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UK surpassed for first time as second most-represented nation in #THEUniRankings

Oxford and Cambridge retain top spots but UK reputation dips amid intensifying global competition

  • Oxford and Cambridge retain top two positions in definitive global listing – but national data picture one of stagnation and modest decline for UK higher education
  • Asia’s ascent continues and Japan surpasses UK as second most represented nation; China’s new number one becomes top in Asia – overtakes the LSE and Edinburgh; University of Hong Kong overtakes King’s College London
  • US still dominates table – but signs of stagnation cut across Europe, US and Australia as global competition intensifies
  • University of Baghdad becomes Iraq’s first entrant in table’s 15-year history, joining the global top 1,000. Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Nepal and Tanzania also first-time entrants

TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION (THE) this week publishes its 2019 edition of the definitive World University Rankings. 

Oxford University claims prime position for a third consecutive year – also topping the global table for research (volume, income and reputation). Cambridge retains second position for a second year, and is global second for research, but claims global third for teaching (after US-based Caltech and Stanford), while Oxford claims fifth.

But UK is surpassed as the second most-represented nation in the listing for the first time – with Japan claiming 103 positions to the UK’s 98 (up from 93).

The majority of the UK’s entrants – 77 – also remain static or decline this year.

The prestigious annual table – now in its 15th year – lists more than 1,250 higher education institutions globally, up from just over 1,100 last year, and features 86 countries, up from 81. It is the only global university ranking to be subjected to full, independent audit (details and methodology in notes to editors, below).

The UK retains its status as second most-represented in the top 200 (after the US) but the majority  (21 of 29) also remain static or decline, with two – the University of Dundee and Royal Holloway –slipping from the global top 200 entirely.

Meanwhile, Asia continues its ascent. China’s new number one, Tsinghua University, becomes Asia’s top institution and overtakes the UK’s LSE (which falls from the top 25) and University of Edinburgh, while the University of Hong Kong overtakes King’s College London this year.

There are however several individual successes from the UK: UCL climbs two places into the top 15, at number 14 this year, with improvements across the board but in particular to its teaching score; the University of Warwick scales 12 places to joint 79th; the University of Birmingham jumps an impressive 25 positions into the top 120, at joint 116; York also rises into the top 120, scaling 18 places to 119, and the University of Aberdeen leaps 27 positions into the top 160 at 158.

The US continues to dominate the ranking and Europe remains a significant power player, but there are signs of stagnation amid intensified global competition and national funding cuts and tightened immigration policies.

Seven European institutions are represented in the 2019 top 30, the same as last year, and occupy almost half the top 200. After the UK, Germany (with 47), Italy (43), Spain (38) and France (34) are the most-represented European countries in the ranking, while the UK (29), Germany (23) and the Netherlands (12) are the most-represented European countries in the top 200.

Moocs – massive open on line courses – may have had an impact on the results as they help huge numbers of students to access elite courses at top institutions, and drive further reputational improvements.

Phil Baty, Editorial Director of Global Rankings for THE, said: “I see the fourth industrial revolution putting real pressure on university teaching – forcing them to re-think not just how they teach, but what they teach. With robots expected to take many future jobs, it’s hard to predict the knowledge and skills graduates will need for the future.

“So universities have to focus more on softer, transferable skills, and on instilling characteristics such as resilience, flexibility, dynamism and problem solving. This isn’t directly measured in our rankings, but will come through in our teaching reputation survey, covering 20,000 accomplished scholars globally.”

Regarding the implications for UK Univerisites Phil Baty, continued:

“We see some individual stars in the UK this year – but the broader national data story is really one of stagnation and modest decline, with the UK taking a minor hit to its research reputation. We can only speculate at this stage as to any connection with Brexit – the risk, however, to the UK’s reputation and research capabilities from its separation with Europe is very real.

“Maintaining world-class excellence amid cuts and creeping isolationism is simply unsustainable – especially amid intensifying global competition, with many emerging nations currently placing their own universities at the heart of national economic growth strategies.

“The ground-breaking work of UK universities mustn’t be undermined by complacency and politicking. To ensure they continue to thrive on the global stage, positive immigration and investment policies are crucial. They must be free to attract and retain the very best international talent and international students post-Brexit, and they must be protected from cuts – the flow of research funding and academic talent mustn’t be impacted.”

Alistair Jarvis100x100Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said:

“What is clear from all the various international rankings is that the UK continues to have one of the strongest university sectors in the world. This is based on our well-deserved international reputation for high quality teaching, learning and research, delivered by talented and dedicated staff.

