Cambridge, UCL, Oxford and Imperial are the UK
universities which have topped the global university league tables. Cambrdige
which last year came first, was second, while UCL, Oxford and Imperial took
fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively.
However Ben Sowter, of QS Research, warns that
higher fees and new visa rules could see UK universities struggle next year.
He added: "We won't know for sure until the 2012 results come in,
but we may see a drop off next year." He also said tougher visa rules for
international students could deter some from applying to UK universities.
He quoted a second piece of research to be published by QS later in
September that asked employers across the world whether "current visa
regulations adequately support the hiring of graduating international
students".
Just 40% of UK employers agreed visa regulations had helped them hire
international graduates - globally the figure was 70% said Mr Sowter.
Government attempts to tighten the student-visa system attracted
criticism from two reports by MPs within the past week. Both argued overseas
students should be reclassified so that they would not count towards migration
limits, to allow the UK to continue to expand its share of the overseas student
market.
The QS rankings rate the world's top 400 universities, evaluating each
institution's strengths in research, teaching, the employability of its
graduates and international outlook.
Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of research-based
universities, said: "With four institutions in the global top six and 18
in the top 100, our universities punch well above their weight, making the UK
one of the few countries with a place at the top table - but the UK has already
slipped below Mexico and Russia and has been caught up by India in terms of
investment in higher education as a proportion of GDP [gross domestic product].
"If we are serious about staying on top, the government must
concentrate investment where it will have the most impact - in our world-class
research-intensive universities.
News Source: BBC
Education News
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