Some of the UK’s top universities may face a decline in attractiveness due to funding challenges and tighter regulations on overseas students, according to the annual QS 2025 university rankings released on Tuesday. The rankings, conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), are a key benchmark alongside the Times and Shanghai Jiao Tong University rankings.
Despite these challenges, four British universities retained their positions in the top 10 of more than 1,000 institutions ranked by QS. Notably, Imperial College London, known for its excellence in science teaching, surged from sixth to second place, surpassing the historically dominant “Oxbridge” duo, with Oxford and Cambridge ranking third and fifth respectively.
However, more than half (52) of the 90 UK universities included in the ranking saw their positions decline. Jessica Turner, head of QS, highlighted the pressures facing British higher education: “This year’s results suggest that British higher education has limited capacity remaining to continue excelling in the face of funding shortages, drops in student applications,” and restrictions affecting the intake of international students.
In recent months, the Conservative government has introduced several measures aimed at reducing regular migration, which it considers too high. These measures include barring overseas students from bringing dependents and raising the minimum salary required for skilled workers’ visas. Universities have criticized these policies, pointing out that their budgets heavily depend on the higher fees paid by international students.
Government statistics reveal a significant impact: in the first four months of the year, 30,000 fewer student visa applications were made compared to the same period in 2023.
The rankings and ongoing challenges suggest a critical juncture for UK higher education institutions, which must navigate funding and regulatory hurdles to maintain their global standing and attractiveness to international students.