“But we know that other countries are seeing the benefits of higher education and are investing heavily in developing their universities. If the UK is to maintain its leading position, we must match this investment, and ensure that the UK projects a more open and welcoming message for talented international staff and students. This is more important than ever as Brexit negotiations near their end and the UK looks to enhance its place in the world.”

On the wider European performance, Ellie Bothwell, Rankings Editor for THE, added:

“While there is great success for many European countries and universities in this year’s rankings, a shift in the political climate across the continent could damage many of its higher education systems in future years.

“Universities in the UK, and Europe as a whole, will lose out if pan-European mobility and research collaborations are restricted as a result of Brexit, while the rise in far-right populism is already impacting universities’ academic freedom in countries such as Hungary. These factors combined with stiff competition from Asia will put European universities under a great deal of pressure over the coming 12 months.”

THE rankings also reward international campuses (students and staff) and international research collaboration in the methodology – in the belief that universities with multi-cultural campuses are more likely to be able to bring positive learning experiences to students – with multiple perspectives in the classroom, different views,  intercultural skills, etc. 

The THE World University Ranking 2019 will be launched at THE’s World Academic Summit at the National University of Singapore.

THE World University Rankings 2019 global roundup

The Top 10

Oxford University claims first position for a third consecutive year, also topping the list for its the research pillar (volume, income and reputation). Cambridge retains second, while Stanford in the US holds steady in third.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) rises one place to number four but the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) drops from last year’s joint third position, to number five – however the university tops the list for the teaching pillar (learning environment).

Yale is the highest riser in the top 20, scaling four places to join the top 10, in eighth.

The United States and Canada

The United States remains the most-represented nation in the table, with 172 institutions, up from 157. Though the majority of its universities – 130 of them – decline or remain static. While nation also continues to dominate the top 200, with 60 universities included, this is down from 62 last year, and more than half (32) decline, while 10 retain their previous position and 18 improve.

The nation is led by Stanford University in third, but the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – last year’s joint third, and which led the ranking between 2012 and 2016 – loses further ground this year, dropping two places to fifth. Caltech does however come first in the table’s teaching pillar (the learning environment), followed by Stanford. 

And Yale University climbs four places to eighth – its highest rank under the current methodology (since 2011) and the largest rise in the top 20.

It’s a mixed picture for Canada. The country has 27 institutions represented in the 2019 table, up from 26, led again by the University of Toronto, which rises one place to 21. Almost seventy-seven per cent – over three out of four – of the country’s universities ranked in both 2018 and 2019 decline or stay stable compared with last year.

East Asia

Mainland China gets a new number one.   Up eight places at number 22, Tsinghua University is the nation’s new number one, surpassing Peking University (down four places to 31) to claim China’s highest position since 2011.

Tsinghua supplants the National University of Singapore as Asia’s top institution – the first time a Chinese university has held the title under the current methodology (since 2011). The institution also overtakes the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and New York University this year, and claims global sixth position for research (volume, income and reputation) – above Princeton, Yale and MIT. China’s highest-ranked new entrant, the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) – only established in 2011 – makes an impressive debut in the listing’s global top 350. China is the fourth most-represented globally in the table, with 72 universities (up from 63) – and retains seven in the elite top 200.

Four of Hong Kong’s six representatives rise up the table, with five making the top 200 for the third consecutive year, despite increased global competition. Its lead, the University of Hong Kong, rises four places to 36th thanks to significant improvements in its teaching environment scores – and overtakes Canada’s University of British Columbia, and King’s College London.

Taiwan has 32 institutions included in this year’s global listing, up from 31, but sees the majority stay static or decline.

It’s a relatively strong year for Japan. Following several years of decline, the nation sees some consolidation, with 103 universities represented, up from 89 – more than ever before. The country surpasses the UK as the table’s second most-represented nation.

2019 entries and exits

The University of Baghdad becomes Iraq’s first entrant in the table’s 15-year history, joining the global top 801-1,000 band, with its strongest performances in citation impact (research influence) and international research collaboration.

The University of the West Indies becomes Jamaica’s first entrant – joining the table in the 501-600 banding, with a strong international outlook. Kazakhstan, Nepal and Tanzania also join the table for the first time this year, while Serbia re-enters following a one-year absence.

Bangladesh is the only country to drop from the 2019 table, as the University of Dhaka did not submit data.

