About university rankings

- and what they don't cover

Every year, a variety of different international university rankings are published; these compare and rank the world’s universities. Some rankings have a broad perspective, whereas others focus more specifically on a particular research field, e.g. biotechnology. Additionally, there are thematic rankings that focus on e.g. sustainability. 

The methods and indicators of the rankings vary and include research, bibliometrics, reputation, teaching, and international outlook.  The sources on which the rankings are based vary too. They include input from the universities themselves, surveys, and data from citation databases such as Web of Science and Scopus. This is important to have in mind when a university’s rank is evaluated. 

At DTU, we monitor a handful of the hundreds of existing university rankings. We are proud when DTU achieves a good rank in a recognized ranking, but as a university, we have so much more to offer than what is covered in the rankings.

 

DTU is a university where people think, communicate, and work together across academic disciplines and cultures to create a sustainable future. This is reflected in our world-class research environments.

The technical and natural science research conducted at DTU provides society with innovative solutions for sustainable change by making new discoveries and driving change. Focus areas include a large spectrum of science and engineering disciplines, such as sustainability, energy technologies, life science, biotechnology, transport, and civil engineering. 

DTU is committed to creating sustainable solutions that improve people’s lives, create value for society, and promote a sustainable use of resources.

In 2022, DTU's first sustainability report was published, which elaborates on DTU's work for a circular and sustainable transition. In the report, sustainability is assessed based on the three focus areas: Environment, Social and Governance.

Learn more about sustainability at DTU
- and read the newest Sustainability Report

DTU takes on a leading role in the development of the engineering profession and educates engineers with professionalism, commitment, and an innovative approach, supported by new and relevant digital learning tools and forms.

Our approach to polytechnic education, our unique learning environment, experimental learning approach, and direct access to researchers and educators enable us to realize the full potential of our engineering students.

Private companies employ a large number of engineers and highlight newly graduated engineers’ competences in digitalization and innovation.

Newly graduated engineers find jobs quickly after having completed their study programme. A graduate and employer survey from the analysis firm Epinion prepared for DTU shows that almost 9 in 10 DTU Masters of Science in Engineering and Bachelors of Engineering in the workforce have found employment no later than one year after having completed their studies.

Innovation is in DTU’s DNA. We help students and employees translate inventions and discoveries into enterprising businesses, and we engage in innovative collaborations with society as a whole. Innovation is an essential element in the curriculum of all our engineering programmes. All because we are driven by a will to develop new, sustainable ideas that can help solve the challenges the world currently faces.

DTU is the business community’s university and thus takes part in a wide range of collaborations with companies regarding strategic research collaborations, continuing education, student projects, conferences, etc.

The interaction between the university and the business community ensures that theory is put into practice and that research is based on real-world issues.

We continuously strive to establish new collaborations with international partners with the goal of creating world-class research. 

The alliances and strategic partnerships form an integrated part of DTU’s ambition to evolve as an institution. We work with our strategic partners to combine complementary competences and leverage synergies into new study programmes, strategic research initiatives, funding opportunities and innovation.