grade 3.2 (teaching degree). - 2007: Grade 2.3 (teaching degree) or 2.4; comments from the department on equipment: "electronic semester apparatus, e-learning support during seminars, long library opening hours". - 2004: Grade 2.3 (teaching degree programme); comments from the department on the facilities: "a well-stocked department within the central university library". - 2001: Grade 2.3 (Magister) and 2.5 (state examination))
... for mechanical engineering: Grade 1.6 (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 2.0. - 2010: grade 2.2. - 2007: grade 2.0. - 2004: grade 2.0. - 2000: grade 2.0)
... for Romance Studies: No grade (2016. - For comparison 2013: no grade. - 2010: no grade or grade 2.9 (teaching degree); comments from the department on facilities: "very well-equipped specialised library (in the university library; single-tier); very good facilities: computers, WLAN, ... In general, an electrical semester machine is institutionalised for each course". - 2007: no grade; comments from the department on the facilities: "Well-equipped library with excellent service and opening hours, with study rooms and PC workstations for students.")


Complete overview "Student assessments of the library":

... for English and American Studies: No participation (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 2.3 or no grade (teaching degree) - 2010: no grade or grade 2.8 (teaching degree); comments from the department on the facilities: "good library facilities". - 2007: Grade 2.4 or 2.5 (teaching degree); comments from the department on the facilities: "University library with very long opening hours". - 2004: Grade 2.2 (Lehramt) or 2.3 (Magister); comments from the department on the facilities: "good library facilities". - 2001: Grade 2.3)
... for Business Administration (from 2011 see Economics): Grade 1.8 (Master) or 1.9 (2008; comments from the department on the equipment: "... international and national databases, electronic seminar apparatus ... Library opening hours: 7 days a week, until midnight on weekdays." - For comparison 2005: grade 2.2 - 2002: grade 2.3 (Business Studies) and 2.4 (International Business Studies))
... for Chemistry: No grade (2016. - For comparison 2012: grade 1.8. - 2009: no grade. - 2006: grade 1.9. - 2003: no grade; comments from the department on the facilities: "excellent library")
... for Electrical Engineering and Information Technology: No grade (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 1.7. - 2010: grade 1.9. - 2007: 1.9. - 2004: no grade, comments from the department on the facilities: "excellently equipped library (open daily)". - 2000: grade 2.1)

... for Education Studies:
No participation (2016. - For comparison 2013: no grade. - 2010: no grade. - 2007: no grade. - 2004: grade 2.4. - 2001: grade 2.6)
... for German Studies and Comparative Literature: No participation (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 2.5 or no grade (teaching degree). - 2010: no grade or grade 3.2 (teaching degree). - 2007: Grade 2.3 (teaching degree) or 2.4; comments from the department on equipment: "electronic semester apparatus, e-learning support during seminars, long library opening hours". - 2004: Grade 2.3 (teaching degree programme); comments from the department on the facilities: "a well-stocked department within the central university library". - 2001: Grade 2.3 (Magister) and 2.5 (state examination))
... for History: No grade (2013. - For comparison: 2010: no grade. - 2007: Grade 2.6; comments from the department on the facilities: "The Department of History uses the central reference library and has the option of ordering book titles." - 2004: grade 2.5; comments from the department on the facilities: "excellent library opening hours")
... for Computer Science: Grade 1.6 (2015. - For comparison 2012: grade 1.6. - 2009: grade 1.5. - 2006: grade 1.7. - 2003: grade 2.0)
... for Mechanical Engineering: Grade 1.6 (2016. - For comparison 2013: grade 2.0. - 2010: grade 2.2. - 2007: grade 2.0. - 2004: grade 2.0. - 2000: grade 2.0)
... for Mathematics: No grade
(Bachelor or teaching degree)
(2015. - For comparison 2012: grade 1.9 (teaching degree) or no grade (Bachelor); comments from the department on the facilities: "Central university library with extended opening hours, excellent textbook, textbook and journal holdings, e-books.". - 2009: grade 2.1. - 2006: grade 1.9. - 2003: grade 2.3; comments from the department on the facilities: "good library facilities (journals and monographs)").
... for Media and Communication Studies, Journalism Studies (from 2011 see Media Studies): Grade 2.0 (2008.- For comparison 2005: grade 2.0)
... for Media Studies: No grade (2014. - In comparison 2011: grade 2.6)
... for Physics: No grade (2015. - For comparison 2012: no grade; comments by the department on the facilities: "Library with long opening hours.". - 2009: no grade; comments from the department on the facilities: "Library with long opening hours.". - 2006: no grade. - 2003: no grade; comments from the department on the facilities: "Reference library also open in the evenings and at weekends").
... for Romance Studies:
No grade
(2016. - For comparison 2013: no grade. - 2010: no grade or grade 2.9 (teaching degree); comments from the department on the facilities: "very well-equipped specialised library (in the university library; single-level); very good facilities: computers, WLAN, ... In general, an electrical semester machine is institutionalised for each course". - 2007: no grade; comments from the department on the facilities: "Well-equipped library with workrooms and PC workstations for students, with excellent service and opening hours").
... for sport/sport science: No grade
(Bachelor or teaching degree)
(2015. - For comparison 2012: Grade 2.8 (Bachelor) or no grade (teaching degree). - 2009: Grade 2.6 (teaching degree) or 2.7)
... for Economics (from 2011 see Economics): No grade (2008)
... for Business Informatics: Grade 1.6 (2014. - For comparison 2011: no grade; comments by the department on the equipment: "access to a comprehensive e-library". - 2008: Grade 1.7; comments from the department on the facilities: "electronic full-text and media databases ... Library open 7 days a week on weekdays until midnight". - 2005: grade 2.0. - 2002: grade 2.0)
... for industrial engineering: Grade 1.8 (2014. - For comparison 2011: grade 2.2. - 2008: no grade; comments from the department on equipment: "Provision of notebook cafes". - 2005: Grade 2.1. - 2002: Grade: 2.2)
... for Business Education: Grade 2.4 (2002)
... for Economics: Grade 1.7 (2014. - For comparison 2011: grade 2.4)

Further information at www.che-ranking.de.