University celebrates global ranking

The University of Exeter has been ranked inside the global top 150 higher education institutions in a new league table compiled by TIME Magazine, reflecting its strong research environment and growing international impact.

Exeter was placed 122nd in the publication’s inaugural World’s Top Universities of 2026, a result that highlights the strength and breadth of its academic excellence across a range of metrics.

The ranking placed Exeter 23rd in the UK – 21st in the Russell Group – ahead of several key national peers.

The league table, compiled following a comprehensive analysis of thousands of institutions, features more than 500 of the world’s best universities.

Exeter’s strong performance reflects excellence across three major areas: Academic Capacity and Performance, which carries the highest weighting, assessed the University’s research productivity, income per head, resource expenditure per student, and student-staff ratios.

The second category, Innovation and Economic Impact, measured how effectively the University contributes to the advancement of science and technology, its diffusion of knowledge beyond academia, and its contribution to economic growth through the careers of its graduates.

The final category – Global Engagement – analysed the extent to which the University attracts international students and staff, and the extent of their global visibility and reputation.

More information on the World’s Top Universities of 2026 is available on the TIME Magazinewebsite.