Services / Rankings
Global research rankings
I was responsible for developing the THE World University Rankings, and I have written for QS on their methodology and results. We use that knowledge to show you where you stand in each, indicator by indicator, and which changes are realistic.
Two systems, built differently
The THE and QS rankings are often treated as interchangeable. They aren’t. Although they both started in the same place they have diverged over nearly two decades, with differing metrics and approaches to data.
The same university can appear quite differently in each ranking.
How you appear, what steps you can take to optimise the presentation of your data, and how you interpret the results, are critical decisions that your university needs to take.
What we offer
THE World University Rankings diagnostic
Where you stand, and how far you are from the next step.
A metric-by-metric review of your THE position, broken down across the subject tables to show where your overall rank hides stronger or weaker performance. We help you to understand the actions needed to move from where you are now, which changes are within reach in one cycle and which need several years.
You get an indicator-level diagnostic, a subject breakdown and a gap-to-rank analysis.
QS World University Rankings diagnostic
The same approach, for a different system.
An indicator-by-indicator review of your QS position, with particular attention to the Academic Reputation and Employer Reputation surveys. The employer survey is specific to QS, and easy to overlook if your work so far has focused on THE.
You get an indicator-level diagnostic, a review of both reputation indicators and a gap-to-rank analysis.
Data submission review
Make sure every point you are entitled to is counted.
We review and verify your data submissions so that they are presented in line with each methodology’s guidelines. It is usually the quickest place to start.
You get a checked submission, a list of issues to fix, and notes for next year’s data collection.
Research performance
The slow-moving measures that matter most in the long run.
Citation measures shift slowly, but they carry a lot of weight. We look at where your output, citation impact and collaboration patterns leave room for improvement, and where to focus over the next few years.
You get a research-performance view by subject, and options for improving it. See also our publications and partnership reviews.
The work goes furthest with access to THE Data Points or QS institutional data, but we can start from public data. Reputation surveys are covered on our reputation page.
Why work with us
I spent ten years as chief data officer at Times Higher Education, and was responsible for extending and developing the World University Rankings in that time. I know which parts of a methodology move, which don’t, and what the numbers can and can’t tell you.
How we work
Every engagement starts with a scoping call. We bill time and materials against a capped budget, so there are no surprises and you only pay for the hours used. Modules can be taken on their own or together.
At the start we agree which parts your own teams will take on, which keeps costs down. Our findings are tied to the methodology in force at the time, and we revisit them if THE or QS change theirs (both have done so in recent cycles).
Want to know where you really stand?
Tell us which rankings matter to you, and we’ll suggest where to start.