UK best in the world for ‘young’ universities

THE UK is the best place in the world for top “young” universities, according to new rankings.

A total of 27 UK institutions have made the Times Higher Education’s (THE) latest league table of the best 200 institutions globally under 50 years old.

This is more than any other nation, including Australia, which had 23 universities included, and France which took third place with 16 inclusions.

The UK’s highest entrant was Dundee University, founded in 1967, which took 16th place on the list.

Other UK institutions gaining places in the top 100 were Stirling (46th), Plymouth (65th), Portsmouth (joint 98th).

For the first time this year, the table includes 200 universities.

Among the UK institutions ranked 101-150 (the table does not separated into further rankings) were Bournemouth, De Montfort, Glasgow Caledonian, Hertfordshire, Liverpool John Moores, Middlesex, Northumbria, the Open University, Oxford Brookes and Ulster.

Those making the 151-200 list were Bedfordshire, Coventry, East London, Huddersfield, Kingston, London Metropolitan, Manchester Metropolitan, Nottingham Trent, Roehampton, Salford, University of the West of England, University of the West of Scotland and Westminster.

Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne takes first place in the list for the third year in a row

Rankings editor Phil Baty said: “The UK is the leading country in this list of the world’s best young universities for the second year in a row, claiming 27 of the top 200 places. While several institutions dropped out of the list last year after reaching their 51st birthday, an impressive 10 new institutions make their debut in the list this year, thanks to the expansion of the table to include 200 universities, up from 150 last year.”

He added: “A key strength for the UK in this ranking is that it has representatives that were founded in every decade between the 1960s and 2000s, suggesting that the country has a promising future in the Under 50 list in the years to come. Two UK universities – London Metropolitan University and University of the West of Scotland – make the new “millennial” table of the best universities founded post 2000.”

Mr Baty also said that the UK’s claim of positions in the table was promising, but added: “Its young universities will need to continue to adapt to deal with an ever tougher higher education climate within the country and across the world.”

Professor Sir Pete Downes, principal and vice-chancellor of Dundee University said: “Over the past five decades, new universities have changed the higher education dynamic around the world, developing innovative and progressive methods of challenging more established institutions.

“To be ranked 16th globally among such universities, and top in the UK, is a great testament to the impact that our research and teaching has around the world, while the experience we offer students has been consistently rated among the best to be found anywhere.”