How Do Students Use Rankings?

This new report explores the key motivations driving international students to consult university rankings, and how the results feed into their decisions. The report, launched  in collaboration with the QS Intelligence Unit, also addresses the question of what the ideal “student-created ranking” would look like, and assesses the relative importance of university rankings compared to other factors.

Based on an international student survey and a series of in-depth focus groups, the report covers:

  • Students’ preferred types of ranking and most-valued indicators

  • Motivations for using rankings and attitudes to university reputation

  • Demand for additional resources and extensions to university rankings

More QS Insights

Destination: US and Canada
What are the motivations and preferences of international students who want to study in the US and Canada? We’ve analyzed the perspectives of over 41,000 students interested in the US...
Read more
Destination: UK front page image
Destination: UK – report
What are the motivations and preferences of international students who want to study in the UK? We’ve analysed the perspectives of over 68,000 respondents to the QS International Student Survey...
Read more
"Universities, students and the Generative AI imperative" report front cover.
Universities, students and the Generative AI imperative
Since the explosion of Generative AI in early 2023, the genie is truly out of the bottle and there is no turning back. But what do academics and international students...
Read more
International Graduate Outcomes 2024
With data from more than 10,000 international students who graduated from 37 UK universities over the past six years, and valuable insights from British Council and NISAU alumni, the International...
Read more

Sign up for industry insights

Receive the latest insights, expertise and commentary on the topics which matter most in higher education, straight to your inbox.

Sign up