Visit our website if you cannot view this email
Times Higher - QS World University Rankings Times Higher - QS
World University Rankings 2008
Embargoed until 00.01 GMT, Thursday 9th October 2008

Record numbers of responses underline the importance of the world’s premier university ranking system
(Top 200 Ranking published in print on 9th October 2008 in Times Higher Education and online at 00:01 GMT on 10th October at www.topuniversities.com)

The new edition of the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2008 indicates an increasing acceptance of the importance of these rankings by the international higher education community and those that employ graduates from the top universities in the world.

The THE-QS World University Rankings 2008 have received unprecedented response levels from both the international academic community and employers. 6,354 academics (compared with 5,101 in 2007) and 2,339 employers (compared with 1,482 in 2007) responded to the surveys, eager to reflect the position and influence of the world’s leading universities.

Now in its fifth year, the research is conducted and compiled by QS Quacquarelli Symonds and features in print in Times Higher Education on 9th October and online on the QS web site www.topuniversities.com on 10th October.

This latest edition of the THE-QS World University Rankings also reflects the increasing profile of technology-based universities, with many of the world’s top universities in this area such as Caltech, MIT, ETH Zurich and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology improving their position. As demand by international employers for more technology-literate graduates has grown, the importance of these universities has risen in the Rankings.

Other highlights include:
  • Top 10: the UK and USA continue to dominate - Harvard University remains as the top university, with Yale moving ahead of Cambridge for the second spot. Oxford drops to fourth, while Princeton drops out of the top ten, replaced by the only new entrant in the Top 10, Columbia University.
  • Top 50: 13 countries feature in the top 50 compared to 12 in 2007 (see table below). New entrants include Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Copenhagen, Trinity College Dublin, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Seoul National University.
  • Top 100: the top 100 sees the number of Asian universities remain at 13 for the second year in a row, but the number of North American universities has dropped to 42 (43 in 2007). European universities increase to 36 (35 in 2007). New entrants in the Top 100 include: Washington University in St. Louis, University of Geneva, University of Aarhus, University of Minnesota, Lund University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, University of Virginia, University of California, Santa Barbara.
  • Top 200: universities from 33 different countries (28 countries in 2007) are represented in the top 200. New entrants in the Top 200 include: Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Stony Brook University (USA), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), VU University Amsterdam, University of Lausanne (Switzerland), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Universität Frankfurt am Main, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Lomonosov Moscow State University , Brandeis University (USA), Pohang University of Science and Technology (Korea), Technische Universität Berlin, University of Bern, Dalhousie University (Canada), University of Buenos Aires, University of Athens.
Ann Mroz, editor of THE, says: “These rankings use an unprecedented amount of data to deliver the most accurate measure available of the world’s best universities, and of the strength of different nations’ university systems. They are important for governments wanting to gauge the progress of their education systems, and are used in planning by universities across the world.”

Nunzio Quacquarelli, Managing Director of QS and co-editor of the Top Universities Guide says: “In just five years, the THE-QS World University Rankings have become the primary benchmark for comparing universities across borders – recognised for their accuracy and insight. The rankings allow prospective students, parents, academics, employers and journalists to gain an insight into international university education, helping them to make the right choices, whether it is in selecting a university for study or for partnership.”

Quacquarelli adds: “Rankings are contentious and QS has always argued that they should be used with caution, understanding that they cannot reflect all aspects of university excellence. The criteria upon which we rank universities reflect our mission to identify the world’s best universities in terms of research, employability, international profile and teaching quality. But we recognise that everyone is different and we encourage people to look at the data for over 1,000 universities covered in our research and to create their own personalised ranking.”

