University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has been named amongst the world’s top universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021.

The University has maintained its position in the 501-600 banding, despite an additional 131 universities being ranked this year.

Times Higher Education uses 13 performance indicators to compile the annual league tables. These are grouped into five pillars – Teaching, Research, Citations, International Outlook and Industry Income.

The University’s scores improved in three of the five pillars compared to last year. UWS’s highest ranked pillar is, like last year, International Outlook, ranking 220th out of 1,527 universities. This measures the University’s ability to attract international students and staff, in addition to its levels of international research collaboration.

UWS Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Craig Mahoney said: “I am delighted that UWS has maintained its position in the THE World University Rankings for 2021.



“With more universities than ever before being benchmarked, it’s really significant that UWS is holding strong in the 501-600 banding. I am particularly pleased to see the improvement we have made in the International Outlook pillar over the last five years."
Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, UWS



“Our position in these prestigious rankings is testament to the work of colleagues and students across UWS’s five campuses, and I extend my thanks each and every person who contributes to the success of the University.”

UWS has climbed the rankings significantly since it was first ranked in 2017.

THE World University Rankings are now in their 17th year, this year ranking 1,527 universities from 93 different countries. Times Higher Education say that the annual rankings are the only global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. They are said to be the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments.

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