---
title: "Global Rankings"
artifact: "summary"
resource_person: "Times Higher Education rankings team"
resource_person_role: "University rankings publisher and methodology team"
vertical: "policy"
module: "Global Perspective"
lesson: "Global Rankings"
lesson_key: "global-rankings"
source: "curated"
source_channel: "Times Higher Education (THE)"
---
# Global Rankings

**Resource person:** Times Higher Education rankings team - University rankings publisher and methodology team

**Curated from:** Times Higher Education (THE)

## Summary

A global university ranking converts several indicators into a composite order. Times Higher Education groups measures around teaching environment, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry. Data sources, field normalisation, eligibility rules, missing-data treatment, and weights all shape the result.

A rank is easiest to interpret when the question matches the indicators. Composite tables can reveal broad patterns in research visibility or institutional profile. They offer limited evidence about a particular programme, classroom experience, affordability, student support, or fit for an individual learner. Small score differences may also produce visible changes in position.

Read the methodology for the exact edition, inspect indicator-level scores, and compare multiple years. Use rankings with direct evidence such as programme curriculum, accreditation, faculty and student data, research outputs, and institutional finances. The Leiden Manifesto and DORA provide practical principles for responsible use of quantitative indicators in assessment and decision-making.