If you’re looking to attend university or B.C. — or maybe see how well your alma mater compares — a new ranking of schools worldwide just dropped.
QS released the QS World University Rankings 2027, and the University of British Columbia (UBC) came in at 45. It was the only B.C. school to make the list, and one of three Canadian schools to make the top 100.
The 2027 QS World University Ranking evaluated a pool of over 8,000 universities to create its list of 1,500. It said that they “represent the best of the best when it comes to international higher education.”
Out of 100 points, UBC received 83.9.
Reputation-wise, UBC scores very high. It has a near-perfect score of 99.6 on academic reputation and 96.8 on employer reputation.
QS measured employer reputation by surveying employers worldwide, and academic reputation by asking academic experts to nominate schools based on their area of expertise.
They stressed that these are two of the most important indicators in their rankings.
“And with good reason. They provide unique tangible insights into the slippery concept of institutional reputation, driven by survey data that is unmatched in its scale in the sector.”
Another important aspect of the ranking is employment outcomes, for which UBC obtained 78.9 points.
QS noted that there is “increased scrutiny of graduate outcomes.”
It said that while employability has also been important, the era of AI and concerns about the future of work are amplifying it.
“Students investing time and money in a university education are starting to question whether their degree can deliver the rewards that it once promised.”
Pressure on international student and faculty recruitment
With the number of international students in Canada falling sharply in the past two years, QS said this trend is making an impact.
“While there is not widespread volatility in overall ranks, the impact of government policy and greater competition for talent from other locations is seen at indicator level,” wrote QS.
It added that this is most prevalent in the upper-mid range — universities in the top 200 but outside the top 20, like Canadian schools.
“While the elite institutions above them are somewhat shielded from these effects by their longstanding and high reputation, the institutions just below the threshold are starting to feel the winds of change, blown by an increasingly hostile policy environment as well as international competition.”
Five other Canadian schools made the ranking. McGill came in at 30, University of Toronto at 32, University of Alberta at 96, University of Waterloo at 113, and Western University at 142.
What do you think of the rankings? Are there any other B.C. universities that should have cracked the list?