This year ETH Zurich has placed sixth in the QS World University Rankings – better than ever before. ETH has risen one place compared to last year’s QS ranking, continuing the upward trend of previous years. “We are very pleased about this great ranking. It provides yet more proof that ETH Zurich is on the right track in teaching, research and technology transfer, and it shows that we can hold our own against other top universities in an increasingly competitive environment,” says ETH President Joël Mesot. "Such success is only possible thanks to the excellent skills and high level of commitment of the ETH staff.”

The leader in continental Europe

The top spots in QS rankings have so far been taken by American and British universities. Once again, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has taken first place. Coming sixth in this latest QS ranking, ETH Zurich is the second-best European university after the University of Oxford and ahead of the University of Cambridge. ETH Zurich has been regarded as the best university in continental Europe for some time now. This is also reflected in other university rankings.

As ETH President Mesot points out, all universities around the globe know that such comparisons should be taken with a pinch of salt. “Nevertheless, we can be very proud. Particularly of the fact that the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology – ETH Zurich and EPFL – have placed very highly in all the rankings for years.” But he says that this success cannot be taken for granted. “Switzerland needs to work actively to ensure that the good financial and political framework for the ETH Domain and for Switzerland as a science hub remain in place in the coming years,” said Mesot.

The QS ranking is based on the results of surveys among scientists and employers regarding the quality of universities. Factors such as academic publications, the staff-student ratio and the universities’ international outlook are also taken into account. ETH’s reputation among scientists and employers has improved since last year. As these two aspects hold a particularly strong weighting in the QS ranking – together they account for 50 percent of the overall rating – this is likely a significant reason for the university’s improved ranking this year.

QS World University Ranking 2020

published in June 2019