Reading strengthens global outlook in latest league tables
05 September 2017
The University of Reading has maintained its position in the UK but is ranked outside the top 200 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2017/18.
Reading is ranked at 32 out of 93 institutions in the UK, the same as for the 2016/17 assessment, but has fallen to 201-250 in the world, down from 192 last year.
Despite the fall, the University has improved its ranking in several key indicators, moving up to 72 in the world for international outlook. This reflects Reading’s status as a major global institution, with five campuses across three continents, 20,000 staff and students from 140 countries, and a focus on research that improves lives across the world.
The level and influence of Reading’s research output has also increased, with more research and better citation rates compared to previous year, the THE rankings show.
Sir David Bell, University of Reading Vice-Chancellor, said: “Global league tables tend to fluctuate between years. Over the long term, Reading has maintained and improved across measures of our teaching and research, with some outstanding examples of excellence.
“These latest rankings are a reminder that higher education is a truly global undertaking. UK universities are still a global success story. But there are a growing number of institutions around the world, all competing for students, staff and funding. We are having to work harder than ever to maintain our leading international position.
“Universities have a big role to play in helping Britain to remain as an outward-facing, engaged country after we leave the European Union. The government has to make sure its policies do not damage our ability to recruit the best staff and students or close off access to research funding and networks.
“I am confident that at Reading we have the right plans in place to grow our global reputation and outlook in the years ahead.”
In other international league tables, the University is ranked within the Top 200 of the QS World University Rankings index, and has improved its position in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities for the past two years, in which it was ranked as third best in the UK – behind only Cambridge and Oxford universities – for Earth Sciences.
In the UK, Reading is ranked 29th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2018 (up three places), 27th in the Complete University Guide 2018 and 18th in the UK in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2017 (up two places).