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings Global and national tables 2019

2019 global top 200

Institution name

Country/region

2019 global ranking

2018 global ranking

University of Oxford

United Kingdom

1

1

University of Cambridge

United Kingdom

2

2

Stanford University

United States

3

=3

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States

4

5

California Institute of Technology

United States

5

=3

Harvard University

United States

6

6

Princeton University

United States

7

7

Yale University

United States

8

12

Imperial College London

United Kingdom

9

8

University of Chicago

United States

10

9

ETH Zurich

Switzerland

11

=10

Johns Hopkins University

United States

=12

13

University of Pennsylvania

United States

=12

=10

UCL

United Kingdom

14

16

University of California, Berkeley

United States

15

18

Columbia University

United States

16

14

University of California, Los Angeles

United States

17

15

Duke University

United States

18

17

Cornell University

United States

19

19

University of Michigan

United States

20

21

University of Toronto

Canada

21

=22

Tsinghua University

China

22

30

National University of Singapore

Singapore

23

=22

Carnegie Mellon University

United States

24

24

Northwestern University

United States

25

20

London School of Economics and Political Science

United Kingdom

26

=25

New York University

United States

27

=27

University of Washington

United States

28

=25

University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom

29

=27

University of California, San Diego

United States

30

31

Peking University

China

31

=27

LMU Munich

Germany

=32

=34

University of Melbourne

Australia

=32

32

Georgia Institute of Technology

United States

34

33

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Switzerland

35

=38

University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

36

40

University of British Columbia

Canada

37

=34

King’s College London

United Kingdom

38

36

University of Texas at Austin

United States

39

49

Karolinska Institute

Sweden

40

=38

Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris

France

41

=72

The University of Tokyo

Japan

42

46

University of Wisconsin-Madison

United States

43

43

McGill University

Canada

=44

42

Technical University of Munich

Germany

=44

41

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Hong Kong

46

44

Heidelberg University

Germany

47

45

KU Leuven

Belgium

48

47

Australian National University

Australia

49

48

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

United States

50

37

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Singapore

51

52

University of California, Santa Barbara

United States

52

53

Brown University

United States

53

=50

Washington University in St Louis

United States

54

=50

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

55

58

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States

56

=56

University of Manchester

United Kingdom

57

=54

Delft University of Technology

Netherlands

58

63

University of California, Davis

United States

=59

=54

University of Sydney

Australia

=59

61

Wageningen University & Research

Netherlands

=59

64

University of Amsterdam

Netherlands

62

59

Seoul National University

South Korea

63

=74

Purdue University

United States

64

60

Kyoto University

Japan

65

=74

University of Southern California

United States

66

66

Humboldt University of Berlin

Germany

67

62

Leiden University

Netherlands

68

67

University of Queensland

Australia

69

65

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Netherlands

70

=72

University of Minnesota

United States

=71

=56

Ohio State University

United States

=71

=70

Sorbonne University

France

73

NR

Boston University

United States

=74

=70

Utrecht University

Netherlands

=74

68

University of Freiburg

Germany

76

82

McMaster University

Canada

77

78

University of Bristol

United Kingdom

78

76

University of Groningen

Netherlands

=79

=83

University of Warwick

United Kingdom

=79

91

Pennsylvania State University

United States

81

77

University of Maryland, College Park

United States

=82

69

Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)

