Exeter climbs in prestigious QS World University Rankings

The University of Exeter has placed =155th globally in the latest QS World University Rankings, release today (June 19th, 2025)

Exeter saw a 14-place rise globally in the prestigious rankings – placing it among the very best institutions worldwide. The University also ranked 23rd nationally.

QS analysed more than 8,000 universities across the world, and included more than 1,500 in producing the new rankings. Exeter’s ranking places it around the top 10 per cent of those entries worldwide.

Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter said: “It is wonderful to see Exeter make significant strides forward in these prestigious rankings.

“The rise is recognition for the hard work and commitment from our whole community in helping to create a Greener, Healthier and Fairer future for everyone, through our teaching, research and partnerships. Together they are helping drive the University forwards.

“I would like to offer my thanks and appreciation to everyone involved.”

This is the 22nd year that QS has published its World University Rankings. The results are based on the distribution and performance of 19.8 million academic papers, and 200 million citations, and centre around nine main criteria – from the impact of academic research to reputation from their peers.

The latest ranking saw Exeter make significant gains in a number of the criteria – including Academic Reputation, International Research Network, Employer Reputation and Faculty Student Ratio.

Earlier this year, Exeter’s subjects from across disciplines were also recognised as being amongst the very best in the world, with 14 subjects positioned in top 100 – and nine in the top 50 – in the QS World University Subject Rankings.

The highest ranked subject was Mineral and Mining Engineering which is placed 19th in the world. Elsewhere, Environmental Sciences(=36th), the University’s Sports-Related Subjects (37th), Geology (39th), Geography (40th), Earth and Marine Sciences (=44th) , Archaeology (45th) Classics and Ancient History (=45th) , and English Language and Literature (47th) all feature in the elite Top 50 grouping.