The top 50 Universities in 2008 are as follows:
2008 RANK 2007 RANK INSTITUTION NAME COUNTRY
1 1 HARVARD University United States
2 2= YALE University United States
3 2= University of CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom
4 2= University of OXFORD United Kingdom
5 7= CALIFORNIA Institute of Technology (Caltech) United States
6 5 IMPERIAL College London United Kingdom
7 9 UCL (University College London) United Kingdom
8 7= University of CHICAGO United States
9 10 MASSACHUSETTS Institute of Technology (MIT) United States
10 11 COLUMBIA University United States
11 14 University of PENNSYLVANIA United States
12 6 PRINCETON University United States
13= 13 DUKE University United States
13= 15 JOHNS HOPKINS University United States
15 20= CORNELL University United States
16 16 AUSTRALIAN National University Australia
17 19 STANFORD University United States
18 38= University of MICHIGAN United States
19 17 University of TOKYO Japan
20 12 MCGILL University Canada
21 20= CARNEGIE MELLON University United States
22 24 KING'S College London United Kingdom
23 23 University of EDINBURGH United Kingdom
24 42 ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) Switzerland
25 25 KYOTO University Japan
26 18 University of HONG KONG Hong Kong
27 32 BROWN University United States
28 26 École Normale Supérieure, PARIS France
29 30 University of MANCHESTER United Kingdom
30= 41 University of CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles (UCLA) United States
30= 33= National University of SINGAPORE Singapore
32 37 University of BRISTOL United Kingdom
33 29 NORTHWESTERN University United States
34= 33= University of BRITISH COLUMBIA Canada
34= 28 ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE France
36 22 University of California, BERKELEY United States
37 31 The University of SYDNEY Australia
38 27 The University of MELBOURNE Australia
39 53= HONG KONG University of Science & Technology Hong Kong
40 49 NEW YORK University (NYU) United States
41 45 University of TORONTO Canada
42 38= The CHINESE University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
43 33= University of QUEENSLAND Australia
44 46 OSAKA University Japan
45 44 University of NEW SOUTH WALES Australia
46 47 BOSTON University United States
47 43 MONASH University Australia
48 93= University of COPENHAGEN Denmark
49 53= TRINITY College Dublin Ireland
50= 117= Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LAUSANNE Switzerland
50= 36 PEKING University China
50= 51= SEOUL National University Korea, South
Source: QS Quacquarelli Symonds (www.topuniversities.com)

For further information please contact:
Simona Bizzozero
Media relations manager, QS Quacquarelli Symonds
HP: + 44 (0)7880 620 856  DD: + 44 (0)20 7284 7248 - simona@qsnetwork.com

Martin Ince
Contributing editor, THE
HP: + 44 (0)771 939 0958 - martin@martinince.com


Notes for Editors
  1. Sourcing the THE-QS World University Rankings 2008
    Upon reference or reproduction, the title of the rankings must always be “THE-QS World University Rankings” and any lists must be correctly sourced: “QS Quacquarelli Symonds”


  2. THE-QS World University Rankings Indicators
    The calculations leading to the THE-QS World University Rankings are based on data gathered in the following categories:
    • Peer Academic Review
    • Recruiter Review
    • International Faculty Ratio
    • International Student Ratio
    • Student Faculty Ratio
    • Citations per Faculty (citation data supplied by Scopus)


  3. THE-QS World University Rankings Methodology 2008
    For a detailed review of the research methodology and changes and updates in data gathering and computation in 2008, please visit the QS website www.topuniversities.com


  4. The Times Higher Education - was founded in 1971 and is the weekly magazine of universities across the world. It is no longer affiliated to The Times [of London].


  5. QS Quacquarelli Symonds QS provides guidance for higher education and career choices, enabling high achievers to progress towards their leadership goals. Through our exclusive events, publications, research and interactive web tools, we link undergraduate, graduate, MBA and executive communities around the world with recruiters and education providers. Our communities include: QS TopUniversities.com, QS TopGradSchool.com, QS TopMBA.com, QS Global Workplace.com. The QS team of over 100 individuals from the four corners of the world represent the experience and goals of the achievers we aim to assist. They include internationally recognized experts in the higher and business education arena. QS operates globally from offices in London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Washington DC, Boston, and Johannesburg.


  6. Top Universities Guide - The Official Guide to the THE-QS World University Rankings contains advice on selecting, applying and financing your university experience. Co-edited by Nunzio Quacquarelli, Martin Ince and John O’Leary, the 500 page Guide contains detailed profiles on all top ranked universities around the world.


  7. Martin Ince - is contributing editor of the THE and co- edits the THE-QS World University Rankings. He is a science and education journalist and media adviser based in London and welcomes inquiries on +44 771 939 0958, martin@martinince.com


  8. Nunzio Quacquarelli - Nunzio Quacquarelli is founder and managing director of QS Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd and architect of the THE-QS World University Rankings. Nunzio took his MBA at The Wharton School in the USA, where he won the Glockner Prize, after gaining an MA at the University of Cambridge. A respected journalist on management education and careers, Nunzio has written regularly for The Times of London and numerous other international leading media for the past sixteen years.
QS logo Copyright © 2008 QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 1 Tranley mews, Fleet Road, London, NW3 2DG, UK
You have received this email because you chose to receive news and information from QS.
You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking here