University of Bristol ranks 51st in QS World University Rankings 2026

The University of Bristol has been ranked 51st in the prestigious QS World University Rankings 2026, released this morning (Thursday 19 June). It narrowly missed out on the global top 50, coming in just behind Yonsei University in South Korea, but Bristol continues its upward trajectory in international rankings. 

Among 1,501 higher education institutions worldwide, the university has moved up three places from last year and has steadily risen from 61st in 2022. This latest ranking places Bristol 8th in the UK, reinforcing its growing reputation on both the national and international stage. It has also been named 12th in the world for sustainability, which assesses universities’ social and environmental impact. 

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Evelyn Welch welcomed the news as a significant milestone in the university’s longer-term ambitions. She has launched a strategic plan to establish Bristol among the top 50 universities globally and the top 10 in the UK by 2030. While celebrating the progress, she also stressed that rankings are only “one measure of achievement” and that they can fall just as easily as they rise. She said:

“Today, I am pleased to note that our achievements have been recognised by the QS rankings which now place us 51st in the world, and eighth in the UK as well as 12th globally for sustainability.

It is good to see that we are now much better known internationally for the new knowledge we create and the difference we make to people’s lives at every level.”

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The QS World University Rankings are widely regarded as the most comprehensive global rankings of universities. They assess institutions on a range of criteria, including academic reputation, employer reputation and outcomes, the academic-to-student ratio, the number of international staff and students, international research partnerships, and sustainability efforts. This assessment is based on 1.5 million academic nominations and 520,000 employer nominations. 

The recognition comes just a week after Bristol was placed 15th in the UK by the Complete University Guide, ranking just behind the University of Birmingham and UCL.

UWE also made the cut and was ranked between 721 and 730, although its overall score was n/a.