Trinity moves up 30 places amid mixed results for Irish universities in world rankings

Trinity College now stands at 134th place out of more than 1,900 institutions worldwide in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024. File Picture: Irish Examiner

Ireland’s top-ranked university has climbed almost 30 places in the latest set of global rankings which overall show mixed results for Irish universities.

Trinity College Dublin regained almost 30 places in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024, now standing at 134th place out of more than 1,900 institutions worldwide.

The university slipped to 161st in the rankings for 2023, citing underfunding and high student to staff ratios. While the 2024 rankings remain mainly static for most Irish universities, the University of Limerick has ranked among the world’s top 500 universities for the first time.

For 2024, UL has ranked somewhere between 401 and 500th place, marking a significant improvement on last year’s 601-800 ranking. It is the biggest year-on-year move of the Irish universities included in the annual rankings, which aim to act as the definitive list of the best universities in the world.

These rankings are not just numbers or symbols of prestige, according to UL president Professor Kerstin Mey. “They reflect a university’s global standing and its impact on society.

“These rankings not only reflect a university’s global impact but also serve as catalysts for attracting talent, fostering research, engaging with the community, and driving positive change.

“By striving for higher rankings, UL can position itself to be a leader in addressing the complex challenges of our time and shaping a more sustainable and innovative future.” 

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University College Dublin (UCD) retained its ranking for 2024, placing somewhere on the global list between 201 and 250.

Other universities that retained their rankings included the University of Galway (301–350), University College Cork (301–350), Dublin City University (401–500), Maynooth University (401–500), and Technological University Dublin (1001–1200).

The RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences dropped in this year’s set of rankings, from placing somewhere between 201 and 250 in 2023, to somewhere between 251 and 300 in 2024.

Top 10

Globally, the highest-ranked university in the world is the UK’s University of Oxford, which has taken the top spot for its eighth consecutive year. Stanford University has taken second place, making it the US’s top-ranked university, and in third place is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The UK has three universities in the top 10 globally, including the University of Cambridge in 5th place and Imperial College London in 8th. 

The US has seven universities in the top 10 including Harvard University, 4th, Princeton University, 6th, California Institute of Technology, 7th, University of California, Berkeley, 9th, and Yale University in 10th.

Phil Baty, THE chief global affairs officer said: “Simply being included in the ranking is something to celebrate, as we focus on a few thousand research-active, globally-focusing universities among tens of thousands of higher education institutions worldwide.”