World’s 50 Most International Universities, 2017 Ranking

ETH Zurich has been named the world’s most international university by the Times Higher Education (THE), a new measure based on the number of overseas students and staff and the strength of cross-border research collaborations and international reputations.

At a time of great uncertainty for the British economy, the list shows how important international students and staff are to the UK’s higher elite universities.

Countries which welcome talented international students and staff with open arms would see their universities strengthen, the report also warns that the standing of U.K. universities is under threat from U.K. immigration policy.

The UK Government’s refusal to remove international students from its net immigration targets has left universities increasingly concerned about their ability to attract students and academics from abroad.

Reports last month emerged that the UK Home Office was considering cutting the number of international students by half in a bid to reduce immigration numbers.

The globalization of higher education means universities increasingly rely on their ability to attract talent from around the world to maintain and enhance their reputations.

Switzerland’s two federal technology universities ETH Zurich (1st) and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (2nd) claimed the top two places, followed by the University of Hong Kong (third), and the National University of Singapore (forth).

Half of the top ten was dominated by British universities, including Imperial College London (fifth), University of Oxford (sixth), University of Cambridge (eighth) and University College London (ninth) and the London School of Economics and Political Science in tenth place. Australian National University was ranked the seventh most international university in the world.

The world’s 50 most international universities, 2017 Ranking

Photo: ETH Zurich