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World rankings confirm University of Reading’s place among the best universities in the world

Release Date : 06 October 2011

The University of Reading is ranked among the top 1% of research-led global universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2011, published today.

The University is ranked 164th in the influential top 200 rankings, which represents the top 1% of the world's universities, according to the THE rankings. The rankings are based on 13 performance indicators, including a university's academic reputation for excellence in teaching and research, as well as measures of the quality of the learning environment, the influence, reputation and volume of research papers published, industry income and international outlook.

Professor Tony Downes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the University of Reading, said: "The University of Reading is playing an increasingly influential role in addressing many of the major issues of global concern, ranging from understanding the impacts of climate change to the importance of food security and the causes of and consequences of international conflict.

"Research in a global context, high quality teaching delivered in the UK and across the world and support for the growth of higher education in developing and emerging countries, means the work of our staff is having a transformational impact.

"We are delighted that this work is recognised in the THE World University Rankings, but we would also counsel that league tables show only a small part of the work of universities. We would advise prospective students, for example, to do their research on the universities that match their interests and to come and meet staff and current students in order to get a real feel for what an institution can truly offer. At the University Reading, it is the combination of academic rigour, engagement with business and the provision of one of the best student experiences in the UK that makes us such a popular student choice."

Phil Baty, Editor of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2011-12, said: "The University of Reading has been ranked at 164th position clearly indicating that it deserves to be considered a world-renowned university.

"The top 200 represents approximately the top 1% of Higher Education institutions in the world, so this placing represents an outstanding achievement. To appear in the top 200 a university must score highly across our full range of indicators, and indeed Reading scored consistently throughout, but it was their particularly high score in the ‘International outlook' category that helped it to leap an impressive 46 places since last year. I would like to offer my personal congratulations to the University of Reading on such an exceptional result."

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Further information from University of Reading Communications Office on +44 (0)118 378 7115/7388/8005

Notes to editors:

THE World University Rankings methodology

Teaching - the learning environment (30%)

• Reputation survey (15%)
• Staff-student ratio (4.5%)
• PhDs/undergraduate degrees awarded (2.25%)
• Institutional income/academic staff (2.25%)

Industry income - innovation (2.5%) - research income from industry/academic staff

Citations - research influence (30%)

Research - volume, income and reputation (30%)

• Reputation survey (18%)
• Income/staff (6%)
• Scholarly papers/staff (6%)

International outlook (7.5%)

• International students/ total students (2.5%)
• International academic staff/academic staff (2.5%)
• Scholarly papers with one or more international co-authors (2.5%)

More information at http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/