We are thrilled to share that UCL has ranked the 9th best university in the world in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, marking its 14th consecutive year in the global top 10.
QS is the world’s most-consulted international ranking and uses a number of indicators to compile the rankings, including academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, faculty-to-student ratio, international faculty ratio and international student ratio.
This year’s rankings assessed more than 1,500 institutions around the world with more than 100 locations represented globally. UCL’s position in the rankings cements its exceptional reputation among both academics and employers and, in both categories, UCL ranks within the top 5% of assessed institutions.
In addition, U.S. News & World Report yesterday placed UCL seventh in the world in its 2025-2026 Best Global Universities ranking, which evaluates more than 2,250 institutions based on academic research and reputation. UCL was named the third-best university in Europe, after Oxford and Cambridge.
In December 2024, UCL also ranked 1st in the UK, 3rd in Europe and 5th globally in the 2025 QS Sustainability Rankings. Assessing 98 universities within the UK alone and 1,744 institutions from across the globe, the QS Sustainability Rankings focus on a number of key factors, including environmental impact, social impact and overall governance. With an impressive score of 98.6 out of 100, the rankings confirm UCL’s mission to put people and the planet first.
