How Do Students Use Rankings?

This new report explores the key motivations driving international students to consult university rankings, and how the results feed into their decisions. The report, launched  in collaboration with the QS Intelligence Unit, also addresses the question of what the ideal “student-created ranking” would look like, and assesses the relative importance of university rankings compared to other factors.

Based on an international student survey and a series of in-depth focus groups, the report covers:

  • Students’ preferred types of ranking and most-valued indicators

  • Motivations for using rankings and attitudes to university reputation

  • Demand for additional resources and extensions to university rankings

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