The 2020 QS World University Rankings have just been released.
Although the US still dominates, compared to the significant progress of other countries, the overall performance of the US, UK, and Canada this year is not satisfactory.
QS Ranking Indicators
Academic Reputation 40%
Employer Reputation 10%
Faculty/Student Ratio 20%
Citations per faculty 20%
International Faculty Ratio 5%
International Student Ratio 5%
Although the US still holds 10 spots in the Top 20, with MIT, Stanford, and Harvard continuing to sweep the top three, its previously unassailable position as a world research leader is increasingly under threat.
China's overall ranking has been remarkable this year. There are now 19 universities in the Top 200 (up from 12 in 2016), with Tsinghua and Peking University reaching historic highs. China's higher education system is steadily improving, and the reputation of its top universities is growing globally.
Additionally, over two-thirds of Australian universities saw their rankings improve this year; the Middle East also has two Top 200 universities for the first time ever.
Meanwhile, rankings for the US and UK are declining overall.
US universities in the Top 100 have lost four spots this year, the fewest since 2016. Among top universities, the University of Michigan dropped out of the global top 20. Overall US ranking performance is the worst in history, with only 16% of institutions improving their rank.
Neighboring Canada also saw half of its universities decline this year, mainly due to a drop in faculty/student ratio. UBC also fell out of the Top 50.
The UK's overall ranking performance is its third worst in history. Cambridge fell to its all-time low of 7th, and 66% of British institutions saw their rankings drop.
So what exactly caused the dismal QS ranking performance of the US and UK?
QS research director Ben Sowter stated: "The main difference between growing and declining higher education systems is funding."
Unlike China, which has invested more in education and research in recent years, the Trump administration in the US proposed cutting the Department of Education's budget by $7.1 billion in May. This is the third consecutive year he has sought to reduce federal funding for the US education system.
For the US, the biggest losses this year are in academic reputation and the ratio of international faculty and students. Although its overall employer reputation is improving, it is not enough to offset the former losses.
In the UK, post-Brexit financial uncertainty has also brought a high risk of losing EU students.
According to QS research, over one-third of EU students said they are less likely to study in the UK because of Brexit. This poses a significant economic threat to British universities.
Since Trump took office and Brexit occurred, the international student ratio at universities in both countries has been declining. The uncertainty in the US and UK environment seems to have made Australia a beneficiary.
However, while Australia's rankings have improved, it is also facing a decline in the faculty/student ratio, and Australian universities remain absent from the Top 20 again this year. Whether they can ensure adequate teaching resources to cope with the influx of international students remains to be tested over time.
Of course, rankings are still for reference only and should not be the sole criterion for study abroad applications. The decline of US and UK institutions in QS rankings should not cause you to panic.
Firstly, even an authoritative ranking like QS is criticized as "not objective enough." For example, its academic reputation indicator, which accounts for as much as 40%, is mainly conducted through methods similar to surveys, and one can imagine the room for manipulation. Higher education in the US and UK still holds unique value, and the US remains the top choice for studying abroad.
Secondly, despite uncertain overall circumstances, US and UK universities still actively welcome international students. There is no need to have excessive doubts about applying to your dream schools simply due to declining international student numbers and rankings.
The US Embassy in China officially stated in May: Studying abroad is an investment in your future, and we welcome Chinese students to experience the unique value of American higher education.
Yale's president issued an official invitation, making a firm commitment to international students and scholars. Presidents of top US universities such as Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Rice have also expressed their welcome and support for international students and scholars, including those from China.
I believe students who recently applied for US visas have all been talking about the blue note given out by some US visa offices. Although the Ministry of Education issued the No. 1 Study Abroad Alert in 2019, it can be seen that relevant US institutions, including universities and the embassy, remain welcoming towards international students.
On the UK side, due to sluggish growth in international enrollments, universities have been calling for relaxed visa requirements and competitive visa services to attract more international students.
UK Home Secretary and current prime ministerial candidate Sajid Javid stated in early June that he supports extending the post-study stay period for international students from six months to two years.
The MP who proposed the bill, Jo Johnson, is also the younger brother of another prime ministerial candidate, Boris Johnson. Most British party lawmakers, including Boris, support this policy.
Relying solely on rankings for study abroad planning is unwise, and finding the right dream school has never been easy.
Admissions preferences are constantly changing, and opinions on the study abroad situation vary widely. I believe many students easily lose their way during application preparation.
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