Birkbeck among best universities in the world for international outlook
The newly published Times Higher Education World University rankings for 2017-18 puts Birkbeck in the top third of more than a thousand leading universities, and in the top 10% of universities for international outlook, based on overseas staff, students and research collaborations.
Birkbeck has been recognised as one of the world’s top universities for its strong international showing in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University rankings 2017-18.
Overall, the newly-published table puts Birkbeck in the top third of more than a thousand leading universities scored by the respected annual league table, which is now in its 14th year.
The rankings use independently-audited measurements, examining 13 performance indicators, and are seen as the most comprehensive global university rankings. Universities from 77 countries were ranked, according to their achievements in teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. The table represents the top 5% of the world’s higher education institutions.
Birkbeck does particularly well in terms of its international outlook, figuring in the top 10% of universities, based on overseas staff, students and research collaborations.
This recognition of Birkbeck’s international strength comes as the university experiences an increase in applications from overseas students for full-time and part-time Master’s programmes, as well as full-time undergraduate courses. Full-time Master's in particular have seen applications rise year-on-year by 26%.
It comes on top of another recent success for Birkbeck after achieving a Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), the Government’s new system for rating university teaching.
In the THE rankings Birkbeck is placed in the top 350 of the 1,100 universities which have been ranked. It is in 39th position out of 93 UK institutions.
Professor Matthew Innes, Vice-Master of Birkbeck, University of London, said: “It is gratifying to see that Birkbeck continues to be so highly regarded as an international player in the latest THE World University Rankings.
"Birkbeck has always prided itself on being an open and inclusive intellectual community with internationalism at its heart. These values need championing more than ever, in a world where the both geographical mobility and rational enquiry are under increasing threat.
"In this climate, it is particularly pleasing to see Birkbeck at the forefront of those institutions recognised for their international outlook. We are successfully working to grow our international student body, especially at postgraduate level, and to safeguard the diverse international talent that characterises our staff. Our position endorses the success of Birkbeck in its ongoing mission to give working people access to the highest quality research and teaching across the sciences, social sciences and humanities.”