Global higher education experts Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) revealed the 2025 edition of their World University Rankings: Sustainability on 10 December 2024. The list showcases 1,744 institutions from 107 countries and territories, increasing by over 1,000 institutions since its pilot edition in 2022.
Measures of sustainability
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability highlights institutions that are demonstrating a commitment to sustainability through three key measures (ESG):
- environmental impact: environmental sustainability, environmental education, and environmental research
- social impact: equality, knowledge exchange, impact of education, employability and outcomes, as well as health and wellbeing
- governance: ethics, hiring practices, transparency and decision-making.
It looks at the impact of universities as centres of education and research, as well as major employers. It considers outward evidence, such as what alumni are contributing to combat climate change and what research is being done across the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
North America at the forefront
North America leads the list in representation with 239 institutions ranked. The region also holds all spots up to 44th. Canada is the only country with two institutions in the top five, including the University of Toronto, which holds the #1 spot for the second year in a row.
Improvements across the board
There are 351 new institutions ranked in this year’s edition. Out of these, five are in the top 20, and 12 more round out the top 100.
QS noted a large percentage of institutions increasing across its ESG metrics. India’s higher education, in particular, saw real improvement, with 57% of its 78 ranked institutions boosting their Environmental Impact Score. Portuguese institutions were also spotlighted as 92% of them saw better Social Impact performance. This was largely because universities in Portugal had completed research in relevant areas and their staff’s perceptions of their institution’s societal impact improved year-on-year.
Africa also notably stepped up their sustainability game. The list features a significant increase in African representation, with a total of 70 universities included from the region.
Sustainability as a student priority
According to the latest QS International Students Survey, nine out of 10 current students consider sustainability a top priority. This attests to the importance of sustainability in institutional agendas. Students actively research universities’ social and environmental strategies during the application process.
upGrad GSP Partner Institutions in the Top 100
upGrad GSP is proud to be partners with institutions recognised by QS as the world’s most sustainable universities:
- University of Auckland – Auckland, New Zealand (#17)
- University of Glasgow – Glasgow, Scotland (#19)
- University of Queensland Australia – Brisbane, Australia (#41)
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS) – Sydney, Australia (#47)
- Griffith University – Brisbane, Australia (#49)
- Macquarie University – Sydney, Australia (#59)
- Queen’s University Belfast – Belfast, Ireland (#67)
- Queensland University of Technology – Brisbane, Australia (#73)
- RMIT University – Melbourne, Australia (#80)
- University of Aberdeen – Aberdeen, Scotland (#83)
- University of Ottawa – Ottawa, Canada (#90)
- Deakin University – Melbourne, Australia (#91)
- University of Adelaide – Adelaide, Australia (#98)
- University of Wollongong – Wollongong, Australia (#98)
To connect with these universities and other high-ranking institutions in key study-abroad destinations, get in touch with our business development experts today.
