Internationally Ranked Universities Associated With Employment Prospects

As part of a recent student survey, we asked current and prospective university students what they perceive to be the main benefits of studying at an internationally recognized university. Here’s what they said…

1. Improved employment prospects

Almost two-thirds (62%) of survey respondents selected “better employment prospects” among their top three benefits of studying at an internationally recognized university. Overall, concerns about employability emerged as the leading motivation for consulting international university rankings, which are valued as a way of identifying universities with strong international reputations, particularly among employers.

Students also commonly expressed the belief that studying abroad would further add to their value in the eyes of potential employers. As one interviewee said: “Simply going to a university like Oxford shows that you’re ambitious, but studying abroad shows your initiative and that you are willing to do things differently.”

2. Establishing an international network

The second-biggest perceived benefit of studying at an internationally recognized university is also related to employment prospects, with 45% of surveyed students placing a high priority on the chance to establish “connections worldwide”. Many of the students we spoke to highlighted the importance of choosing a university with an internationally diverse student community, seeing this as the ideal environment in which to prepare for an international career.

3. A better quality of education

More than a third of survey respondents (34%) selected “better quality of education” among their top three benefits of studying at an internationally recognized university. While the students we interviewed commonly differentiated between external reputation and internal quality, they did commonly believe there would be a close correlation between the two. So highly ranked universities with a good international reputation were perceived as being likely to offer better academic resources and teaching – very high priorities for all the students we surveyed.

4. A better overall student experience

Similarly, students commonly believed that internationally ranked and recognized universities would be likely to provide a better all-round student experience, through the provision of an enriching environment, high-quality resources and a wide range of opportunities. Some 28% of respondents named a “better student experience” among their top three benefits of studying at an internationally recognized university. One interviewee explained: “While it’s not always the case, the universities with a better reputation tend to have better facilities”, while another summed up: “It’s likely that they’ll have more opportunities for you.”

5. Opportunities to travel

Finally, 27% of respondents rated “opportunities to travel” among their top three benefits of studying at an internationally recognized university. This could come in various forms, including travelling to study abroad at the university in question; opportunities to participate in formal student exchanges and study abroad programs as part of the degree program; and informal opportunities to pursue personal travel during the study period.