Cardiff University is one of the world’s top 200 universities, according to the QS World University Rankings 2024, published today (Tuesday 27 June). It is ranked 154 in the 2024 QS Rankings of the world’s top 1,500 universities, a rise of 12 places since last year.
The QS World University Rankings are regarded as one of the world’s top two higher education league tables. It measures factors including academic reputation, research strength, citations, reputation with graduate employers and international influence.
Swansea has leaped 118 places in the prestigious global table to reach 307 in the world rankings while Bangor is up 100 places to 481 and Aberystwyth is placed joint 661-670 (corr).
The rankings place Cardiff among the top 25 universities in the UK's global score. Swansea is in the top 40, Bangor among the top 50 and Aberystwyth just outside the top 60.
A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “The rise in the QS World University Rankings is pleasing given the uncertainty and immense challenges that UK universities have faced over the last few years. We remain Wales’s highest ranked University and maintained our position of 24th in the UK and risen 12 places to joint 154th in the world.
“Of course, there is always room for improvement and maintaining our global position in teaching, research and innovation requires continued investment and hard work. However, this result is a step in the right direction and is testimony to the hard work of our dedicated and world-leading academic staff.”
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Swansea University said the QS ranking puts it among the top 21% universities in the world. QS also placed Swansea in the top 200 for employer reputation (193rd, up 97 places) and among the world’s top 250 universities for sustainability. It went up 46 places to 418th for academic reputation and ranked in the top 500 for its citations, up 37 places to 460.
Swansea University Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Boyle, said: “We are delighted to see our growing global reputation being recognised in this year’s QS World University Rankings. This remarkable milestone places Swansea among the top 21% higher education institutions in the world.
“Our exceptional performance across a range of categories highlights our commitment to academic excellence, societal impact, research quality and to ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the skills and experiences that the employers of today and tomorrow will value.
“I am incredibly proud of our entire University community, for their collective efforts in ensuring that Swansea University is recognised as a truly world-class institution.”
Professor Paul van Gardingen FRSA, Bangor's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) welcomed the results. He said: " League tables are a useful source of information for prospective students, and it’s good that this 20-year-old league table is changing to reflect the concerns of the current generation. With this result, we are now a double top-500 institution, also being ranked as a member of the 401-500 group in the Times Higher Education global rankings - this highlights that Bangor if truly a world-leading institution for education, research and social impact.”
This year’s QS World University Rankings is their largest ever, with 1,500 universities across 104 locations, up from 1,418 last year. The results account for the distribution and performance of 17.5 million academic papers published between 2017 and 2021 and the 141.6 million citations received by those papers; they also account for the expert opinions of over 144,000 academic faculty and over 98,000 employers around the world.
QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said: “The 2024 QS World University Rankings represents a major step in the evolution of the exercise, marking the most significant innovation in its methodological paradigm since its inception two decades ago. More than ever, it aligns with Gen Z and Alpha priorities, providing institutions with a unique lens through which to assess their performance in areas paramount to shaping a brighter future for generations to come.”
This is where Welsh universities are placed in the QS World University Rankings
1. Cardiff 154 (total score 50.5)
2. Swansea 307 (total score 33.9)
3. Bangor 481 (total score 23.9)
4. Aberystwyth 661-670 (total score not reported)
Where Welsh Universities are placed among UK institutions in the QS World University Rankings
- Cardiff 24th in UK
- Swansea 37th in UK
- Bangor 47th in UK
- Aberystwyth 61st in UK
