Release Date 04 October 2012

The University of Reading is ranked among the top 1% of the world's universities, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2012, published today.

The rankings are based on 13 performance indicators, including the university's academic reputation for excellence in teaching and research, as well as measures of the quality of the learning environment and international outlook.

Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell said: "The University of Reading has been an international university for more than a century. Our research is making a significant contribution to addressing issues of global concern, from the importance of food security to the causes of and consequences of international conflict. Our students rate the quality of the teaching they receive highly, which, in turn, encourages the most talented students from future generations to come and study with us.

"Retaining a world top1% ranking in an increasingly competitive international higher education environment is an accolade for the University and a tribute to the talent and expertise of our staff. Partnership with many of the other top higher education institutions in the world and major initiatives such as the development of the University's Malaysia campus are clear signs of the University's ambition to build on our established international reputation." 

The University is ranked 176th in the world in the influential rankings and is one of only 31 UK universities to be ranked in the world-respected league table.

Phil Baty, Editor at large and rankings editor, at Times Higher Education, said:  "The top 200 list represents just 1% of the world's higher education institutions - so being in that group is an exceptional achievement for any institution."

The University of Reading provides a range of opportunities for students to experience what the University has to offer. The next undergraduate open days are Saturday 6 October and Saturday 27 October and the next postgraduate open day takes place on Wednesday 21 November. 

The THE World University Rankings 2012 are published on the Times Higher Education website. 

ENDS

Further information is available from the University of Reading communications office on 0118 378 8005 / media@reading.ac.uk

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Notes to editors:

THE World Rankings

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings were developed in concert with data provider, Thomson Reuters, with expert input from more than 50 leading figures in the sector from 15 countries across every continent.

The rankings of the top universities across the globe employ 13 separate performance indicators designed to capture the full range of university activities, from teaching to research to knowledge transfer. These 13 elements are brought together into five headline categories, which are:

• Teaching - the learning environment (worth 30 per cent of the overall ranking score)
• Research - volume, income and reputation (worth 30 per cent)
• Citations - research influence (worth 30 per cent)
• Industry income - innovation (worth 2.5 per cent)
• International outlook - staff, students and research (worth 7.5 per cent).

In the 2011 THE World University Rankings, the University of Reading was ranked 164th.

About The University of Reading

International student numbers

The University of Reading has 3677 international students and 2582 other EU nationality students (non-UK) from a total student population of 16724.

University of Reading Malaysia

The University will be opening the University of Reading Malaysia campus at EduCity in Southern Malaysia in 2015 offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across multiple disciplines for which it is renowned, including real estate, construction, finance, law, chemistry and pharmacy.

The University of Reading is one of the UK's top research-intensive universities. The University is ranked in the top 20 for the number of awards it received from research councils for 2010/11. In total we received 38 awards, placing us at position 20 out of 218 institutions.

In the RAE 2008, over 87% of the university's research was deemed to be of international standing. Areas of particular research strength recognised include meteorology and climate change, typography and graphic design, archaeology, philosophy, food biosciences, construction management, real estate and planning, as well as law.

Standards of teaching are excellent - the University scored highly in the National Student Survey 2012.  88% of Reading students responding to the survey stated they were satisfied with the quality of their course.

Our research and teaching addresses issues of global concern, ranging from understanding the impacts of climate change to the causes and consequences of international conflict.

University of Reading is a member of the 1994 Group of 15 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience. www.1994group.ac.uk