University of Exeter Ranking

Planning to study in the UK? Understanding a university's global standing is a crucial step for Indian students. Rankings from trusted sources like QS and Times Higher Education (THE) provide a clear picture of academic quality, research excellence, and international reputation. This can significantly impact your career prospects and the value of your degree back home.

This page is designed to be your one-stop guide to the University of Exeter's latest global rankings. Here, we break down the data from the world's most respected ranking systems, offering insights into Exeter's overall performance, its strengths in specific subjects, and its ranking trajectory over the past five years. This will help you make a well-informed decision about your study abroad journey.

QS World University Ranking 2026 – University of Exeter

The QS World University Rankings are one of the most-watched league tables for Indian students, heavily factoring in academic reputation and employer sentiment. A strong performance in the QS rankings often translates to high regard among employers globally. For students looking at postgraduate studies, the research and citation metrics used by QS are a key indicator of a university's academic prowess.

The University of Exeter has demonstrated a significant positive trend in the latest QS rankings, showcasing its growing global influence and commitment to excellence. This upward movement is a strong signal of the university's strengthening academic and research network.

This impressive 14-place jump in the global rankings is a testament to Exeter's dedication to providing a world-class educational experience. For an Indian student, this means being part of an institution that is not only recognised for its quality but is also actively enhancing its international standing. The university's strong performance across indicators like Academic Reputation and International Research Network suggests a vibrant academic community and robust global partnerships, offering students valuable opportunities for collaboration and learning.

QS Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Tracking a university's ranking over time provides deeper insights than a single year's data. A consistent or rising trend points to stability, strategic investment, and a growing reputation.

The University of Exeter's journey in the QS rankings shows a dynamic yet strong presence in the top 200. After a brief dip, the university has made a remarkable recovery in the 2026 rankings, climbing back into the top 160. This upward trajectory indicates resilience and a successful strategic focus on key academic areas, which is a positive sign for prospective students banking on the long-term value of their degree.

QS Subject Rankings 2024

While overall rankings provide a great overview, subject-level rankings are critical for deciding on a specific course. They highlight a university's expertise in a particular field of study. For Indian students aspiring to specialise in areas like Business, Engineering, or Environmental Sciences, these rankings can be a deciding factor.

The University of Exeter consistently ranks among the world's best across several disciplines, particularly excelling in subjects related to earth and environmental sciences, a field of growing importance globally.

Exeter's elite performance in Mining Engineering and Environmental Sciences places it at the forefront of tackling some of the world's most pressing challenges. Its strong showing in Arts and Humanities and Life Sciences further underscores its comprehensive academic excellence. For Indian students aiming for careers in sustainability, technology, or research, Exeter offers world-leading departments that can provide the knowledge and network needed to succeed.

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025

The Times Higher Education (THE) rankings are highly respected for their comprehensive and balanced methodology, which places a strong emphasis on research quality, teaching environment, and international outlook. For Indian students, a high THE rank signifies a university with a robust research infrastructure and a diverse, global community.

The University of Exeter holds a strong and stable position within the world's top 200 universities, according to the latest THE rankings. This consistency reflects its established reputation as a leading research-intensive institution.

Remaining firmly in the top tier of global universities, Exeter's performance in the THE rankings highlights its strengths, particularly in 'International Outlook' and 'Research Quality'. For an Indian student, this translates to an environment that is not only welcoming to international students but also provides access to cutting-edge research and globally-renowned academics. This combination is ideal for fostering a truly international perspective and building a strong academic foundation.

THE Global Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Analysing the five-year trend in THE rankings reveals a university's consistency in performance, especially concerning its core missions of teaching and research.

The University of Exeter has consistently maintained its position within the top 200 universities worldwide in the THE rankings over the last five years. The data shows a slight fluctuation, which is common for universities in this competitive band, but its recent improvement from 177 to 172 in the 2025 rankings demonstrates a positive momentum. This stability, coupled with its Russell Group membership, assures students of a high-quality education and a degree that holds long-term value.

THE Subject Rankings 2025

Drilling down into THE's subject-specific rankings provides a granular view of Exeter's strengths. These rankings are a valuable tool for students to match their academic and career goals with the university's strongest departments.

The University of Exeter showcases excellence across a broad range of disciplines, with several subjects ranked in the global top 150.

Exeter's top-100 ranking in Arts and Humanities speaks to its world-class teaching and research in this area. Strong performances in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences further highlight its research intensity. For Indian students interested in Business or Engineering, Exeter provides a solid platform with its place in the top 250 globally, backed by a triple-accredited Business School and a growing engineering faculty.

Other Global Rankings (ARWU, U.S. News)

To get a complete picture, it's helpful to look at other major global rankings like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities. ARWU is known for its focus on research output and Nobel laureates, while U.S. News is widely followed for its emphasis on academic research and reputation.

The University of Exeter's consistent placement in the top 200 by ARWU underscores its status as a significant global research player. Its rank of #127 from U.S. News further solidifies its position as one of the leading universities in the world. This cross-system consistency demonstrates that Exeter's quality is recognised regardless of the methodology, providing a reliable signal of excellence to prospective students and employers.

Ranking Methodology Snapshot

Understanding what each ranking measures can help you interpret the results more effectively.

• QS World University Rankings: Focuses heavily on reputation. Key factors include Academic Reputation (30%) and Employer Reputation (15%), based on global surveys. It also considers Citations per Faculty (20%), Faculty/Student Ratio (10%), and metrics for internationalisation and sustainability. This is useful for gauging a university's brand value.
• Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings: Offers a more balanced approach. Its pillars are Teaching (29.5%), Research Environment (29%), Research Quality (30%), International Outlook (7.5%), and Industry (4%). This ranking is ideal for assessing the overall academic and research environment.

In simple terms, for an Indian student, a high QS rank suggests strong global prestige, while a high THE rank indicates a robust teaching and research ecosystem.

Exeter's dedication to creating a global learning environment is evident in its impressive international standing. According to world-renowned ranking systems, they achieve a 95.1 score for the International research network in the QS World University Rankings.

Additionally, THE World University Rankings highlight Exeter's strength in internationalisation with a score of 96.4 for international outlook.

These ranking systems go beyond simple scores. They evaluate universities on a global scale, considering factors that directly impact a student's experience and the university's influence on the world stage. 

These factors include the prestige of:

• Academic programs
• Research productivity
• International Diversity

• Industry connections and more. 

   

Exeter's exceptional performance in these areas underscores its commitment to fostering a truly global learning environment.

The QS World University Rankings use a methodology based on 10 indicators:

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings use a multi-indicator approach that is divided into five main areas:

The ARWU Ranking Methodology, also known as the Shanghai Ranking, uses six objective indicators to evaluate universities worldwide:

The US News Global Universities Ranking uses 13 objective indicators to evaluate universities worldwide: