Post-Brexit uncertainty and long-term funding issues hit UK higher education, university rankings show

Post-Brexit uncertainty and long-term funding issues have seen storm clouds gather over UK higher education in this year’s QS World University Rankings.

Startlingly, 38 of the UK’s 48 top-400 universities have dropped down the rankings, with the University of Cambridge dropping out of the global top three for first time since 2004.

Even though Cambridge, Oxford, UCL, and Imperial College London have remained in the top ten – and with Edinburgh joining the top 20 and Manchester entering the top 30 – Ben Sowter, head of research at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, cited a combination of uncertainty and long-term funding issues which have impacted negatively on the UK’s performance.

For the second year in a row, China – which continues to benefit from generous government research funding – has more universities in the top 100 for citations per faculty than the UK. Sowter said: “Uncertainty over research funding, immigration rules, and the ability to hire and retain the top young talent from around the world seems to be damaging the reputation of the UK’s higher education sector.”

The UK has, though, managed to retain its status as the world’s second best higher education nation, retaining the same number of top-400, top-100, and top-50 universities as last year.

However, the evidence has suggested the US is stretching its lead and Asian universities are making inroads. For the first time since the rankings began 12 years ago, US universities hold all top three positions.

Of the 48 UK universities in the top-400, only six have risen (12 per cent). This compares to 78 US universities, of which 47 per cent have risen, and 74 Asian universities, of which 68 per cent have risen.

Overall, 73 per cent of the UK’s top-400 universities have seen a drop in both academic reputation and employer reputation, while 58 per cent have seen a fall in international faculty numbers.

The Brexit referendum took place after the QS surveys closed, but undoubtedly added to this uncertainty. Sowter also pointed to a reduced level of real terms government funding for research in higher education as a further contributory factor.

The chancellor’s pledge to guarantee EU-funding levels for research projects signed before this year’s Autumn Statement is “a good step” to tackle both issues, said the team behind the rankings, adding how similar measures would go “a long way” to help the UK retain its global excellence.

A focus on London’s universities, though, has provided a more positive picture for the UK as a whole. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, vowed to make sure London remains a top study destination as the city continues to host more top 40 universities than any other city in the world.

Mr Khan described how London is the higher education capital of the world, with the city boasting more of the globe’s top universities and welcoming the most international students. He added: “People who come from abroad to study in London leave as ambassadors for our city, spreading the message that the capital is a fantastic place to live, work, and visit.

“I’m saying loud and clear to the world that London is open as the best place to study, do business, and innovate, and a city where all Londoners can take advantage of these opportunities.”

The full QS World University Rankings for 2016/17 can be found here