QS released its World University Rankings 2024. Explore Top global universities alongside detailed insights into the latest methodology updates, and learn how to leverage these rankings to select the best suitable master’s program.
Here are the top ten universities according to the QS World University Rankings:
The QS World University Ranking is acclaimed as one of the top three global rankings alongside Times Higher Education and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (aka Shanghai Ranking). Initially published in collaboration with THE until 2010, QS then launched its independent ranking system.
In addition to the global list, QS offers specialized rankings, including subject-specific, regional, and employability rankings, and dedicated lists for MBAs and business masters programs.
For its 20th edition, the QS World University Rankings presents an expanded scope, featuring 1,500 institutions from 104 locations. This brought changes to the methodology by introducing three new metrics that are each 5% of the score: Sustainability, Employment Outcomes, and International Research Network.
Addressing the growing importance of environmental and social responsibility in higher education.
Enhancing the focus on employability, this new indicator complements the existing Employer Reputation metric (now 15%).
This metric evaluates the global connectedness and collaborative nature of an institution’s research, emphasizing the global impact and networking in academia.
Let’s analyze to see which schools perform best in each metric.
In the 2024 QS University Rankings, MIT tops the chart with a perfect score of 100, excelling across the board but slightly lower in International Faculty Ratio (88.2). The University of Cambridge, scoring 99.2, and Oxford at 98.9, both excel in sustainability, scoring 97.3 and 97.8, respectively, although Oxford has marginally lower Citations per Faculty (90.6).
With an overall score of 98.3, Harvard shows excellent standards yet has potential for growth in internationalization, as reflected in its International Faculty (84.6) and Student Ratios (66.8). Stanford, close behind at 98.1, displays a notable international-student ratio gap (51.2).
Imperial College London, scoring 97.8, stands out with a perfect 100 in the International Faculty Ratio. Despite a lower Employer Reputation score of 83.6, ETH Zurich excels in Citations per Faculty (98.9). NUS, with an overall score of 92.7, shows a robust International Faculty Ratio (100) but a lower International Research Network score (76.3).
UCL, scoring 92.4, has a perfect International Faculty and Students Ratio but a lower Employment Outcomes score (51.6).
The University of California, Berkeley, at 90.4, excels in sustainability (100) and Employer Reputation (100) but faces a challenge with a Faculty-Student Ratio of 20.5.
These insights highlight the diverse strengths of leading universities, each contributing uniquely to global higher education. So, how do you use this data to choose the best university for you?
Prospective students seeking the most suitable master’s program can use the QS Rankings as a decision-making aid. It is necessary to look beyond the overall ranking and scores and identify specific metrics relevant to your objectives.
Think about the faculty-student ratio, employer reputation, and departmental strengths. Consider the international student and faculty ratios for a diverse and enriching academic environment.
Aligning these factors with personal career aspirations allows aspiring scholars to choose a master’s program that best suits their needs and future objectives.
Find out more about the schools mentioned in the ranking directly from MASTERGRADSCHOOLS Ambassadors
