Brunel recognised for research impact and international outlook in latest QS Europe rankings.
Brunel University of London has scored top10 status among UK universities for both the global impact of its research and the diversity of its academic community.
The 2026 QS World University Rankings: Europe published today reflect the University’s strong momentum in research, global connections, and student outcomes.
Brunel is ranked 6th in the UK and 13th in Europe for research impact, based on how often researchers around the world cite, or namecheck its work. This European ranking marks a rise of 24 places since 2025. Engineering and Technology stands out as the area with the most quoted research followed by Social Sciences and Management.
“Together, these results underline Brunel’s growing research reputation and its strength as a globally connected, high-impact university,” said ViceChancellor and President of Brunel, Professor Andrew Jones. “They also reinforce its appeal as a partner of choice for international collaboration and research investment,” added Professor Jones who co-chairs ResearchPlus, a strategic partnership of UK research-focused universities that seeks to provide a collective voice and to advance the social and economic contribution of research-focused universities. These universities constitute a critical element of the UK’s research and innovation system, delivering vital research-informed education and advanced skills.
Research impact is judged on the number of citations, which is the way academics recognise each other’s work. When a new research paper references a previous study, it signals that the earlier research made a valuable contribution. Brunel’s high citation rate means its research is being used, trusted, and built upon in universities, labs, and institutions across the world.
Brunel also shines as one of the UK’s most international campuses. It ranks 7th in the UK for international student diversity with more than 50% of its students coming from outside the UK. And it is14th in the UK for international academic staff.
Published by British marketing company Quacquarelli Symonds, the QS ranks 958 higher education institutions in Europe and 129 in the UK on research, employment, learning, sustainability and ‘global engagement’, which looks at ratios of international students, staff and collaboration.
Find a full breakdown of how Brunel fared in each QS category.
Because it is the only international ranking that has International Ranking Expert Group (IREG) approval, the QS is viewed as one of the most widely read university league tables. Indeed, it is the table potential students, academics and employers overseas look to most.
University rankings, like the QS Europe help prospective students and parents see which universities excel in the areas that matter to them.
Reported by:
Hayley Jarvis,
Media Relations
press-office@brunel.ac.uk