Changes to the QS World University Rankings Methodology

In order to balance out this effect, and as part of its commitment to continually improving the comparisons it provides, QS last year announced a consultation on potential refinements to the research citations indicator. Following positive feedback from the QS Global Academic Advisory Board and independent experts, the decision was made to introduce a normalized total citation count, in order to take account of different norms for each faculty area. You can find out more about the changes here and access the full technical explanation here.

The refinements should mean universities which have previously been advantaged – those which are very strong in life sciences and natural sciences – may now rank slightly lower than in previous years. Conversely, institutions which are all-rounders or have strengths in the social sciences, arts and humanities, and engineering and technology, may place higher than previously as the former bias is balanced out.

However, it should be noted that citations per faculty is just one of six performance indicators used to assess universities, so changes to the methodology will by no means account for all changes in position. As happens every year, universities will also move up or down in the ranking table due to other alterations in their performance.    

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