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Birkbeck in top 250 universities in THE global league table

Birkbeck has been ranked within the top 250 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2016-17.

Birkbeck graduates celebrating

Birkbeck has been ranked within the top 250 universities in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2016-17.

Birkbeck’s top 250 position in the global league table —which also places Birkbeck joint 33rd in the UK in the ranking — has been described by THE as “a great achievement – demonstrating membership of a small, global elite”.

Now in their 13th year, the THE World University Rankings are considered the most comprehensive and most robust global university rankings. The independently audited methodology includes 13 separate performance indicators covering the full range of a global research university’s core missions. This year universities from 79 countries were ranked, using tough global benchmarks for teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. The list represents just 5 per cent of the world’s higher education institutions.

Birkbeck scored particularly highly for its international outlook, which covers staff, students and research activity.

The College’s standing in the THE World University Rankings 2016-17 follows its best-ever ranking in this year’s QS world university rankings, which placed Birkbeck 12th in the UK for citations per faculty, indicating the strength of the College’s research, up from 16th place last year.

Teaching at Birkbeck has also been scored highly this year, with the National Student Survey (NSS) in August ranking the College number one in the country for overall student satisfaction in five subject areas. The NSS results will form a basis for the College’s submission to the forthcoming Teaching Excellence Framework.

Professor Matthew Innes, Vice-Master of Birkbeck, University of London, said:

“For Birkbeck to maintain our top 250 position year on year in the THE World University Rankings is an outstanding achievement, especially when the national and international environment in which we are operating is growing ever more turbulent.

“For an institution like Birkbeck to perform so strongly whilst remaining true to our unique founding mission – and at a time when we are often at the sharp end of policy changes – is truly remarkable.  

He added:

“The rigorous standards applied by THE in its methodology makes this ranking a particularly powerful league table, valued by students and their families, as well as by governments. Our ranking demonstrates Birkbeck’s continuing mission to nurture and maintain the highest quality research and teaching environments right across the sciences, social sciences and humanities.”

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