You are presented with one of the most critical decisions of your life before you reach your twenties: which institution to attend. For better or worse, the decision will have a long-term impact on your social life, finances, and profession.
Several colleges throughout the world are graded to help students understand what to expect when applying for admission. It may be impossible to sit in one part of the world and know everything there is to know about a university in another country. While the university’s website may include the information you need, a third-party source can offer you with a more accurate view. University rankings are reliable and should be examined based on a variety of aspects. Employers also look at university rankings when looking for new hires.
In truth, each rating agency has its own university ranking system and uses various criteria. The quality and profitability of research, polls of academics and employers, the staff-student ratio, and data such as the number of international students are all factors in university rankings. Overall, there are three key international university rankings that you should be familiar with. Let’s have a look at them.
QS World Ranking of Universities
The QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World Ranking of Universities evaluates university performance in the areas of research, teaching, employability, and “internationalisation” using six performance indicators, each with a distinct weighting when computing the total results.
Four of the indicators are based on ‘hard’ data, while the other two (Academic Reputation and Employer Reputation) are based on global surveys – one of academics (over 94,000) and the other of employers (almost 45,000) – both of which are the largest of their kind.
The following are the six performance indicators:
-
Academic Reputation- A global poll of more than 94,000 academics found that academic reputation (40 %) is the most important factor.
-
Citations per faculty (20%) – a citation is a reference to (citation) a piece of research within another piece of study.
-
Student-to-faculty ratio (20 %)- It is a measure of how many students are in a class – the ratio of the amount of academic staff employed to the number of students enrolled
-
Employer reputation (10%) — based on a global poll of nearly 45,000 graduate employers.
-
International faculty ratio (5%)
-
International student ratio (5%)
The final two indicators use the proportion of international students and faculty members to determine “how successful an institution has been in attracting international students and academics.”
Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
ARWU evaluates university performance in a unique approach. It assesses prestige by looking at the world’s most well-known researchers, particularly in science and engineering. However, thirty percent of the university’s ranking is determined by the number of Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners on staff or alumni. Another 20% of the budget is contingent on having highly cited scholars on staff. In reality, every year it ranks over 1000 universities and announces the top 1000.
ARWU ranks universities around the world based on six criteria, including:
-
The number of alumni who have won Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals is impressive (10 %)
-
A number of employees have been awarded Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals (20 %)
-
In 21 broad subject categories, the number of highly cited researchers (20%)
-
Nature and Science have published a large number of papers (20 % )
-
the total number of articles indexed in the Science Citation Index – Expanded and the Social Sciences Citation Index (20 %)
-
an institution’s academic achievement per capita (10 %)
Every year, ARWU ranks over 1800 universities and publishes the top 1000.
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
They evaluate world-class colleges based on all of their important missions, including applying stringent, international standards. In total, 13 different performance metrics are included in the comprehensive ranking system. The ranking is solely based on teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and global perspective.
There are five categories of performance indicators:
-
Teaching (30%) – comprises a reputation survey and assesses the staff-to-student ratio, the doctorate-to-ratio, bachelor’s the doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio, and institutional income.
-
Research (30%) – comprises a reputation survey as well as research income and productivity measurements.
-
Citations in the literature (30 %)
-
The proportion of international students and personnel, as well as international collaboration, is measured by the international outlook (7.5 %).
-
Industry income (2.5 %) – compares the amount of money a university obtains from industry to the number of academics it employs.
All of these big organisations also offer subject and employability rankings.
US News & World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings is another notable list.
Which university rankings should you pay attention to?
Overall, it is entirely up to you. University rankings are generally constant, and the findings are based on a variety of reliable sources. While there may be discrepancies in global rankings and procedures, keep in mind that with over 20,000 universities around the world, all of the top-ranked universities are extraordinary and exemplary.
The ARWU rankings prioritise historical reputation, prizes, and accolades earned more than a century ago, whereas the Times Higher Education ranking focuses more on a university’s teaching faculty. Student experiences are highlighted in the QS rankings.
It is critical to have a clear understanding of the subject you choose to study. After that, you can examine the subject ranks. If you are undecided or flexible about the subject you want to study, you should look for colleges that offer a wide range of top-ranked subjects.
When it comes to choosing universities for students, employability and graduate rankings are important places to start. It helps you to make decisions based on job prospects and associated on- and off-campus experiences.
You can also look into domestic teaching and learning rankings, such as QILT (Quality Indicators of Learning and Teaching).
Who else is interested in university rankings?
TIP: Rankings in universities aren’t everything
Aside from rankings, there are a number of other factors to consider.
A university that offers a comprehensive range of study options, excellent student and support services, a diverse range of clubs and societies, modern educational facilities, a good atmosphere, and an innovative learning environment is required.
Attending open days and other events for prospective students, where you may meet current and former students, faculty, and other members of the university community, is a good approach to learn more about an institution. Another alternative is to call or go to a student centre, where employees should be able to answer any issues you may have.
You can also get a sense of what a university is like by taking a tour, attending a public event on campus, visiting a museum or gallery, or simply browsing their website or social media feeds.
Scholarships (we grant more than 700 scholarships totalling more than $100 million each year, and that doesn’t include awards or college and sporting scholarships), opportunities to study abroad, and starting a business are all things to think about.
You may also discover a lot about a school by looking at its alumni, graduate employment outcomes, and employer relationships.
Major global rankings are less likely to emphasise these key characteristics, but most colleges provide several opportunities to explore your academic options and learn more about university life.
The basic conclusion is that each ranking is unique, and it must be weighed against a variety of other variables, including your own circumstances.