Why UU is missing in the THE ranking

At present, the fact that Utrecht University no longer appears in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking does not seem to have a direct impact on chances to obtain a residence permit or search year. UU does currently still appear in the rankings of QS and the ShanghaiRanking - as well as those of CWTS Leiden, NTU, and others, for example.

The cooperation with QS has also been terminated, so it depends on QS policy how long UU will appear in this ranking. For the ShanghaiRanking, universities do not provide information. This ranking relies on public and paid sources. It is possible that UU will still be ranked there.

Despite the fact that UU no longer provides information for the rankings of THE and QS, they may continue to rank the institution. In many respects, including this one, it is not transparent how these rankings operate. In 2023, THE chose not to include UU in the 2024 rankings. Whether that will continue to be the case in future years depends on THE policy. In any case, UU will not submit information for rankings that do not adhere to principles of open science.

In some countries, the local Immigration and Naturalization Service sometimes makes it a condition of a residency permit/year of search that the educational institution from which the applicant graduated or to which the applicant wishes to attend is ranked in the top of at least two general or disciplinary rankings from the THE, QS or ShanghaiRanking. What that arrangement looks like may vary from country to country. 

The Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) also uses the rankings as a starting point. More information on that can be found on the IND website. The Expert Group of Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) has recommended discouraging the use of rankings with government agencies such as the IND and the Ministry of OCW, as Dutch universities consider active participation in rankings. UU will also discuss this in the UNL context.

UU has chosen to take a principled decision. This may have practical consequences for students and staff. The extent of the potential consequences will become clear in the coming years. Naturally, UU will keep an eye on where students and/or employees are inconvenienced by the absence of the UU in certain rankings. Nationally and internationally, UU will continue to make a strong case against the dominance of rankings for the international movement of talented students and researchers/teachers.

This decision was made in the context of Open Science and the cultural change Recognition and Rewards. UU, like many other Dutch and foreign universities, has been critical of rankings for a long time. UU has now chosen to no longer actively participate, as it is not in line with our values and ambitions and what we propagate in the (inter)national academic community. Other Dutch universities are also reconsidering their participation in rankings. See the news release and advisory document that the Dutch universities have jointly prepared on the effects of rankings on the academic community and how we should deal with it. We also see an international movement to resist the dominance of rankings, for example through More than Our Rank and COARA.

In recent days, UU received many positive reactions from around the world, but also questions. For some people, the absence of UU in the THE ranking may affect their perception of UU. We expect people to choose to study, work, or collaborate with UU based on content and quality, not on a spot in a ranking with limitations. 

We continue to advise students to compare the content and nature of degree programs. There are many tools available to do so responsibly. And we advise researchers and potential partners to continue to consider the nature of research programs, our academic culture and working conditions. We trust the knowledge and critical ability of our partners and do not expect that a place on a ranking will affect our international relations. Utrecht University will continue to be a good choice, now and in the future.