Higher education digital marketing & advertising services

With 75M+ website sessions and 250M+ ad impressions annually, QS helps universities, colleges and business schools reach, engage, and convert prospective students worldwide.

Your future students are searching. Make sure they find you first and choose you next.

Prospective students are researching more, comparing more and applying wider than ever before. Nearly half now consider five or more universities, while 56% rely on online search, 53% on rankings and 42% on social media to shape their choices. With international growth forecast at 4% annually, visibility alone is not enough. Universities must be present wherever students are spending their time. That’s where QS delivers – through multi-channel campaigns spanning rankings, search, social and display advertising.

The QS advantage

Billions of datapoints
powering insight into student preferences and mobility.
190 countries
visit our websites – that's 97% of the world.
250 million+
ad impressions each year.
75 million+
sessions on our websites each year.

Our solutions

QS Advanced Profiles
Capture high-intent traffic with up to 10% click-through rate – 10x higher than a basic profile.
Display advertising & retargeting
Reach students with high-impact banners, rankings table wraps, Google & Meta ads, plus retargeting by interest and location. 
Email marketing
Engage hundreds of thousands of prospective applicants with hyper-targeted, segmented email campaigns.
Sponsored content
Build authority through articles and social promotion across trusted, high-traffic QS-owned platforms. 
Full-stack digital campaigns
Maximise impact with integrated strategy powered by QS data, brand and performance expertise.
Explore our digital solutions
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Your goals, powered by QS data
See how QS data, platforms and digital campaigns work together to reach, target and convert the students you want.
Find out how

Unbeatable insights paired with unparalleled expertise

We don’t just offer industry-leading reach - we turn it into meaningful connections. Backed by the QS International Student Survey, Global Student Flows, and over 75 million verified student profiles, our intelligence ensures your campaigns reach the right students, in the right place, at the right time.

Why settle for digital that doesn’t deliver?

Work with us to get measurable impact, not just impressions. From tailored campaigns to full-funnel strategies, we’ll help you reach the right students and maximise ROI.

Why choose QS for digital marketing and student recruitment?

Because reach is only powerful when it connects you with the right students. With 75+ million sessions a year, 250+ million ad impressions, and audiences in 190 countries, QS gives you unrivalled global visibility. But it’s our market intelligence and student insights that turn that scale into impact – ensuring your campaigns resonate with high-intent, high-quality prospects who are more likely to apply and enrol.

How do we measure the ROI of digital student recruitment campaigns?

ROI isn’t just clicks – it’s quality leads, applications, and ultimately enrolments. Tracking across the funnel with clear attribution models helps you see what works. That’s why we focus on transparent reporting and actionable insights, so you can clearly link your digital campaigns to real outcomes.

How can digital marketing support enrolment, not just applications?

Personalised messaging, timely follow-ups, and strong storytelling increase the likelihood that a curious prospect becomes an applicant, and an applicant becomes an enrolled student. By nurturing students with consistent communications that reflect your brand and by addressing key concerns like visas, housing, and funding, digital campaigns help keep them confident in their choice. With QS, you can build this journey with data-driven insights and tailored campaigns that strengthen your brand and guide students smoothly.

Which digital channels are most effective for reaching prospective students?

Social media, search engines, and trusted education platforms all play a vital role – but the most effective campaigns use a blend, reinforced by retargeting. This ensures you’re visible when students are both exploring and deciding. QS helps you find the perfect combination and manage multi-channel campaigns at scale.

Why is digital marketing important for international student recruitment?

Students make decisions online – from researching universities to comparing rankings and reading peer reviews. Digital marketing ensures you’re visible at every touchpoint in their journey, helping you build awareness and credibility across borders. QS supports this by combining global reach with data-driven targeting to connect you with the right students.