According to a brand-new survey, the discipline statistics at Aarhus University ranks among the global elite.

2011.07.08 | AU Kommunikation

Aarhus University's statisticians are ranked no. 21 in the world and no. 6 in Europe on a new ranking list published by the ranking agency QS. And if the research impact in the 'Statistics and Operational Research' subject range is considered in isolation, Aarhus University comes out at the top of the list.

The rankings have been calculated partly on the basis of research impact and partly based on the academic reputation of the universities. Impact is measured as an objective indicator where the frequency with which the universities' research articles are cited in recognised scientific journals worldwide is counted. Academic reputation is measured via a global questionnaire-based survey in which researchers from around the world as well as relevant employers assess which universities are the strongest within the subject area.

As concerns the research indicator, the statisticians from Aarhus University score particularly high. The rankings actually show that Aarhus University is the best-performing university in the world when calculating the average number of citations within the subject range 'Statistics and Operational Research'. As the only university in the world, Aarhus University scores the top grade 100 in the category. In comparison, US elite universities Stanford and Harvard score 83 and 55 on the same indicator, respectively.

Researchers from disciplines such as economics, econometrics, business administration and mathematics at Aarhus University are all active within the subject range defined as 'Statistics and Operational Research' in the ranking list.

In spring 2011, QS published all 26 subject rankings. The 21st place for the statisticians at Aarhus University is the best ranking ever achieved by a Danish university in one of these ranking lists. The second best ranking is achieved by the University of Copenhagen in 34th place in the rankings for 'Politics and International Studies'. The American universities dominate the top places on the lists. Harvard thus tops a total of 16 of the 26 subject ranking lists.

More information

• See all the rankings for 'Statistics and Operational Research' (link: http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011/subject-rankings/social-sciences/statistics)
• For comments on the academic environment within statistics at Aarhus University: Per Baltzer Overgaard, Vice-Dean for Research, Business and Social Sciences (tel. +45 8942 1605; email: povergaard@econ.au.dk)
• Ranking list: Søren Klit Lindegaard, administrator, Aarhus University (tel. +45 +45 23382131 or via email