The University of Leeds has risen nine places to 77th in the latest QS World University Rankings, strengthening its position among the world’s top 100 universities.
Leeds has recorded its second highest ever position in the rankings and remains in the global top 100 for the ninth successive year. The University has also moved up one place to 12th out of the 93 UK institutions evaluated.
The QS World University Rankings are one of the most widely recognised global university rankings, helping students, partners and employers understand the reputation and performance of institutions around the world.
What matters most is what sits behind this result: the quality and impact of our research and education, the strength of our partnerships, and the talent and commitment of our whole University community.
The rankings assess universities across areas including research and discovery, employability and outcomes, learning experience, global engagement and sustainability.
Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President, said: “This is a proud moment for Leeds. Rising nine places strengthens our place among the world’s top 100 universities and reflects the ambition, commitment and impact of people right across our University.
“Rankings matter because they help students, partners and employers understand a university’s global reputation, but they can only ever tell part of the story.
“What matters most is what sits behind this result: the quality and impact of our research and education, the strength of our partnerships, and the talent and commitment of our whole University community.”
A key strength identified for Leeds was International Research Network, where the University was ranked ninth in the world. This reflects the strength of Leeds’ international research partnerships and the breadth of its collaboration with institutions and researchers around the world.
Leeds also performed strongly in Sustainability, where the University was ranked 24th in the world. This follows the launch of the University’s new Framework for Environmental and Social Responsibility 2026 to 2030, which sets out a whole-University approach to embedding environmental and social responsibility across research, education, operations and partnerships.
The University also improved in Employer Reputation, moving up five places. This measure reflects how Leeds and its graduates are viewed by employers and underlines the importance of continued engagement with external partners and professional networks.
International influence
Professor Hai Sui Yu, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said: “The latest QS result reflects one of Leeds’ greatest strengths: our international reach and influence.
“It is particularly significant that Leeds is ranked ninth in the world for International Research Network, recognising the strength of our global partnerships and the breadth of our collaboration with institutions and researchers around the world.
“As a global top 100 university, we are committed to using our research, education and partnerships to make a positive difference in our region, across the UK and around the world. This is a result that reflects sustained work across the University, and gives us confidence as we continue to focus on academic excellence, student success, sustainability and research with impact.”
The QS result also comes alongside strong performance in the latest International Student Barometer, with international students at Leeds rating their experience highly across arrival, learning, living, support and careers.
Overall satisfaction was 91%, above the participating Russell Group benchmark, with students also reporting strong satisfaction with their learning experience, support services, living experience and preparation for future careers.
Katrina Liu, International and Postgraduate Officer at Leeds University Union, said: “For students, global reputation matters. It gives confidence that Leeds is known and respected around the world.
“But what students remember after they graduate is the experience they had here at Leeds: the welcome, the friendships, the support and the confidence to take their next step.”
With the exception of 2018, the University has consistently ranked in the QS global top 100 since 2013. This level of consistency is matched by only a small number of Russell Group institutions in the UK. The full rankings and further information can be found on the QS World University Rankings pages.
University rankings
Leeds has performed strongly in recent national and global rankings:
• The University moved up three places to 18th in the Complete University Guide rankings.
• Leeds retained its place in the world’s most international universities, ranking 31st globally in Times Higher Education’s Most International Universities in the World 2026.
• The University achieved its highest position since 2008 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, placing 118th out of 2,191 universities worldwide.
• The University rose seven places to 18th in the Daily Mail University Guide.
• In the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking), Leeds rose 10 places and remains within the top 200 globally.
• The University achieved its highest ever position in the 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings, placing 24th out of 2,002 universities worldwide and joint ninth in the UK.
Further information
Please contact the University of Leeds press office at pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.