The annual QS 2025 university rankings, released on Tuesday, issued a warning regarding the potential decline in attractiveness of some of the UK’s top universities. This decline is attributed to funding cuts and stricter regulations on overseas students.
Four British universities managed to retain their positions in the top 10 out of over 1,000 ranked by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a notable ranking alongside the Times and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Notably, Imperial College London, renowned for its science programs, climbed from sixth to second place, marking the first time the historically dominant “Oxbridge” duo, Oxford and Cambridge, have been dethroned.
However, over half (52) of the UK’s universities experienced a drop in their rankings, out of the 90 institutions included in the ranking.
Head of QS, Jessica Turner, commented, “This year’s results suggest that British higher education faces challenges in maintaining its excellence amidst funding shortages, declining student applications, and restrictions on international student intake.”
In recent months, the Conservative government has implemented measures aimed at reducing net migration, which it perceives as too high. These measures include prohibiting overseas students from bringing dependents and increasing the minimum salary required for skilled worker visas. Such policies have drawn criticism from universities, whose budgets heavily rely on the higher fees paid by international students.
Government statistics indicate a significant decline in student visa applications in the first four months of this year, with 30,000 fewer applications compared to the same period in 2023.
