Yorkshire university moves up in top 100 world rankings

A total of 62 of the 84 UK institutions ranked in the QS World University Rankings have seen their positions drop in the new table released today.

Overall, 18 British universities made it to the top 100, including two from Yorkshire.

The University of Leeds ranking highest across the region in 91st, rising two places from last year, with the institute now ranked 15th in the United Kingdom, and 29th in Europe.

The university's deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Hai-Sui Yu, who leads on international strategy said: “At Leeds we continue to build on our global partnerships with universities, researchers and business to provide our students with a world-class education, and to conduct research that makes a global impact.

“We have a world-class academic reputation, attracting the very best minds, and this has been recognised by our peers across the world in this year’s QS."

He added: “The higher education community continues to be hugely challenged by the covid-19 pandemic, and we stand with our colleagues across the world in working hard to secure the best possible higher education experience for current and prospective students."

Meanwhile the University of Sheffield is just below in 93rd, falling 15 places from last year.

Across the UK the University of Oxford ranking highest in fifth, despite a drop of one place from last year.

The University of Cambridge is just below in seventh, while Imperial College London and University College London both also made the top 10 (eighth and 10th respectively.

According to QS the two factors contributing most to these declines are decreases in teaching capacity and research impact at British universities.

Of the 84 ranked establishments, 66 have seen their teaching/student ratio drop in the last year and 59 have had their score for research quality downgraded.

Ben Sowler, director of research at QS, said the British figures “reflect the increasing competitiveness of the global higher education landscape”.

He believes that investment in teaching “would serve the British higher education sector well, and help it to regain lost ground”.

Mr Sowler added: “So, too, would concerted efforts to ensure that Britain continues to remain an attractive place for talented academics and students to study in the future and a national desire to continue collaborating with our European and global partners on transformative research projects."

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