HeyStudium, DIE ZEIT’s portal for student orientation, publishes the latest results of the CHE University Ranking for six subject groups, including ‘Health, Sport and Psychology’, ‘Technology and Construction’ and ‘Language and Culture’. The results show clear differences between university types and subjects with regard to professional practice and career prospects during the degree programme. Excerpts from the ranking by the Centre for Higher Education (CHE) also appear in the new ZEIT Studienführer (Study Guide) 2025/26.
Many students, especially at universities of applied sciences, are very satisfied with the practical orientation of their degree programmes. The Biotechnology and Physical Engineering degree programmes perform particularly well here. They achieve an average rating of 4.5 on a five-star scale. Students rated how relevant to practice they find the skills they acquire on their degree programme and how satisfied they are with the quantity and quality of courses with practical relevance.
In addition, the students evaluated the career guidance programmes, for example information events or initiatives to promote career entry.
Degree programmes such as electrical engineering or mechanical engineering at universities and HAWs receive similarly good ratings. According to student assessments, economics subjects such as business administration in particular offer good preparation for the labour market.
‘The universities of applied sciences have always advertised their practical relevance. The students confirm this image in the ranking. One of the main reasons for the good rating is probably the compulsory practical semester that most UAS offer in these degree programmes and which is prepared and followed up at the universities,’ says Sonja Berghoff, head of the CHE University Ranking.
The CHE University Ranking, which has been published exclusively in the ZEIT Studienführer and on ZEIT ONLINE for twenty years, is the most comprehensive university comparison in the German-speaking world. It offers assessments of more than 10,000 degree programmes at German universities. In addition to facts about studies, teaching and research, it also assesses how students rate the practical relevance of their degree programmes and career preparation measures. The entire CHE University Ranking with around 120,000 students surveyed can be accessed online at HeyStudium.