Choosing a University: How University Rankings Can Help

Before delving into the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings (or any other ranking of universities), it's a good idea to consider exactly what you hope to get from the rankings. Here are some of the ways in which different university rankings can help you when choosing a university.

1. Identify what’s important to you

Exploring the methodologies of different university ranking systems can help you break down your own priorities, and identify what you think is important when choosing a university. For some students, “student life” may be the most important deciding factor when deciding where to apply, whereas others may think a strong academic reputation is the top priority. University rankings, especially if you look at all the different types available, are useful in helping you identify your own list of the most important criteria.

2. Use subject-specific university rankings

Rankings like the QS World University Rankings by Faculty and QS World University Rankings by Subject compare universities’ performance on a specific subject or group of subjects. This is extremely valuable for students who have already decided what subject they want to major in, and are keen to find the top-performing universities in that field. Don’t worry, however, if you don’t know exactly what subject you want to specialize in yet.

3. Check national university rankings

Some students may choose to study abroad for their university years, while others prefer to stay closer to home. If you’ve decided which country you want to study in, then you may want to look at the national university rankings for that country. Just as at the global level, there may be more than one ranking system available, each based on a slightly different set of measurements. This may allow you to access and compare information such as students’ feedback on university performance, expenditure per student, and graduate employment rates.

4. Compare universities’ research rankings

If you’re applying for a postgraduate-level course, you’ll probably be interested in seeing which universities are producing the best research – an aspect which most university rankings take into account. In the QS World University Rankings, for example, 20% of universities’ overall score is based on research citations per faculty member – an indication of how influential that institution’s research is.

Even if you’re not yet at the research stage yourself, it’s never too early to start planning your next project! To compare the research rankings of different universities, just sort the rankings by ‘Citations per faculty’ instead of by ‘Overall score’.

Ultimately, all university ranking systems have their own specific criteria, by which the institutes are scored, compared and ranked. The results of each will vary, and there is really no one “perfect” ranking! The best advice I have would be to look at as many different aspects of the university ranking tables as possible, to get a well-rounded view. Focus on a few specific criteria that interest you, and use this as a way to compare your university choices. And don’t forget to read up and do your own research on the schools you want to apply to, because that cannot be replaced by any league table.