University Rankings
Dates to know
Tracking key global ranking activities
Tracking the release dates of key global academic rankings is easy, but keeping up with the intricate, year-round processes that produce each ranking can be challenging. The timelines below, categorized by ranking, highlight important dates to assist you in planning and incorporating significant milestones into your strategy.
Note: The timeframes listed are derived from publicly available sources. For precise dates and comprehensive steps to follow, we recommend reaching out to specific ranking organizations directly.
Additionally, tools are available to help you both analyze past ranking outcomes and track progress toward upcoming cycles. You'll find more about these tools at the bottom of this page.
QS University Rankings
QS publishes its rankings, including the World University Rankings and Rankings by Subject, in early June each year, coinciding with their EduData conference. Key research and data analysis stages commence in September.
THE World University Rankings
THE’s World University Rankings cycle begins in November and concludes in October when they announce the results at their World Academic Summit event.
THE Sustainability Impact Ratings
THE’s Sustainability Impact Ratings follow a different timeline than their World University Rankings, running from June to June. Institutions can express their interest in being included when registration opens in June, and announcements are made the following June at the GSD Congress*.
*GSD Congress = Global Sustainable Development (GSD) Congress
More information about THE Sustainability Impact Ratings methodology
Additional World University Rankings
Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking)
Academic Reputation Survey (April - Early June of prior year)
Rankings announced (August)
CWTS Leiden Ranking
Rankings announced (June)
Important dates to track for Scopus and SciVal
As the ranking cycles draw near, it's vital to recognize the contributions of data from platforms like Scopus and SciVal. Elsevier collaborates with ranking organizations and research institutions to provide reliable bibliometric datasets and expertise. Below is a simple table to help you monitor when Elsevier supplies bibliometric data for THE and QS rankings, and when both the SciVal Rankings Analysis and the SciVal Ranking Tracker are updated with new data.
Making the most of SciVal for rankings
SciVal provides two distinct but complementary tools to support your rankings strategy.
SciVal Rankings Analysis
Lets you analyze the actual bibliometric data used in THE and QS ranking calculations — rather than using proxies. You can analyze your performance across each indicator, benchmark against peers at subject and faculty level and track trends over time to inform planning and strategy decisions.
SciVal Ranking Tracker
Provides early visibility into how your institution is progressing toward the next ranking cycle. Updated twice a year ahead of the official THE and QS World University Rankings releases, it shows whether you are tracking ahead of or behind previous performance, or benchmark against peer institutions.