University of Surrey Ranking

For Indian students planning to study in the UK, choosing a university is a major life decision. University rankings are a crucial first step in this process, providing a clear measure of a university's global reputation, teaching quality, and research impact. This page offers a comprehensive look at the University of Surrey's rankings for 2026, using verified data from the world's most respected ranking systems: QS, Times Higher Education (THE), ARWU, and U.S. News. Our goal is to help you understand not just the numbers, but the story behind them, so you can make a confident choice.

QS World University Ranking 2026 – University of Surrey

The QS World University Rankings are one of the most-watched global league tables by Indian students. They provide a trusted snapshot of a university's standing based on factors like academic reputation, employer reputation, and international research networks. A strong QS rank is often seen as a benchmark for academic excellence and can significantly influence a graduate's career prospects.

University of Surrey: Current QS Global Rank (2026)

The latest data from QS shows a positive trend for the University of Surrey, placing it firmly among the world's leading institutions.

Ranking Body	Year	Global Rank
QS World University Rankings	2026	#262

The University of Surrey has climbed to #262 in the QS World University Rankings 2026, a notable improvement from its #285 position in 2025. This upward movement reflects the university's strengthening academic reputation and research output on the global stage, making it an increasingly attractive option for prospective students.

QS Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Looking at rankings over a five-year period provides a much clearer picture than a single year's data. It shows whether a university is on a consistent upward path, remaining stable, or facing challenges.

Year	QS Global Rank	Trend
2026	262	Improving
2025	285	Dropped
2024	244	Improving
2023	305	Dropped
2022	272	-

The University of Surrey's journey in the QS rankings shows a dynamic but overall positive trajectory. After a dip in 2025, the university has made a strong recovery in the 2026 rankings, surpassing its position from two years ago. This resilience indicates a strong institutional focus on key ranking metrics and a commitment to growth, which is a positive sign for any student investing in their future there.

QS Subject Rankings 2026

For Indian students, the overall university rank is important, but the subject-specific rank is often what seals the deal. A university might be in the global top 300, but is it in the top 50 or 100 for your specific field, like Computer Science or Business? This data helps you match your academic goals with the university's strengths.

The University of Surrey is globally recognised for its excellence in several key disciplines, particularly those related to science, technology, and hospitality.

Subject	QS Global Rank (2025/2026 Data)
Hospitality & Leisure Management	Top 15
Engineering - Petroleum	Top 20
Engineering and Technology	#270
Business and Management Studies	#151-200
Computer Science & Information Systems	#251-300
Nursing	#101-150
Law and Legal Studies	#251-300
Economics & Econometrics	#251-300

The University of Surrey's standout performance is in Hospitality and Leisure Management, where it consistently ranks among the world's absolute best. This makes it a premier choice for students interested in this field. Its engineering programs, especially Petroleum Engineering, also demonstrate world-class strength. For popular courses like Business and Computer Science, Surrey holds very respectable positions, placing it in the top tier globally and ensuring a high-quality education.

Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking 2026 – University of Surrey

The Times Higher Education (THE) rankings place a stronger emphasis on research, teaching environment, and industry income. For Indian students focused on research-intensive Master's or PhD programs, the THE rankings offer valuable insights into a university's research prowess and its connections with industry.

University of Surrey: THE Global Rank (2025)

Ranking Body	Year	Global Rank
THE World University Rankings	2025	#201–250

(Note: THE 2026 rankings are typically released later in the year. The latest available data is for 2025.)

In the THE 2025 rankings, the University of Surrey is positioned in the 201–250 band. This marks a significant improvement from the 251-300 band in the previous year, highlighting the university's enhanced performance in research quality and international outlook—two key components of the THE methodology.

THE Global Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Year	THE Global Rank	Trend
2025	201–250	Improving
2024	251–300	Dropped
2023	201–250	Stable
2022	201–250	Stable
2021	251–300	-

The 5-year trend in THE rankings shows that the University of Surrey has a strong and stable position within the world's top 300 universities. The jump back into the 201-250 band for 2025 is a strong indicator of its academic resilience and focus on core research activities. This stability assures students about the enduring quality of the institution.

THE Subject Rankings 2026

Similar to QS, the THE subject rankings provide a granular view of a university's strengths. This is particularly useful for aligning your choice with the university's top-performing departments.

University of Surrey: THE Subject Ranks (2025 Data)

Subject Area	THE Global Rank (2025)
Business and Economics	#95
Law	#56
Engineering	#126-150
Computer Science	#126-150
Social Sciences	#101-125
Clinical and Health	#251-300
Arts and Humanities	#201-250

The University of Surrey excels in Business, Economics, and Law, with both subjects ranked in or near the global top 100 by THE. This is a significant achievement and signals a high-quality destination for students pursuing these fields. Its Engineering and Computer Science programs are also ranked strongly within the top 150 globally, reinforcing their reputation as leading departments.

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

To get a truly holistic view, it's wise to look at other major international rankings like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and U.S. News Best Global Universities. ARWU is heavily focused on research output and Nobel laureates, while U.S. News also considers global and regional research reputation.

Ranking Body	Year	Global Rank
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking)	2024	#401-500
U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities	2025	#326

ARWU & U.S. News 5-Year Rank Trend

ARWU Ranking Trend:

Year	Ranking trend
2024	#401-500
2023	#301-400
2022	#301-400
2021	#301-400
2020	#301-400

U.S. News Ranking Trend:

Year	Ranking trend
2025	#326
2024	#327
2023	#370
2022	#422
2021	#409

The ARWU ranking, which is heavily weighted towards pure research, places Surrey in the 401-500 band. The U.S. News ranking shows a consistent and impressive upward trend over the last five years, moving from #422 to #326. This steady climb in the U.S. News rankings, which balances research with reputation, confirms the university's growing global stature. The difference between rankings highlights Surrey's balanced strengths in both teaching reputation (reflected better in QS/THE) and research output.

Ranking Methodology Snapshot for Students

Ever wonder why a university's rank is different in QS and THE? Here’s a simple breakdown for you:

• QS World University Rankings: Think of this as a "reputation-focused" ranking. It gives a lot of weight to what other academics and employers around the world think of the university. It also considers the faculty-student ratio and international diversity. For students concerned with brand value and job prospects, QS is very important.
• Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings: This is more of a "research-focused" ranking. It heavily measures a university’s research output, quality, influence (citations), and industry connections. If you are passionate about research and innovation, THE gives you a great idea of a university's impact.