The University of Exeter is among the top four higher education institutions in the world for the way it prioritises the health and wellbeing of its students and our broader society.
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, released this week, places Exeter first in the UK in this field, as part of its overall assessment of the top universities most committed to tackling environmental and social sustainability challenges.
Exeter was ranked 20th in the world (8th in the UK) for Knowledge Exchange, which assesses how well it partners with both developing regions and its local community, to share knowledge and spur educational growth.
The University was also among the top 50 global institutions for Environmental Research (3rd in the UK), which is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals*, and the top 50 for Environmental Education.
Overall, Exeter maintained its position in the global top 50 of the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, at joint 48th out of nearly 2,000 universities
Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “It’s great to see that Exeter has retained its place among the global top 50 universities most committed to tackling sustainability challenges, particularly in light of this year’s incredibly competitive field. It is testament to our commitment to a greener, healthier and fairer future, across research, education and the way we operate our University.”
The Sustainability Rankings contribute to QS’s overall World Rankings, and this year saw notable volatility, with several universities experiencing sizable increases or drops in the table.
Exeter’s position fell 16 places from 32nd last year, though the quality of its individual scores was largely consistent, with the number of institutions ranked increasing significantly. These include measures for Good Governance, Employability & Opportunities, Impact of Education, and Environmental Sustainability.
Notably, Exeter’s ranking for Impact of Education rose 150 places this year, to 117th in the world.
For more information, visit the QS Top Universities website, and the QS Sustainability Rankings Methodology pages.
*UN SDGs 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life on Land).
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