The QS Rankings are among the most respected international university rankings. Universities are assessed based on a broad spectrum of 10 quality indicators grouped into five key categories:
- Research and academic impact: measured by metrics such as citations per faculty member
- Academic and employer reputation: based on global surveys of academics and employers
- Learning experience: with a particular focus on the faculty-to-student ratio
- International outlook: including the proportion of international students and lecturers and the strength of international research partnerships
- Sustainability: evaluating a university’s ecological and social impact
These criteria are regularly refined and subject to strict data validation. The 2026 edition, for example, explicitly includes international student diversity for the first time.
The University of Bayreuth performed particularly well in the following areas:
- Faculty-to-student ratio: 272nd worldwide, 18th in Germany
- International research network: 306th worldwide, 28th in Germany
- Sustainability: Rank 316th worldwide, rank 19th in Germany
- International faculty: Ranked 365th worldwide, 12th in Germany
- International student diversity: (having 125 nationalities on campus) 462nd worldwide, 21st in Germany
Bayreuth also continues its upward trajectory in citations per faculty and international student enrolment, maintaining its position among the world’s top 500 universities in these categories.
“Being ranked once again among the world’s top 500 universities is clear evidence of the high quality of our research, our excellent student support and our international visibility,” emphasized University President Prof. Dr. Stefan Leible.
