Imperial ranks second in QS World Rankings 2025 due to research performance, outstanding employability scores

Imperial College London has risen to second place in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and became the top-ranked university in the UK and Europe.

QS highlighted that the reason why Imperial ranked at 2 in the QS World Ranking 2025 is because of its exceptional sustainability commitment, outstanding employability scores, and research performance.

Imperial’s President, Professor Hugh Brady, said: “Imperial’s ranking is a testament to the quality and commitment of our entire community. It is inspiring to see our students, staff and partners come together every day to interrogate the forces that shape our world and address the challenges facing humanity and our planet.”

Imperial remains at top places in other world rankings too

The college has consistently been in the world's top 10 universities in the QS ranking and it is also among the top 10 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2024. It was named University of the Year by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

“As an academic community, we are focussed on discovering more about the world, innovating to benefit people everywhere, and educating the next generation of leaders. It is this that drives new understanding and new applications across health, science, engineering and business.The high quality of our research and teaching is underpinned and enabled by an environment where staff and students alike are valued and supported. Our commitment to people is at the core of what we do, and result in outcomes such as this,” said the Imperial’s Provost, Professor Ian Walmsley.

Imperial’s Science for Humanity Strategy

As per the Imperial's official statement, the ranking follows the launch of the Science for Humanity strategy. Building on the college's reputation as a renowned university for engineering, medicine, science, technology and business (STEMB), the Strategy focuses on building and harnessing multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research at unprecedented scale to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth.

There are three flagship initiatives under the strategy:

1. Setting up of the Imperial WestTech Corridor – a unique ecosystem of innovation assets across West London that will act as a powerful engine for investment, inclusive economic growth and job creation.
2. Introduction of four cross-cutting Schools of Convergence Science which will create research communities in key areas including sustainability, human and artificial intelligence, health, and security sciences.
3. A new Imperial Extended Learning Institute which will help future-proof careers, businesses and communities by providing the advanced skills training and values-driven leadership needed to thrive in a tech-enabled world.

Read more:

• QS World Rankings 2025: MIT retains 1st Position; Cambridge slips to Rank 5
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