QS rankings are designed to evaluate and compare broadly similar types of institutions. This is particularly true of our QS World University Rankings and QS World University Rankings by Region. The QS World University Ranking by Subject has a separate eligibility criteria.
To be evaluated as eligible for QS University Rankings, a university should satisfy the following criteria:
| 1 | Subject comprehensiveness |
For QS World University Rankings and QS Rankings by Region, the institution must provide full degree programs* (undergraduate or postgraduate) in at least two out of five broad faculty areas. Further, in each broad faculty area, full-degree programs* should be offered at least in two narrow subjects (as per QS subject classification). There must have been at least three graduating classes in those narrow subjects before eligibility is conferred. Where an institution only provides degree programs in one broad faculty area, we consider this a single-faculty institution. Such institutions may appear only in our Rankings by Subject and/or Graduate Employability Rankings. Please find more details about QS broad and narrow subject classification here: https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings/. |
| 2 | Level comprehensiveness |
For QS World University Rankings and QS Rankings by Region, the institution must provide full degree programs* at both undergraduate (Bachelor’s or equivalent) and postgraduate (Master’s, PhD or equivalent) levels, in any subject area. There must have been at least three graduating classes at both levels before eligibility is conferred. Where an institution only provides degrees at either undergraduate or postgraduate, it is classified as single-level institution. Such institutions may appear only in our rankings by subject or Graduate Employability Rankings. |
| 3 | Mode of teaching |
For both of the above criteria, these should be delivered in-person and on campus. An institution may, of course, deliver online provision - but it should be in addition to the physical delivery. |
* Important exclusions:
- Joint or double degree programs (where more than one institution collaborate in the delivery of the program) will not be considered
- Programs run in overseas campuses are not currently evaluated, but please see our policy notes on this this will change in the coming editions (International Branch Campuses).
To be analysed (included in the final rankings analysis), every eligible institution will need to also meet specific analytical thresholds for their particular ranking. These vary by the sample size and relative performance of others per ranking per year.
To be published, an institution’s estimated rank should be within a publishing threshold which is set differently for each ranking and which depends on the market size and quality of available data.