Study Group partners recognised as world-leading universities in QS World University Rankings 2024

18 of Study Group’s university partners feature in the newly released QS World University Rankings 2024, which are viewed as testament to globally outstanding centres of teaching and research excellence. They are based on a methodology that has introduced sustainability, employment outcomes and international research network as key metrics, alongside a recalibrated weighting for existing factors. 

In the rankings of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations The University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Leeds and Durham University maintain their prestigious placements within the top 100. With growing reputations for addressing modern problems, each of the long established institutions has climbed more than ten places.  

Reflecting the breadth of study options available across the UK and Ireland, from academic research to professional qualifications and vocational skills, The University of Sheffield sits at 104, and Cardiff University and University College Dublin are at 154 and 171 respectively.  

University of Aberdeen, University of Sussex, University of Surrey and University of Strathclyde move up the ranks in the 200s. Particularly notable shifts occurred for University of Surrey and University of Strathclyde, who have strong reputations for innovation and partnership with industry, and rose an impressive 61 and 49 places respectively. 

Further recognition is seen across the popular study destinations of the UK and America with our partners University of Huddersfield, Kingston University, London, Liverpool John Moores University enjoying higher positions. Royal Holloway University of London, Leeds Beckett University, Baylor University and Florida Atlantic University have achieved placements consistent with last year, and Western Washington University also features. 

Dr Mark Cunnington, Study Group’s Managing Director of University Partnerships, UK & Ireland, says: “These rankings demonstrate the sheer scale and diversity of high quality study options at our university partners, who we congratulate on being recognised as world leading.” 

QS cites evolving priorities of Generations Z and Alpha, and the popularity of its sustainability rankings, as reasons for updating the approach for its twentieth edition, which is one of a number of global rankings focused on different metrics. This follows the news that 11 of Study Group’s university partners feature in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023, which assess universities against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, on their research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.  

Dr Cunnington continues: “There is a plethora of indicators that international students can draw on when considering their global higher education path. Efforts to respond to changing student goals and attitudes through new approaches to rankings are commendable and will help us to connect talented international students to the courses and universities where they will achieve their ambitions.”

Partner success 

Lancaster University, Royal Holloway University of London, University of Strathclyde, Aberystwyth University, Bangor University and Coventry University, to which students may progress from our Study Group Digital Learning programmes, also feature in the rankings.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where Study Group Digital Learning students can apply to study their programme on campus, has secured a top 100 position at 51.