Durham University has once again been ranked in the top 100 universities worldwide, improving on its last year ranking.

QS World University Rankings 2024 has affirmed the University's status as a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research excellence, placing Durham 78th in the world.

The 2024 rankings, which assessed 2,963 universities, see Durham move up 14 places from last year, with notable successes in the new indicators of Sustainability and International Research Network.

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Durham’s top performance came in the new Sustainability category, being ranked joint 30th in the world. This measure evaluates the social and environmental impact of universities as centres of education and research and is taken from the analysis of the QS Sustainability Rankings.

Durham’s diverse international research partnerships were also acknowledged, with the institution ranked 108th in the world for the impacts of its International Research Network.

The University also enhanced its performances in the areas of Employer Reputation and Academic Reputation, being ranked 50th and 124th respectively and both up on the prior year. Together, these "cement Durham’s global reputation" with employers, and for its excellence in research.

QS Senior Vice President Ben Sowter said: “This year, Durham University propels itself further into the world’s top 100. Its burgeoning reputation among international academics and employers alike has been instrumental in this success, particularly the latter, in which its exceptional performance showcases the exemplary upskilling and work readiness that it instils in its graduates.

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“Additionally, Durham’s commitment to sustainable development goals is evident in both its management structure and curriculum, as demonstrated by its outstanding performance in QS’ new Sustainability indicator.”

Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: “Durham is a globally outstanding centre of teaching, learning and research excellence, and we are pleased to see this reflected in the QS World University Rankings 2024.

"Our success is a testament to the impact of academic, industrial and business partnerships we have throughout the UK and globally, and to our longstanding work in the field of sustainability – further evidence of that our innovative and impactful research transforms lives and makes a difference, globally and locally.

“It is also a credit to the hard work, dedication and innovation of our academic staff and the professional staff who support them.” 

The 2024 publication is the 20th edition of the QS rankings, which are based on academic and employer reputation, research citations, the productivity and impact of the work published by academics, as well as three new indicators this year.

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The addition of Sustainability, Employer Outcomes and International Research Network reflects the increasing expectations of modern students and institutions alike.

Durham is consistently ranked as one of the world’s leading universities, with 12 subjects in the World Top 50 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.

It is also ranked 26th in the Times Higher Education (THE) International Universities Rankings and was placed 77th in the THE’s Global Impact Rankings 2023 for overall contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Durham is consistently ranked in the top ten universities in the UK.