In the newly published Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2025, the University of Edinburgh was ranked first in Scotland, fifth in the UK, and 30th worldwide.
My initial reaction was a sense of relief; last September, while preparing to begin my academic journey at what I believed was a prestigious institution, I learned that the university had disappointingly ranked 17th in The Times UK University Rankings. As an international student who will be paying well over £100,000 in tuition by graduation, I suddenly and unknowingly became defensive and critical of the university.
This initial disappointment led me to take a closer look at university rankings, particularly their inconsistencies. Why do these rankings differ so drastically? The World Reputation Ranking is based on nominations from over 55,000 scholars globally, with a heavy emphasis on research; 59 per cent of the score is tied to research quality and environment, while teaching accounts for 29.5 per cent. And even within that 29.5 per cent, the focus is on metrics like student-staff ratio, doctorate-bachelor ratio, and institutional income. Simply put, student voices – especially those of undergraduates – are barely considered.
I’m not here to argue that The Times’ higher education ranking methodology is flawed, or that the University of Edinburgh doesn’t deserve its high ranking. I do question, however, is the university prioritising its research prestige while neglecting the interests of its students?
I looked into where students are struggling the most. According to National Student Survey (NSS) results on DiscoverUni, a website that provides comparable sets of information about undergraduate courses, students feel their feedback isn’t taken seriously. Satisfaction is particularly low when it comes to receiving timely and constructive assessment feedback. This term, I came across multiple students who didn’t receive their exam results until after 6 February, despite the university saying they would be released by then. The survey also indicates that students don’t feel well-represented by the Students’ Association when it comes to academic concerns. For mental well-being support, satisfaction rates across most courses sit below 50 per cent.
The Complete University Guide 2025, which provides a more comprehensive result of the NSS, ranks Edinburgh 121st in the UK for student satisfaction, with a score of 2.95 out of 4. Ironically, the University of Edinburgh has a lower student-staff ratio – meaning fewer students per staff member – currently sitting at 12.3, lower than other prestigious universities. London School of Economics and Political Science and Durham University have scores of 12.8 and 13.5, respectively, and those universities rank far higher in student satisfaction.
Personally, I haven’t struggled with accessing academic support or receiving feedback, but I recognize that many students have. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder, are students making full use of the resources available to them? Are we reaching out to professors and tutors as proactively as we should?
I can’t speak for the mental health services, as I haven’t used them, but in terms of academic support, my experience so far has been positive. Part of the dissatisfaction may stem from our own expectations – our inability to recognize or appreciate the support that does exist. Maybe the real issue isn’t just the university failing its students, but students failing to engage with what’s already there.
University rankings shape perceptions, but they don’t capture the full picture. Perhaps the real challenge lies not just in what the university provides, but in how students choose to engage with it.
“Old College of Edinburgh University” by Kim Traynor is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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Edinburgh Ranks Fifth in UK, Is This Prestige Well-Earned?
In the newly published Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2025, the University of Edinburgh was ranked first in Scotland, fifth in the UK, and 30th worldwide.
My initial reaction was a sense of relief; last September, while preparing to begin my academic journey at what I believed was a prestigious institution, I learned that the university had disappointingly ranked 17th in The Times UK University Rankings. As an international student who will be paying well over £100,000 in tuition by graduation, I suddenly and unknowingly became defensive and critical of the university.
This initial disappointment led me to take a closer look at university rankings, particularly their inconsistencies. Why do these rankings differ so drastically? The World Reputation Ranking is based on nominations from over 55,000 scholars globally, with a heavy emphasis on research; 59 per cent of the score is tied to research quality and environment, while teaching accounts for 29.5 per cent. And even within that 29.5 per cent, the focus is on metrics like student-staff ratio, doctorate-bachelor ratio, and institutional income. Simply put, student voices – especially those of undergraduates – are barely considered.
I’m not here to argue that The Times’ higher education ranking methodology is flawed, or that the University of Edinburgh doesn’t deserve its high ranking. I do question, however, is the university prioritising its research prestige while neglecting the interests of its students?
I looked into where students are struggling the most. According to National Student Survey (NSS) results on DiscoverUni, a website that provides comparable sets of information about undergraduate courses, students feel their feedback isn’t taken seriously. Satisfaction is particularly low when it comes to receiving timely and constructive assessment feedback. This term, I came across multiple students who didn’t receive their exam results until after 6 February, despite the university saying they would be released by then. The survey also indicates that students don’t feel well-represented by the Students’ Association when it comes to academic concerns. For mental well-being support, satisfaction rates across most courses sit below 50 per cent.
The Complete University Guide 2025, which provides a more comprehensive result of the NSS, ranks Edinburgh 121st in the UK for student satisfaction, with a score of 2.95 out of 4. Ironically, the University of Edinburgh has a lower student-staff ratio – meaning fewer students per staff member – currently sitting at 12.3, lower than other prestigious universities. London School of Economics and Political Science and Durham University have scores of 12.8 and 13.5, respectively, and those universities rank far higher in student satisfaction.
Personally, I haven’t struggled with accessing academic support or receiving feedback, but I recognize that many students have. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder, are students making full use of the resources available to them? Are we reaching out to professors and tutors as proactively as we should?
I can’t speak for the mental health services, as I haven’t used them, but in terms of academic support, my experience so far has been positive. Part of the dissatisfaction may stem from our own expectations – our inability to recognize or appreciate the support that does exist. Maybe the real issue isn’t just the university failing its students, but students failing to engage with what’s already there.
University rankings shape perceptions, but they don’t capture the full picture. Perhaps the real challenge lies not just in what the university provides, but in how students choose to engage with it.
“Old College of Edinburgh University” by Kim Traynor is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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