What are the 2026 QS World University Rankings and how students can use them
How does QS rank the best universities in the world, and why is that important to you as a student?
Produced by higher education publisher Quacquarelli Symonds, the QS World University Rankings is one of the most widely recognised and reputable university ranking systems.
If you’re a student researching to study abroad, it serves as a reliable source for consideration, with a consistent ranking methodology on key metrics including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international student ratio. New metrics were introduced in recent years—international research network, employment outcomes and sustainability.
To jump straight to using these rankings to your advantage, just ask an education advisor who can guide you for free in your study abroad journey.
QS ranking metrics explained
QS rankings measure universities through various performance lenses and indicators, and review the weightage every year. All metrics contribute a percentage towards an institution’s final score.
You’re looking at results from analysing millions of academic papers, and the expert opinions of hundreds of thousands of academics and employers. Learning about the indicators will give you an idea of the different strengths of each university evaluated.
Academic reputation (30%)
Carrying the heaviest weightage, the academic reputation metric is based on a survey of faculty members, researchers, and professionals in academia from around the world, who nominate institutions based on academic excellence, research quality, impact and innovation.
Employer reputation (15%)
This metric evaluates the reputation of a university among employers, an indicator of employability of students. A survey sent to thousands of employers around the world collates their ratings of the best universities for producing relevant graduates.
Faculty/student ratio (10%)
QS looks at the ratio of faculty to students as an indicator of the learning and teaching environment in an institution. The more academic staff resource available to students, such as teaching and curriculum development, the better the experience expected.
Citations per faculty (20%)
To determine this metric, QS evaluates the number of academic citations in papers an institute produces, factoring in the size of the university, across a five-year period.
QS also performs a normalisation to keep the influence of research broadly equal for the different academic fields, considering that certain fields publish more papers than others.
International student ratio and international faculty ratio (5% each)
These metrics show how effective the institute is in attracting faculty members and students from all over the world. With a sizeable number of international faculty and students, an institution would offer a multicultural environment and benefits from diversity, networking and cultural exchanges.
International Research Network (5%)
An indicator of the quality of an institution’s research partnerships and collaborations on the international stage.
Employment outcomes (5%)
Having a successful career will likely be one of your top priorities, and this indicator of employability is one to note. It measures the employment rate of an institution’s graduates, and its record in producing alumni that make an impact on society.
Sustainability (5%)
Recognising the importance of social and climate issues to students, QS became among the first of the major world rankings to include sustainability as a key metric. It evaluates environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, including environmental projects and research impact across the United nations’ sustainable development goals, or SDGs.
If you’re keen to find out about studying abroad in any of these countries, have a chat with one of our friendly counsellors!
QS top 10 universities in Australia 2026
Rank | University | Global rank |
1 | University of Melbourne | 19 |
2 | The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney | 20 |
3 | The University of Sydney | =25 |
4 | Australian National University (ANU) | =32 |
5 | Monash University | =36 |
6 | The University of Queensland | 42 |
7 | The University of Western Australia | 77 |
8 | Adelaide University | =82 |
9 | University of Technology Sydney | 96 |
10 | RMIT University | 125 |
QS top universities in New Zealand 2026
Rank | University | Global rank |
1 | University of Auckland | 65 |
2 | University of Otago | =197 |
3 | Massey University | =230 |
4 | Victoria University of Wellington | =240 |
5 | University of Canterbury | Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | 261 |
6 | University of Waikato | =281 |
7 | Lincoln University | 407 |
8 | Auckland University of Technology (AUT) | =410 |
QS top 10 universities in Canada 2026
Rank | University | Global rank |
1 | McGill University | 27 |
2 | University of Toronto | 29 |
3 | University of British Columbia | 40 |
4 | University of Alberta | =94 |
5 | University of Waterloo | =119 |
6 | Western University | 151 |
7 | Université de Montréal | 168 |
8 | McMaster University | =173 |
9 | Queen’s University at Kingston | =191 |
10 | University of Calgary | 211 |
QS top 10 universities in the UK 2026
Rank | University | Global rank |
1 | Imperial College London | 2 |
2 | University of Oxford | 4 |
3 | University of Cambridge | 6 |
4 | UCL (University College London) | 9 |
5 | King’s College London | 31 |
6 | The University of Edinburgh | 34 |
7 | The University of Manchester | 35 |
8 | University of Bristol | 51 |
9 | The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) | 56 |
10 | The University of Warwick | 74 |
QS top universities in Ireland 2026
Rank | University | Global rank |
1 | Trinity College Dublin | 75 |
2 | University College Dublin | 118 |
3 | University College Cork | 246 |
4 | University of Galway | 284 |
5 | University of Limerick | =401 |
6 | Dublin City University | =410 |
7 | Maynooth University | 771-780 |
8 | Technological University Dublin | 781-790 |
QS top 10 universities in the USA 2026
Rank | University | Global rank |
1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1 |
2 | Stanford University | 3 |
3 | Harvard University | 5 |
4 | California Institute of Technology | 10 |
5 | University of Chicago | 13 |
6 | University of Pennsylvania | 15 |
7 | Cornell University | 16 |
8 | University of California, Berkeley | =17 |
9 | Yale University | 21 |
10 | Johns Hopkins University | 24 |
How to use rankings to decide where to study
The QS World University Rankings are one of the most trusted tools for comparing top universities globally, and provide valuable insights into an institution’s academic reputation, faculty quality, employer recognition and global outlook, which are areas to look into when choosing where to study.
However, rankings are just one part of it. Other crucial factors should be part of your decision-making process, such as tuition fees, career opportunities, university location and your personal goals.
Let an education counsellor from IDP, a global leader in international education services, guide you for free to find the best university for you. If you’re ready to chase your dreams at a top university, tap the button below.