QS World University Rankings
The 19th edition of the most consulted global university ranking has been published by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
The 2023 QS World University Rankings featured around 1,500 universities worldwide. This year’s highest rankings include universities from many regions around Europe, Asia, and North America; it’s not just well-known universities that claim the top ranks.
What is the QS World Ranking?
The 19th edition of the most widely recognized international university ranking has been announced by London-based global higher education company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The top 900 universities are ranked by the QS World University Rankings 2023 using six significant ranking variables. It is the most prominent ranking ever, with 1,418 institutions spread across 100 locations, an increase from 1,300 the year before.
The QS also offers the following under the same grouping – Business Masters, Distance Online MBA, EMBA, the suite of Business School Rankings including Global MBA, Higher Education System Strength Rankings, and Graduate Employability Rankings.
Which university topped the QS World Rankings for 2023?
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States (US) came in first, followed by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom (UK) and Stanford University (US). In addition, 25 US universities were on the list for the first time this year.
The Top 10 Universities according to the 2023 QS World University Rankings
| Rank | Name of the University | Location |
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, USA |
| 2 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, UK |
| 3 | Stanford University | Stanford, USA |
| 4 | University of Oxford | Oxford, UK |
| 5 | Harvard University | Cambridge, USA |
| 6 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, USA |
| 7 | Imperial College London | London, UK |
| 8 | University College of London | London, UK |
| 9 | ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | Zürich, Switzerland |
| 10 | University of Chicago | Chicago, USA |
How are universities around the World rated?
The following six variables are used to calculate the 2023 QS World University Ranking:
- 40% of the final grade is determined by academic reputation, which assesses foreign universities’ calibre of instruction and research. This is the largest academic opinion survey ever carried out, compiling more than 130,000 expert opinions from higher education.
- Students want to graduate with the skills and knowledge required for the job market, and employers’ reputation makes up 10% of the final grade. QS assesses how well students are prepared to perform better in any successful employment and recognizes which universities create the most talented, inventive, and productive graduates.
- 20% of the final grade is determined by the faculty-to-student ratio, which considers that a high faculty-to-student ratio makes teaching easier and promotes a better learning environment. QS assesses how well students access lecturers and tutors within educational institutions.
- Citations per faculty make up 20% of the total score, and QS calculates this statistic—which is used to judge the calibre of an institution’s research—by counting all the academic citations made in papers that a university has produced over five years.
- 10% of the final grade is determined by the percentage of international teachers and students, and a high level of internationalization has many benefits. It shows how capable the university is of luring diverse learners from all over the World and implies a strong international emphasis. Strong international universities promote a multicultural environment that encourages cross-cultural affinity and global understanding.
How can one benefit from the QS World University Rankings?
One can identify and compare the universities that interest them, using the QS World University Rankings as a starting point for picking their dream university. One may reach the standing of institutions throughout the World and narrow down their choices by area and category.
Additionally, each university’s sustainable development goals are scored (SDGs). Therefore, one can examine how universities contribute to a more sustainable world by looking at this score.
Although rankings can’t predict anybody’s decision, they can indicate the teaching quality, student population, employability aspects, research, and diversity.
Final thoughts
This list piques one’s interest and aids in developing their university shortlist. Additionally, each university has a profile page. The institution’s overview, ratings, rankings, programmes, campus locations, tuition costs, comparable universities, and much more are all included on these pages. Even though these rankings are helpful, they don’t cover everything. Researching the universities that most closely match one’s requirements is crucial.
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