QS World University Rankings: Methodology

The QS World University Rankings is a popular and recognized ranking system that evaluates universities globally based on various performance indicators. Understanding the methodology behind these rankings is essential for students, educators, and institutions, as it provides insights into how universities are assessed and what factors contribute to their standing. 

University rankings have become one of the most important elements for students deciding on universities for studying abroad or anywhere in India. Rankings not only help differentiate the best universities from the surplus but also provides students access to additional information and in-depth university analysis through the use of ranking parameters and indicators.

This year, QS has updated the ranking method. Now, universities are ranked using 5 main lenses and 9 indicators. These new changes make the rankings clearer and fairer. In 2026, the QS Rankings added new indicators like Sustainability, Employment Outcomes, and International Research Network. This helps students know more about the university’s future value, not just their studies. As, each of the indicators of QS rankings 2026 is very carefully collated, using a mixture of surveys and data from QS research partners. 

On popular demand from students, three new metrics have recently been added to the QS World University Rankings methodologies in listing universities around the world on a scale of ranks, i.e. International Research Network, Sustainability and Employment Outcomes. With this, let us learn more about the QS World University Ranking Methodologies in detail in this article below.   

What is QS Ranking?

Launched in 2004, the QS University Rankings has grown to become one of the most influential university rankings in the world. One of the most trusted university rankings, the group publishes a set of top university rankings every year for the benefit of students. We are going to break down the QS University Ranking methodology for the readers to fully comprehend how one university scores over another and what it takes to be the university on the top. We are going to look at the very popular QS University Rankings methodology and know about the parameters used in the process.

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How are QS Rankings Calculated?

QS Rankings 2026 uses 5 broad lenses that cover all important parts of a university. Each lens has indicators with different weightage. See the table below:

QS 2026 Ranking Method – All Indicators & Weightage

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Details on Each Ranking Parameter of the QS World University Rankings  

The QS World University Rankings 2026 uses a new and updated method to check how good a university is in many areas. It looks at things like research, teaching, job placements, global outlook, and how much the university cares about the environment and society.

All these are divided into 5 main parts called lenses, and each lens has its own indicators. Let’s understand these one by one in simple words.

1. Research and Discovery – 50% Weightage

This part checks how strong a university is in research work and how famous it is in the academic world.

• Academic Reputation (30%): QS takes opinions from thousands of teachers and researchers around the world. They are asked which universities are best in their subject. This helps to find which university is respected most in the academic field.
• Citations per Faculty (20%): This shows how often the university’s research papers are used by other researchers. If more people use their research, it means the work is useful. They divide total citations by number of faculty members to make it fair.

2. Employability and Outcomes – 20% Weightage

This part checks how well a university prepares students for jobs and what kind of career outcomes they get.

• Employer Reputation (15%): QS asks employers which universities they prefer to hire from. If many companies like to hire from a university, that university gets a good score.
• Employment Outcomes (5%): This checks how many students get good jobs and become successful after college. It also looks at students who become big in fields like business, politics, arts, etc.

3. Learning Experience – 10% Weightage

This checks the quality of teaching and support students get during their studies.

• Faculty-Student Ratio (10%): This looks at how many teachers are there for each student. More teachers means more help for students, and better teaching quality.

4. Global Engagement – 15% Weightage

This part looks at how international the university is. It checks the number of foreign students, international teachers, and how much the university works with other countries.

• International Faculty Ratio (5%): This checks how many international teachers are working in the university. If there are many, it means the university is globally respected and diverse.
• International Research Network (5%): This looks at how many research partnerships a university has with other countries. The more countries they work with, the better the score.
• International Student Ratio (5%): This checks how many students come from other countries. More international students means the university gives a more global experience and has a strong reputation worldwide.

5. Sustainability – 5% Weightage

This is the newest part of QS Rankings. It checks how serious a university is about helping the planet and people.

• Sustainability (5%): This checks the university’s work in environmental projects, social equality, diversity, and how their research supports the UN Sustainable Development 

Goals. Students now also want to study in universities that care about the future of the planet.

QS World University Ranking 2026

One can check the list of top universities abroad, as per the QS World University Rankings 2026:

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