QS World University Rankings 2026
2025 was a positive year for Irish universities in a global context, as eight universities increased their global ranking, while two – the University of Galway and Ulster University – recorded a decline in QS World University Rankings.
University College Dublin had another successful year, rising by eight places, and is now close to being ranked as one of the 100 top universities in the world, while Trinity College Dublin remains the top-ranked university in the country. After rising by seven places, Queen’s University Belfast is now in the top 200 universities in the world.
The rankings are determined by key indicators which include academic reputation, staff-to-student ratios, citations per faculty, and the international dimensions of the workforce and student populations.
