To be included in QS rankings, there are certain criteria that a university must satisfy. These are:
1) The institute must provide full degree programs in at least two out of five broad subject categories. Further, in each broad faculty area, at least two narrow subjects should be offered. There must have been at least three graduating classes in those narrow subjects before eligibility is conferred. Where an institution only provides degree courses in one broad faculty area, we consider this a single-faculty institute. Such institutions may appear only in our rankings by subject.
Please find more details about our broad and narrow subject categories here:
2) The University must provide full degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Where an institution only provides degrees at either undergraduate or postgraduate, it is classified as Single-Level Institute. There must have been at least three graduating classes at both levels before eligibility is conferred.
3) Minimum paper counts. For the World and regional rankings, there are criteria that must be met on the numbers of papers published over the 5-year window. These are:
| World University Ranking | 100 papers |
| Regional Rankings (Arab, Asia, EECA, LatAm) | 50 papers* (note that the 50 paper minimum will be introduced for any new entrants to the regional ranking. Existing ranked institutions will have until 2024 to achieve this minimum paper count). |
4) If your institution is eligible to appear in any of our regional rankings (see list), you must first be ranked in that regional ranking before being entered for consideration in the World University Ranking.