South Korea

=82

=111

Emory University

United States

=84

98

Monash University

Australia

=84

=80

Rice University

United States

86

=86

RWTH Aachen University

Germany

=87

79

Uppsala University

Sweden

=87

=86

University of Tübingen

Germany

89

94

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Germany

=90

=126

University of Montreal

Canada

=90

108

University of Zurich

Switzerland

=90

136

University of Glasgow

United Kingdom

=93

=80

Michigan State University

United States

=93

=83

University of Science and Technology of China

China

=93

132

University of California, Irvine

United States

=96

99

University of New South Wales

Australia

=96

85

Lund University

Sweden

98

93

Dartmouth College

United States

=99

89

University of Helsinki

Finland

=99

90

Zhejiang University

China

101

=177

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

South Korea

102

=95

University of Basel

Switzerland

103

=95

Free University of Berlin

Germany

104

88

Fudan University

China

105

116

University of Sheffield

United Kingdom

106

104

University of Virginia

United States

107

=113

École Polytechnique

France

108

115

Georgetown University

United States

109

=123

University of Bern

Switzerland

=110

=105

University of Bonn

Germany

=110

=100

City University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong

=110

=119

University of Pittsburgh

United States

=110

=100

University of Colorado Boulder

United States

=114

=100

Durham University

United Kingdom

=114

97

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom

=116

=141

University of Copenhagen

Denmark

=116

=109

University of Southampton

United Kingdom

118

=126

University of York

United Kingdom

119

=137

Trinity College Dublin

Republic of Ireland

120

=117

University of Oslo

Norway

=121

146

Vanderbilt University

United States

=121

=105

Aarhus University

Denmark

=123

=109

Arizona State University

United States

=123

=126

University of Göttingen

Germany

=123

=113

University of Mannheim

Germany

=123

125

Radboud University Nijmegen

Netherlands

=123

122

Université Catholique de Louvain

Belgium

=128

129

Maastricht University

Netherlands

=128

103

Queen Mary University of London

United Kingdom

130

121

Technical University of Berlin

Germany

131

92

University of Alberta

Canada

=132

=119

Case Western Reserve University

United States

=132

158

University of Western Australia

Australia

134

=111

University of Adelaide

Australia

=135

=134

University of Geneva

Switzerland

=135

=130

University of Hamburg

Germany

=135

201–250

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Germany

=135

133

Nanjing University

China

=135

=169

Pompeu Fabra University

Spain

=135

140

University of Exeter

United Kingdom

141

=130

Pohang University of Science and Technology

South Korea

142

=137

Ghent University

Belgium

=143

107

University of Vienna

Austria

=143

=165

Autonomous University of Barcelona

Spain

145

=147

University of Cologne

Germany

=146

145

Indiana University

United States

=146

=117

Lancaster University

United Kingdom

=146

=150

University of Nottingham

United Kingdom

=149

=147

Ulm University

Germany

=149

=155

TU Dresden

Germany

151

=155

Tufts University

United States

152

=169

University of Leeds

United Kingdom

=153

139

Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna

Italy

=153

=155

Stockholm University

Sweden

=153

=134

University of Cape Town

South Africa

=156

171

University of Florida

United States

=156

=143

University of Aberdeen

United Kingdom

158

185

University of Arizona

United States

=159

161

University of Würzburg

Germany

=159

=165

Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa

Italy

=161

184

University of Sussex

United Kingdom

=161

=147

University of Rochester

United States

=163

=153

Technical University of Denmark

Denmark

=163

=153

University of St Andrews

United Kingdom

165

=143

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Netherlands

166

=165

University of California, Santa Cruz

United States

=167

=162

Eindhoven University of Technology

Netherlands

=167

=141

University of Leicester

United Kingdom

=167

=159

National Taiwan University

Taiwan

170

=198

Newcastle University

United Kingdom

=171

=175

Texas A&M University

United States

=171

=159

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong

=173

=182

University of Notre Dame

United States

=173

=150

University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Germany

175

=162

University of Lausanne

Switzerland

=176

152

University of Ottawa

Canada

=176

201–250

Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

United States

=176

172

University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States

179

168

University of Bologna

Italy

180

201–250

Aalto University

Finland

=181

190

George Washington University

United States

=181

201–250

University of Liverpool

United Kingdom

=181

=177

University of Münster

Germany

=184

=173

Northeastern University

United States

=184

193

University of Twente

Netherlands

=184

=179

Cardiff University

United Kingdom

=187

=162

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Sweden

=187

=173

University of Konstanz

Germany

189

201–250

University of Duisburg-Essen

Germany

=190

201–250

University of East Anglia

United Kingdom

=190

=188

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

China

=190

=188

Western University

Canada

=190

201–250

Aalborg University

Denmark

=194

201–250

Paris Diderot University – Paris 7

France

=194

201–250

University of Technology, Sydney

Australia

196

201–250

University of Bergen

Norway

197

201–250

Korea University

South Korea

198

201–250

University of Calgary

Canada

=199

201–250

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Russian Federation

=199

194

 

2019 UK table 

Institution name

2019 ranking

2018 ranking

University of Oxford

1

1

University of Cambridge

2

2

Imperial College London

9

8

UCL

14

16

London School of Economics and Political Science

26

=25

University of Edinburgh

29

=27

King’s College London

38

36

University of Manchester

57

=54

University of Bristol

78

76

University of Warwick

=79

91

University of Glasgow

=93

=80

University of Sheffield

106

104

Durham University

=114

97

University of Birmingham

=116

=141

University of Southampton

118

=126

University of York

119

=137

Queen Mary University of London

130

121

University of Exeter

141

=130

Lancaster University

=146

=150

University of Nottingham

=149

=147

University of Leeds

=153

139

University of Aberdeen

158

185

University of Sussex

=161

=147

University of St Andrews

165

=143

University of Leicester

=167

=159

Newcastle University

=171

=175

University of Liverpool

=181

=177

Cardiff University

=187

=162

University of East Anglia

=190

=188

University of Bath

201–250

251–300

University of Dundee

201–250

187

Queen’s University Belfast

201–250

201–250

University of Reading

201–250

201–250

Brighton and Sussex Medical School

251–300

301–350

University of Essex

251–300

251–300

Royal Holloway, University of London

251–300

197

St George’s, University of London

251–300

201–250

University of Surrey

251–300

251–300

Swansea University

251–300

251–300

Anglia Ruskin University

301–350

301–350

Birkbeck, University of London

301–350

301–350

Heriot-Watt University

301–350

351–400

Aberystwyth University

351–400

301–350

Aston University

351–400

351–400

City, University of London

351–400

351–400

University of Kent

351–400

301–350

University of Stirling

351–400

301–350

Bangor University

401–500

301–350

Brunel University London

401–500

351–400

Loughborough University

401–500

301–350

Middlesex University

401–500

401–500

Northumbria University

401–500

501–600

Plymouth University

401–500

401–500

University of Portsmouth

401–500

501–600

Royal Veterinary College

401–500

351–400

Soas, University of London

401–500

401–500

University of Strathclyde

401–500

401–500

University of the West of Scotland

401–500

501–600

Bournemouth University

501–600

601–800

University of Hull

501–600

401–500

Keele University

501–600

501–600

Liverpool John Moores University

501–600

501–600

The Open University

501–600

401–500

Oxford Brookes University

501–600

401–500

University of Bradford

601–800

601–800

University of Brighton

601–800

601–800

Coventry University

601–800

601–800

De Montfort University

601–800

601–800

Edinburgh Napier University

601–800

601–800

Glasgow Caledonian University

601–800

601–800

University of Greenwich

601–800

601–800

University of Hertfordshire

601–800

501–600

University of Huddersfield

601–800

601–800

Kingston University

601–800

601–800

University of Lincoln

601–800

601–800

Manchester Metropolitan University

601–800

601–800

Nottingham Trent University

601–800

601–800

University of Salford

601–800

601–800

Ulster University

601–800

501–600

University of the West of England

601–800

601–800

University of Westminster

601–800

601–800

University of Wolverhampton

601–800

NR

University of Bedfordshire

801–1000

601–800

University of Central Lancashire

801–1000

601–800

University of Derby

801–1000

801–1000

University of East London

801–1000

601–800

Edge Hill University

801–1000

NR

Leeds Beckett University

801–1000

601–800

Robert Gordon University

801–1000

801–1000

University of Roehampton

801–1000

601–800

Sheffield Hallam University

801–1000

801–1000

University of South Wales

801–1000

601–800

Staffordshire University

801–1000

NR

Teesside University

801–1000

601–800

Birmingham City University

1001+

NR

Canterbury Christ Church University

1001+

NR

University of Chester

1001+

NR

London South Bank University

1001+

801–1000

 

Copyright Times Higher Education (THE) 2018 The world’s most authoritative source of data, analysis and information on higher education, with five decades’ experience dedicated to the field.

Link to the full results and analysis at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/world-ranking

The THE World University Rankings 2019 includes a total 1,258 institutions across 86 countries. The top 1,000 is published in print, but the full listing made available online.

About the THE World University Rankings, the definitive list of the top universities globally:

The only global university performance table to judge research-intensive universities across each one of their core missions: teaching (the learning environment); research (volume, income and reputation), international outlook (staff, students and research); citations (research influence); industry income (knowledge transfer)

13 carefully calibrated performance indicators used to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons – trusted globally by students and their families, academics, university leaders, industry and governments

Independently audited by professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the only global university rankings to be subjected to full, independent scrutiny of this nature.

Methodology based on more than a decade of experience, following more than a year of open consultation across the global higher education community and with the detailed expert input of more than 50 leading HE and data advisers globally

The THE World University Rankings are drawn from THE’s database of university performance metrics, with over 150 separate data points on each of the world’s leading research universities and two global surveys of senior, published scholars from our annual reputation survey: with more than 20,000 responses adding 250,000 items of data. Care is taken to ensure balance across all disciplines, with a proportionate number of responses from the arts, humanities and social sciences

Research excellence is assessed through the examination of more than 14 million publications (journal articles, article reviews, conference proceedings, books and book chapters) 67.9 million citations, taking full account of the major variations in publication volumes and citation counts across disciplines, with over 330 global subject-level benchmarks


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