Now in their 12th year, the THE World University Rankings, which look at five key ‘Pillars’ of higher education including teaching, research, citations, industry income, and international outlook, are arguably the world’s most prestigious and widely referenced university rankings.

Phil Baty, editor of the THE World University Rankings, said: “The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, now in their 12th year, apply rigorous standards, using tough global benchmarks across all of a global research university’s key missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.  The results are trusted by students and their families, academics, university leaders and governments.  For Swansea University to make 351-400 in the world is an outstanding achievement to be celebrated.”

Professor Hilary Lappin-Scott (pictured), Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Strategic Development at Swansea University, said: “What an exceptional year 2015 has proved to be for Swansea University to date, with this further good news today of our global standing recognised by one of the most respected and authoritative publications for higher education in the world. 

“This THE ranking, with our consistently high rankings in other independent surveys and league tables for student satisfaction, employability, and research excellence, confirm that Swansea University continues on a strong upward trajectory. The University’s strong international outlook – through its diverse student body and the reach of our research staff’s collaboration and partnership with colleagues globally – and a growing reputation for international excellence, will enable us to attract the highest calibre of staff and students.”

According to the latest THE World University Rankings, Swansea University is also ranked amongst the world’s top elite institutions for being:

-          161^st in the world for its international outlook

-          343^rd for it research citations impact and contribution to global knowledge

-          360^th for its research outputs and reputation.

The news of this further improvement in international reputation has been preceded by a wave of recent successes at Swansea University, including:

-       Earlier this month (September 15) it was announced the University had broken into the top 400 in the QS World University Rankings® 2015/2016, with a ranking of 400^th – a leap of 69 places up on 2014/2015.

-       The British Science Association’s announcement earlier this month (September 11) that the University will host the 2016 British Science Festival, a vibrant celebration of science, engineering and technology, which will again shine the international spotlight on Swansea’s world-leading research.

-       Achieving the University’s ambition to become a UK top 30 research institution – Swansea was ranked 26^th (up from 52^nd) in the Research Excellence Framework 2014 (REF2014).

-       Being awarded 5-Stars for excellence in the global QS Stars quality assessment, placing us amongst other world-leading institutions to have also achieved 5-Stars such as Harvard and Oxford.

-       Ranked 8^th in the UK for an exceptional result in overall student satisfaction, as measured in the National Student Survey 2015.

-       Achieving a rank of 16th in the UK (The Times/The Sunday Times 2016 Good University Guide) for producing global graduates capable of securing professional level jobs or entering graduate level further study.

In addition, only last week the University’s magnificent £450m science and innovation Bay Campus development, regarded as one of the largest knowledge economy projects in the UK and within the top five in Europe, formally opened on September 21, and further extends the institution’s international reach.

The Bay Campus will allow the University to expand its growing international strategic partnerships, which currently comprise the Swansea-Texas partnership, the Université Joseph Fourier in Grenoble partnership, and the recently signed partnership with the Universiti Malaysia Pahang, paving the way for industry-academia collaborations in Malaysia’s East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

“These major strategic partnerships, along with many other projects and initiatives Swansea is involved in, bring together top academic minds to exchange ideas and facilitate world-leading joint research,” added Professor Lappin-Scott.

“They also provide enviable student mobility opportunities to work or study abroad, supported by more than 100 university partnerships Swansea has world-wide.

“The new academic year has got off to a flying start and we look forward to continued success in 2016.  Swansea University has now entered a new era, which promises to bring us significantly closer to realising our ambition of becoming a top global University.”

For the full results of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015-16 click here.