Facts and Figures
The current Gender Data Report 2025 is also available here as a PDF (unfortunately not available in english yet).
Gender distribution at the University of Cologne 2025
The University of Cologne’s Gender Data Report primarily presents faculty-specific data across all stages of the (academic) career at the University, as well as the gender composition of relevant committees. (The figures refer to the reporting year 2023.)
Women are represented at the University of Cologne (UzK) at almost all qualification levels or in all status groups at an above-average rate compared to the state and national average (cf. Gender Report 2022, Netzwerk Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung NRW). In the nationwide "Ranking of higher education institutions by gender aspects 2021" (cf. CEWS, 2023), the UzK is in the good midfield in a nationwide comparison with other universities with regard to the representation of women at the various qualification levels.
However, a closer look reveals clear differences both in terms of gender distribution at the individual qualification levels and with regard to the respective faculties and subjects.
Female students and doctorates
In 2023, 62 % of students at the UzK were female (see chart: Student*innen, Absolvent*innen und Promotionen). However, this percentage varies greatly, depending on the faculty and department. The highest proportion of women was recorded by the Faculty of Humanities with 80 %. At the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, the proportion was lowest at 46 %. In the group of completed doctorates, these levels could not be maintained. The proportion of women at the Faculty of Human Sciences was only 54 %. The lowest proportion of women was in the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences with 23 %. Overall, 395 women (53 %) completed their doctorates in 2023.
Postdocs
The group of postdocs is characterized by different factors. In the case of postdoctoral qualifications, the proportion of women was 35 % in 2021. This is slightly less than in the previous year (40 %). The female share has tended to increase in recent years (in 1990, it was only 8 %). At the same time, strong fluctuations over the last few years are visible in this group. These can be explained on the one hand by the low number of habilitations (54 in 2023) and on the other hand by the decreasing importance of habilitations in favour of other career paths. In 2023, for example, the proportion of women in junior professorships was 57 % overall and 41 % in junior research group leaders financed by third-party funds (see chart: Postdoktorand*innen).
Female professors
The proportion of female professors at the UzK in 2023 was 32 % overall (all grades). In the group of W2/C3, the proportion of women was 34 %, and in the group of W3/C4 it was only 27 %. The W2/C3 and W3/C4 grades combined had a 30 % share of women (see chart: Professor*innen).
The differentiated representation of W2/C3 and W3/C4 salaries over the last twelve years shows a slow but steady increase in the W3/C4 group from 17 % to 27 % in 2023. For W2/C3 salaries, however, there was stagnation at 30 % in 2011, 2016 and 2023 with a slight increase of one percentage point to 31 % in 2021.
The appointment rate of women was 46 % across faculties in 2021 – 2023 and was therefore a few percentage points higher than in 2019 – 2021 with 41 % (see chart: Berufungen).
Academic staff and technical, administrative, and university management staff.
The further academic staff (excluding female professors) shows an almost balanced gender ratio: 52 % of the academic staff at the UzK are female (see chart: Academic staff (excluding professors)). The proportion of women in the technical and administrative staff group is also well above the 50 % mark, at 63 % (see chart: Technical and administrative staff). However, it is also visible here that the proportion of women is somewhat lower at the higher management levels in the administration ((Vice) chancellor, heads of departments and central offices) (see chart: University management).
In the self-governing bodies, women were represented by at least about one-third in 2023: at the rectorate level with 37,5 %, in the senate even with 64 % and in the university council with 60 %. Among the vice deans of the faculties, the proportion of women was 52 % overall, while among the deans it was significantly lower at 17 %.
Conclusion
In summary, the UzK can boast a high proportion of women at almost all qualification levels, especially among students. This means that it has a large pool of talented potential young female scientists at its disposal. The continuous increase in the proportion of female professors is a particular success, even if development in this area appears to be stagnating. The figures continue to show that women are underrepresented, depending on the position, faculty and subject, and thus the equality goals have not been achieved. Particularly from the postdoc level and in leadership positions. Thus, it is still necessary to promote young female scientists and to attract female professors as well as female executives in the administration.
Weitere Diversity-Daten
University-Internal Data
Unfortunately not available in english
