We have been named in the world top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2026, a position we have achieved every year since 2010.
The QS World University Rankings are widely acknowledged as the most influential university rankings globally.
We enhanced our position in seven of the nine established categories of assessment.
As well as strengthening our academic reputation, we rank 64th globally for employability and 22nd for sustainability.
Our World Top 100 ranking adds to our recent fifth position in the UK’s Complete University Guide 2026 and fifth in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.
We are World Top 40 (34th) in the global Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, yet again improving our position. These rankings measure universities’ success in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To be ranked in the World Top 100 and consistently so since 2010 is an exceptional achievement. Our global reputation for employability reflects the quality and relevance of our education and research. Our academic reputation is testament to the international impact of our world-leading academics and the strength of our industrial and business partnerships. Our strong QS sustainability ranking, along with our Top 40 performance in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, is evidence of significant momentum across our sustainability and societal impact workstreams.
Durham University continues to shine as one the UK's top institutions in the QS 2026 World University Rankings. It once again excels in key areas such as reputation among both employers and academics, as well as student experience. Additionally, the QS analysis reveals that Durham's attractiveness to prospective students and international faculty not only endures but improves since last year.
Our position in the QS World University Rankings 2026 is joint 94th. We have been in the world top 100 every year since 2010.
In the Complete University Guide 2026, in which we rank 5th overall, 19 of our subjects are in the UK top five.
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/central-news-and-events-images/83431-1920X290.jpg)