For the second year running, UK universities have suffered a significant drop in places in the QS World University Rankings. Of the 76 UK universities featured in the ranking, 51 have fallen, which can be attributed in part to funding cuts, concerns about the potential impact of Brexit and the increasing competition from less traditional study destinations.

Stateside, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has scooped first place and is the world’s leading university for a record sixth time. Meanwhile, California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) has replaced the University of Cambridge in 4^th place, meaning that US universities claim the top four spots. Despite a US sweepstake at the top end of the table, lower tier institutions are suffering a similar fate to their UK counterparts. More than half of the US’s overall entries fell, with 18 slipping by more than 50 places.

“MIT is the nucleus of an unrivalled innovation ecosystem. Companies created by its alumni enjoyed combined revenues of $2 trillion, making them the equivalent of the world’s 11^th largest economy,” said Ben Sowter, Research Director, QS. “However, their continued dominance at the top should not obscure a changing landscape elsewhere, with other US and UK institutions making way for the best of Russia, China and India – among others.”

There was a clear pattern of universities with a strong technological focus succeeding. In Singapore, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) climbed up the table to 11^th position, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) moved up a record high in 41^st position, and the Delft University of Technology was the highest rated Dutch university in an impressive 58^th position.

The Australian National University has moved up two places to make it back into the top 20 of the rankings, reflecting a consistent improvement for Australia’s top universities.

There were also good returns for Chinese institutions, who now have six universities in the top 100, two more than last year and India, who now have three universities in the top 200.

Lomonosov Moscow State University rose into the top 100 too, reflecting some positive results for Russia, which is investing in its international higher education offering.

Although a lot of Latin American institutions failed to improve, the Universidad de Buenos Aires soared into its highest position in 75^th.
 

See the full list below.