University of Salford Ranking

For Indian students planning to study in the UK, choosing a university is a major decision. Global university rankings are a crucial factor in this process, offering a clear measure of an institution's academic quality, research impact, and international reputation. A strong ranking can significantly enhance the value of your degree in the global job market.

This page provides a detailed analysis of the University of Salford's performance in the world's most respected international rankings. Our goal is to give you a transparent, data-driven overview of its global and subject-specific standings, helping you make an informed choice for your higher education journey. We will focus exclusively on trusted global sources: QS, Times Higher Education (THE), ARWU, and U.S. News & World Report.

QS World University Ranking 2026 – University of Salford

The QS World University Rankings are one of the most-watched league tables globally, heavily weighted on academic and employer reputation. For Indian students, a university's QS rank is often a primary indicator of its international standing and the potential career opportunities post-graduation.

The University of Salford is positioned in the #901-950 band in the QS World University Rankings 2026. This placement groups it with other significant global universities known for their solid academic programmes and research.

The University of Salford maintains a stable position within the top 1000 universities worldwide. While not in the elite tier, this ranking signifies its role as a competitive public university with a strong focus on practical, industry-relevant education, which is a major advantage for students seeking employment after their studies.

QS Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Analysing ranking trends over time provides deeper insight than a single-year snapshot. It shows whether a university's reputation is rising, stable, or declining.

The University of Salford's ranking has seen some fluctuation within the 801-1000 band over the past five years. The slight downward shift from the 851-900 band in 2024 to the 901-950 band for 2025 and 2026 is a point to note. This could be due to increased competition from other global universities or changes in QS's methodology. However, its overall position remains consistent, indicating a stable, recognised institution rather than one experiencing rapid decline. For an Indian student, this stability ensures that the degree's value will remain consistent.

QS Subject Rankings 2025

For many students, the ranking of their specific subject of interest is more important than the university's overall rank. These rankings highlight an institution's strengths in particular academic fields. The latest available subject-specific data from QS is for the year 2025.

Here’s how the University of Salford performs in subjects popular with Indian students:

The University of Salford shows notable strength in Architecture & Built Environment, placing it in the top 250 globally. This is a significant achievement and makes it a compelling choice for students in this field. Its rankings in Computer Science and Business are more modest but still demonstrate a global presence. The absence of a ranking in specific engineering fields suggests that students focused on those disciplines should research departmental strengths more deeply.

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 – University of Salford

The Times Higher Education (THE) rankings are another pillar of global university assessment, with a strong emphasis on research quality, teaching environment, and international outlook. The latest available data is for the 2025 ranking cycle.

In the THE World University Rankings 2025, the University of Salford is placed in the #801-1000 band.

This result aligns closely with the QS ranking, reinforcing Salford's position as a globally recognised institution. The THE methodology places significant weight on research citations and teaching environment, so this ranking suggests a solid performance in these areas, which is beneficial for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

THE Global Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

The University of Salford has demonstrated remarkable consistency in the THE rankings, remaining within the 801-1000 band for the last five years. This stability is a positive signal for prospective students, indicating that the university maintains a steady standard of teaching, research, and international engagement. It suggests a reliable and well-established academic environment.

THE Subject Rankings 2025

THE's subject rankings offer another lens through which to view the university's areas of excellence.

According to THE, the University of Salford's strongest field is Computer Science, ranking in the top 400 globally. This is a significant highlight for Indian students, as CS is one of the most sought-after degrees. The Engineering programme also holds a respectable position in the top 500. These subject-specific ranks from THE provide a more positive outlook for tech-focused students than the broader QS results.

Other Global Rankings (ARWU & U.S. News) 2025

To provide a complete picture, it's helpful to look at rankings from other major systems like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities. Each uses a different methodology, offering a unique perspective.

5-Year Rank Trend (U.S. News)

The University of Salford is not listed in the ARWU 2024 rankings, which heavily prioritise Nobel Prize-winning faculty and highly cited researchers. This is common for universities with a stronger focus on practical teaching and industry links rather than pure academic research. The U.S. News ranking places Salford just outside the top 1000, which is consistent with its QS and THE positions. The trend shows stability, confirming its status as a consistent global performer.

Ranking Methodology Snapshot for Indian Students

Understanding what these rankings measure is key. Here’s a simple breakdown:

• QS World University Rankings: Focuses heavily on reputation. It surveys thousands of academics and employers worldwide. For students, this means a QS rank often reflects how well-known and respected a university is among future employers.
• Key Factors: Academic Reputation (30%), Employer Reputation (15%), Citations per Faculty (20%), Faculty/Student Ratio (10%).
• Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings: Provides a more balanced view between teaching and research. It looks at research volume and reputation, but also at the teaching environment and international collaboration.
• Key Factors: Teaching (29.5%), Research Environment (29%), Research Quality (30%), International Outlook (7.5%), Industry (4%).

For an Indian student, this means:

• A high QS rank might suggest better global brand recognition.
• A high THE rank might suggest a stronger and more supportive academic and research environment.