Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How often is each ranking published?

Each ranking is published once a year as part of an annual cycle.[ML1] 

You can find the latest calendar at the below link:

https://www.qs.com/rankings-performance/#rankings-calendar

What is the difference between the World University Rankings and the Regional Rankings?

The regional rankings offer a unique perspective that is relevant to the region’s characteristics.

Each regional ranking allows institutions and students to make direct comparison within their region, with a more granular approach to metrics.

Why does my institution rank differently in the World University Rankings versus the Regional Ranking?

The regional rankings offer a unique perspective that is relevant to the region’s characteristics.

Each regional ranking has a unique set of indicators and weightings, some of which differ from the World University Rankings.

As a result institutions will not necessarily have the same position in a regional ranking compared to their relative position in their region in the World University Ranking.

What are the Graduate Management Education (GME) rankings?

Our GME Rankings look specifically at institutions offering Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes.

MBA’s are postgraduate interdisciplinary programmes focused on disciplines that teach key business practices including: accounting and finance, business analytics, management, marketing, and supply chain management among others.

The GME rankings - which include the Global MBA, Business Masters, Online MBA, Executive MBA and International Trade rankings – primarily look at business schools, either standalone institutions or those affiliated with universities.

How does QS determine how many universities are ranked?

Our rankings are designed primarily for international students looking to study at the world's foremost institutions. This necessarily precludes many institutions from being featured, even where they may have strengths in other areas.

What is the difference between a rank and a score?

The score is the final numerical outcome of the data calculation and analysis process, this is then converted into a rank, which provides a straightforward and formalised representation of an institution’s position in the ranking.

What is a ranking band?

Ranking bands group together institutions that have a very similar score performance. Bands are introduced at a point in each ranking when the differences between the performance of institutions is too small to make individual ranking positions fair or indicative of their standing in the ranking.

How are ranking bands determined?

For each ranking a threshold is determined above which individual ranks are converted to bands. This is determined after analysis of the underlying scores.

The bands themselves are arranged in regular groupings, normally of 50 or 100 positions, i.e. 101-150.

How do I promote my university’s ranking?

QS provides various methods for the promotion of rankings including digital badges and certificates displaying the university’s rank. These are provided to all ranked institutions for free and are available in the MyQS platform.

Institutions can also provide content for their profile page on TopUniversities.com.[ML2]  You can find a guide to how to update your institution’s page HERE

For more information on how to promote your institution’s ranking including social media tips please contact qspressoffice@qs.com to connect to our PR and marketing teams.[ML3] [SD4] 

How does a university improve its ranking?

To improve its rank a university needs to improve its performance within the indicators. The starting point is to understand the aims of each indicator and what is being measured.

Institutions should not base their strategy solely on improving their rank, rather the rankings should act as a guide to the areas of university performance that are important to international students and allow institutions to benchmark themselves against their peers.

What is the difference between eligibility and inclusion?

The eligibility criteria defines which institutions can be included in the ranking analysis. The eligibility criteria for each ranking project are typically based on the number of subject and faculty areas an institution offers, the number of graduating classes it has, and evidence that it offers programmes on campus.

The inclusion criteria for each project defines which eligible institutions are included in the ranking table and is typically based on its performance in areas such as research output and reputation.

For a full a list of all eligibility and inclusion rules for each ranking project please visit the relevant ranking summary page - Our Rankings – QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Why is my university not included in the rankings?

If an institution is not present in the rankings it will be because it has not passed either the eligibility or inclusion criteria.

For a full a list of all eligibility and inclusion rules for each ranking project please visit the relevant ranking summary page - Our Rankings – QS Quacquarelli Symonds

How can my university participate in the ranking?

QS produces a range of rankings covering different aspects of higher education and we encourage all eligible institutions to take an active part in the QS rankings process.

You can do this in a variety of ways including submitting your institution's data and survey contacts, staying up to date with our ranking updates via email, and sharing the published rankings with your network.

If you have not taken part in our rankings process before you can find information below about how to engage with us including the two forms you will need to complete: 

• Elsevier Scopus ID Form
• QS Subject List

For more information: How to take part in the QS rankings – QS Quacquarelli Symonds

How do I submit data for the rankings?

To submit data for the World University Rankings you should use QS HUB.

QS HUB is our dedicated platform for institution data submission. It allows universities to not only submit their data for our research, but also edit their profile on our website.

Once your institution has an account, you can login and update your data at any point.

For more information: QS HUB – Data Submission Guidelines – QS Quacquarelli Symonds

To submit data for the Graduate Management Education (GME) rankings you should use QS MoveIN.

QS MoveIN is our dedicated platform allowing business schools to submit their data for our rankings research projects.

For more information: QS MoveIN – Data Submission Guidelines – QS Quacquarelli Symonds

What data sources are used to determine the rankings?

Each ranking project uses a combination of QS proprietary data, data provided by institutions and public data sources.

Each individual indicator has its own data source(s) and this is defined in the indicator description.

You can find more information on the data sources used for each indicator on the indicator summary pages: Lenses and Indicators – QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Is there any data universities don’t summit?

Not all indicators use information provided by universities. Some indicators are derived from QS proprietary data, and some from public data sources.

You can find more information on the data sources used for each indicator on the indicator summary pages: Lenses and Indicators – QS Quacquarelli Symonds

How often can I submit data for the rankings?

Our data submission cycles are annual, so we send requests for data once per year.

Can universities be ranked if they don’t submit data?

Yes, where we don’t have the cooperation of the individual institution (which we would always prefer), we feature them on the strength of proprietary and publicly available or previously supplied data.

Our rankings are designed with this in mind, and many of our metrics - such as reputation, or research strength, can be modelled without direct institution data.

The types of institution data we require, such as faculty or student numbers, are almost always a matter of public record.

Can a university opt-out of the rankings?

No, institutions cannot opt out.

The QS World University Rankings aim to serve as a comprehensive public resource, offering accurate insights into the higher education landscape for students, parents, and stakeholders. A key aspect of our methodology is the inclusion of all qualifying universities, which we believe enhances the overall value and integrity of our rankings.

Allowing universities to opt out would diminish the comprehensiveness and reliability of our rankings, while potentially inflating the standing of institutions that would otherwise rank lower than those opting out.

I am not happy with my university’s ranking, can I provide feedback?

Yes, if you wish to provide feedback on your university’s ranking or have a query please email: rankings@qs.com

What is the data reporting period for the rankings?

For all data, it should cover the academic year previous to our rankings cycle. Our cycles start in November of each year.

What is a Fact File?

The Fact File is a document sent out to ranked institutions ahead of each ranking launch providing information on their performance.

It includes their overall rank, indicator ranks and scores as well as comparisons and an overview of the underlying data used to produce the ranking.

This information is also found in the My QS platform.

What is My QS?

My QS is a digital platform providing institutions with insights and data about their ranking performance.

It serves as a centralised data hub, allowing you to access all your QS data in one place making it easier to track your performance, share, export, and present insights, supporting you in making data-driven decisions.

The platform provides real-time updates for ranking data, removing the delay of data amendments and tracking changes. You can also access historical data and additional free content not currently available in the PDF fact files. The interactive visuals enhance the data depth.

My QS is also a platform that empowers users with self-service capabilities, allowing you to invite additional users, and providing full control over who can access your data, and what content they can see.

Centralised data

• All your QS data in one place
• Easier to share, export and present
• Explore premium features and data

Real time insights

• Immediate access to changes on data and insight
• Additional free content beyond rankings
• Interactive insights with filters

Self-serve

• Invite additional users with no restrictions for sign-up
• Full control on access on what you see[ML5] [SD6] 

Marketing assets

• Download individual ranking badges and certificates

What is weighting?

The percentage value given to each indicator to show its importance when compared with others in the ranking. The combined weights of all indicators add up to 100% of the overall score. 

What is the difference between an indicator, a lens and a metric?

In each of our rankings we use a range of measurements as part of our methodology. These can be split into three broad groups​.

Each ranking is made up of a different group of measurements, with some being used across several rankings and others unique to one project.

• Lens - A group of Indicators which are related to the same theme.
• Indicator - A measurement of one aspect of an institution’s performance. Institutions are scored and ranked within indicators and those indicator scores contribute to its overall rank and score​.
• Metric - A more specific calculation that forms part of an Indicator​.

How often is the methodology reviewed?

The methodology is reviewed on an annual basis and takes into account feedback provided by stakeholders including institutions themselves.

Who reviews the methodology?

The methodology is reviewed by a number of stakeholders, including the ranking and data teams, QS executive members, as well as an independent Rankings Advisory Board.

The QS Global Rankings Advisory Board is an independent panel whose remit is to advise QS on any aspect of university rankings, including the methods used to produce them, possible new rankings, and the effect and impact of rankings around the world. We look for regional and subject diversity, as well as specific expertise in areas.

How are new indicators?

The QS Rankings are known for their consistency, and as such adding entirely new indicators is rare. However the rankings do evolve and there is a clear process for adding new indicators when required.

If a new indicator is identified as a candidate for potential inclusion in the rankings we start by asking five key questions:

1. Why is the new indicator being proposed?
2. Why would it be useful for students?
3. Why would it be useful for institutions?
4. What are its strengths?
5. What are its weaknesses?

Depending on the answer to these questions the proposed indicator would then be mapped and analysed, with input sought from the ranking and data teams, QS executive members, the independent Rankings Advisory Board, as well as students and institutions themselves.

At the end of this process if a new indicator was agreed it would typically be included first as an ‘unweighted’ indicator, to further assess its potential impact.

How are new subjects added?

Through analysis of academic survey results over a protracted period and publication data from Scopus, QS continues to identify subject areas which may, at some stage in the next few years, reach the necessary data levels to facilitate a ranking. The subjects have been selected due to their meeting all of the following criteria:

1. Inclusion of specialists: QS has ensured that surveys have included all key specialist institutions operating within the discipline, regardless of whether they may have been expected to feature in the overall QS World University Rankings.

2. Academic Response level: The subject attracts sufficient academic responses.

3. Overall appropriateness of indicators: Indicators and approaches prove appropriate and effective in highlighting excellence in the discipline.

What is normalisation?

Normalisation is the process of adjusting data with different scales to a common scale that is easier to query and analyse.

The two most common types of normalisation QS uses in its rankings are outlined below:

Min-max normalisation -  all values are transformed to a common scale (e.g. 1-100).

Z-score normalisation – the dataset is standardised so it has a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. This method is a good way to deal with outliers.

What is z-score normalisation?

Z-score normalization, or standardization, transforms data so that it has a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. Data values are then adjusted based on how far they deviate from the mean (0) in units of standard deviation.

Standard deviation measures how much variation from the mean there is in a dataset’s values.

Z-score normalisation is an effective way of dealing with outliers in datasets that have a wide variety of values, and prevents one axis from having too strong an effect on the data

What is damping?

Damping is used to spread large inter-annual swings in data. This has the effect both of minimizing the impact on rankings of these (possibly temporary) swings in data, and correcting for errors of interpretation in data submission.

Damping is applied when the current value (submitted by an institution or received from a third party this year) exceeds the previous value (used in the calculations last year, i.e. damped value) by more than the maximum accepted variation.