Oxford slips to fourth as UK institutions secure four spots in the world’s top 10 in the 2023 QS rankings

The University of Cambridge has ascended to second place in the 2023 QS World University Rankings, marking its highest position since 2014. Cambridge, which held the top spot in 2010 and 2011, now sits behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which has retained its number one ranking for the 11th consecutive year.

The rise of Cambridge sees Oxford drop two places to fourth in the global standings, with both British universities achieving perfect scores for academic reputation, graduate quality, and teaching capabilities. This achievement underscores the global standing of UK universities, with four institutions placed in the top 10.

Imperial College London also improved its position, climbing from seventh to sixth, while University College London (UCL) held steady in eighth. In total, 90 UK universities were ranked in the latest list, with 10 institutions seeing improvements in their rankings. However, the majority of UK universities, 48 in total, experienced a decline, particularly in the measure of teaching capacity, which evaluates the ratio of students to academic staff.

While the overall performance in teaching capacity declined for 92% of UK universities, British institutions continue to excel in research. The UK boasts 10 universities in the top 150 for research impact, and 12 in the top 50 for the International Research Network, where UCL leads the country.

Notably, global collaboration in research plays a significant role in the UK’s success, with 55% of the country’s research being the result of international partnerships, compared to just 20% globally.