Scotland's universities to make the world's top 200 revealed - and one result will surprise you

Three Scottish universities have made the international league table’s top 200

Edinburgh University has retained its ranking as one of the world’s top 30 institutions, as the University of Oxford held onto top place in the international league table for a record-breaking ninth year in a row.

Overall, the UK has 25 universities in the top 200 Times Higher Education (THE) world rankings – the same as last year. But experts have warned the reputation of the UK higher education sector is likely to “weaken” if the funding environment does not improve.

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A general view of the University of Edinburgh Old College, Edinburgh. Picture: PAA general view of the University of Edinburgh Old College, Edinburgh. Picture: PA
A general view of the University of Edinburgh Old College, Edinburgh. Picture: PA | PA

They say British institutions are being “battered by numerous prevailing winds”, including stretched finances and restrictions on international students, which could make it hard to sustain its position in the future.

The annual list has ranked more than 2,000 universities from 115 countries and regions in five areas: teaching, research quality, research environment, international outlook, and industry.

Of the UK universities in the top 200, 13 institutions have improved their ranking in the past 12 months, five have stayed the same, and seven have dropped by at least one place in the past 12 months.

Edinburgh University rose one place from last year’s rankings, moving up to 29th spot. The University of Glasgow was the next best-ranked institution north of the Border in 87th position - the same placing as last year. The University of St Andrews ranked 185th overall - eight places up on 2023.

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St Andrews University in Fife. Picture: Peter Thompson/Heritage Images/Getty ImagesSt Andrews University in Fife. Picture: Peter Thompson/Heritage Images/Getty Images
St Andrews University in Fife. Picture: Peter Thompson/Heritage Images/Getty Images | Heritage Images/Getty Images

The average teaching and research reputation scores have dropped for the second year in a row among the British universities in the top 100.

But the rankings show Oxford once again was named the best-performing university globally, ahead of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, which took second place.

US universities dominated the top ten in the rankings, claiming seven places. The University of Cambridge took fifth place in the list, the same as last year, while Imperial College London fell from eighth to ninth place.

Also making it into the top 50 were: University College London (22nd), King’s College London (36th) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (50th).

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Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at THE, said: “While, overall, the picture of UK higher education in our rankings is positive, the sector is being battered by numerous prevailing winds.

“Chief amongst them is the extremely stretched finances it is facing and the restrictions on recruiting international students making it harder for them still, making it almost impossible to see how the sector can sustain its position in the coming years without significant help.

“The UK’s reputation amongst academics, while still very high, is likely to weaken further in future years if universities’ funding environment doesn’t improve, which can have worrying consequences for partnerships, investment and collaborations.”

He added: “Oxford University’s achievement of being ranked the best university in the world for a record nine years in a row in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings is just an unbelievably phenomenal achievement.

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“It is all the more impressive given the ever-increasing competition in our ranking as more and more universities participate each year with more than 2,000 universities assessed this year.”

Professor Irene Tracey, vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: “This achievement is testament to our extraordinarily talented and committed academics, researchers and staff, who deliver exceptional standards of teaching and learning and conduct globally impactful research.”

The list of the UK universities in the top 200 of the latest THE World University Rankings

Last year’s positions are in brackets, while = denotes joint position.

– 1 (1) University ofOxford

– 5 (5) University of Cambridge

– 9 (8) Imperial College London

– =22 (22) University College London

– 29 (=30) University of Edinburgh

– =36 (=38) King’s College London

– =50 (46) London School of Economics and Political Science

– =53 (51) University of Manchester

– 78 (81) University of Bristol

– =87 (=87) University of Glasgow

– =93 (101) University of Birmingham

– =98 (105) University of Sheffield

– 106 (=106) University of Warwick

– 115 (=97) University of Southampton

– 123 (129) University of Leeds

– =136 (=130) University of Nottingham

– =141 (135) Queen Mary, University of London

– =146 (147) University of York

– =157 (=168) Newcastle University

– =160 (=168) University of Liverpool

– =168 (=155) Lancaster University

– =172 (174) Durham University

– =172 (=177) University of Exeter

– =185 (=193) University of St Andrews

– =191 (201-250) University of Leicester

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