Cambridge has slipped down global university rankings while Chinese universities close in as experts warn the old 'world order' is on the 'brink of change'.
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order → slip → change
League tables from the respected Times Higher Education (THE) magazine show Cambridge has fallen to fifth in the world this year, down from joint third.
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Cambridge → show → third
In addition, while Oxford is still top of the world, it is only ahead of runner-up Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US by 'the slimmest of margins', according to THE, at 0.1 points.
uncertain
it → accord → points
Overall, the UK has 25 universities in the top 200 – one fewer than last year.
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UK → have → year
Among these, 12 improved, three maintained their position and ten fell.
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ten → improve → position
In contrast, China has broken a three-year stalemate, in which its number of top 200 universities stalled at 13 since the 2024 edition of the rankings.
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number → break → rankings
This year there are 17 Chinese universities in the top 200, 71 per cent of which improved their positions.
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cent → be → positions
The top Chinese university this year is Tsinghua University, which overtook Switzerland's ETH Zurich for 11th place, moving up one spot.
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which → overtake → place
This means it now outranks the top university in mainland Europe.
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it → mean → Europe
Similarly, Peking University, also in China, held 13th place in the ranking – the same as last year.
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University → hold → year
Meanwhile, the National University of Singapore moved up two spots to 15th, meaning there are now three Asian universities in the top 15 for the first time.
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University → move → time
The THE said: 'Western universities' monopoly on the highest echelons of global academia looks increasingly shaky, with traditional powerhouse institutions relying on the enduring strength of their reputations to offset weakening research performance.
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institutions → say → performance
The rankings show Asian campuses resuming their march up the table after a brief pause… suggesting that the longstanding world order could be on the brink of definitive change.'
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order → show → change
THE ranked 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories across the world in five areas: teaching, research quality, research environment, international outlook and industry.
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THE → rank → areas
China's Zhejiang University (joint 34th) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (39th) overtook King's College London, which dropped from 38th to 40th place in the league table.
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which → overtake → table
The London School of Economics and Political Science returned to the top 50 in 47th place.
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School → return → place
Phil Baty, THE's chief global affairs officer, said: 'The latest world university rankings suggest that we are witnessing a historic realignment of academic power from west to east.'
Cambridge (pictured) has slipped down global university rankings while Chinese universities close in as experts warn the old 'world order' is on the 'brink of change'
He added: 'There are many symbolic landmarks in the 2027 rankings: the lowest number of US and UK universities we have ever had in the world top 200 and the highest ever for China; the first time we have three Asian universities in the world top 15; the first time a Chinese university is ahead of any in continental Europe.
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university → say → Europe
'But the underlying data show that the seismic shift runs deeper than the eye-catching headlines – we are entering a new era that will remake the geography of academic excellence.
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that → underlie → excellence
The UK sector's financial crisis is really starting to hit the country's performance in the rankings: on all income metrics – institutional income, research income and industry income – UK universities are decreasing relative to the rest of the world and they are down significantly on research strength and productivity.
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they → start → strength
US universities dominated the top ten with seven positions, with MIT taking second place and Princeton and Stanford universities taking joint third place.
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universities → dominate → place
In total, the US has 53 institutions in the top 200, two fewer than last year.
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US → have → year
Among these, 33 per cent increased their position while 46 per cent fell.
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cent → increase → position
It comes amid a row over funding for higher education in the UK, with universities saying they do not receive enough from tuition fees and the government to cover costs.
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they → come → costs
THE said the UK is 'particularly suffering' from financial challenges, with all income metrics – institutional income, research income and industry income – decreasing relative to the rest of the world and research strength and productivity down significantly.
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strength → say → world
Ming Chen, professor of higher education at Sheffield Hallam University, told THE: 'Financial challenges across UK higher education threaten the global standing of universities and will damage the sector if the government doesn't offer support.'
She added: 'They have been under extreme pressure to operate like businesses to cope with rising operational costs, but this business model has failed.'
Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, said: 'We are immensely proud that the University of Oxford has been ranked the world's number one university for a record-breaking eleventh consecutive year by one of the leading and most rigorous ranking systems.
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University → tell → systems
'What particularly pleases me is the depth and breadth of excellence this result reflects.
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result → please → excellence
'From the quality and impact of our research to our thriving innovation ecosystem and global networks, all alongside uncompromising and outstanding teaching and student experience, Oxford is performing at the highest level in what is an increasingly competitive space.
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what → thrive → level
'This is something to celebrate and it is a testament to the extraordinary talent and dedication of our academics, students and professional services staff across the collegiate university as well as the rich higher education environment in which we operate.'
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we → celebrate → which
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