Success in the QS World University Ranking 2026

For the current ranking, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) analyzed data from more than 8,460 universities worldwide. Around 1,500 of them were included in the ranking. The University of Stuttgart is ranked 310th overall (previous year: 314th) and is therefore once again among the top 21 percent of the universities listed. In terms of the almost 8,500 universities analyzed by QS, it is among the top 4 percent worldwide. This strong performance is due in part to its very good results in terms of citations per faculty and sustainability.

The university’s strong performance in citations per researcher and sustainability is particularly noteworthy. In both areas, it is ranked 253rd in an international comparison, placing it among the top 3 percent of universities analyzed worldwide and among the top 17 percent in the ranking itself.

How are graduates of the University of Stuttgart – and the education they receive –perceived by potential and current employers? The “Employer Reputation” indicator provides an answer to this question. Once again, the University of Stuttgart ranks among the top 3 percent of universities worldwide, securing 291st place - and placing within the top 19 percent of the 1,500 institutions included in the ranking."

The QS World University Ranking  has been published since 2004 and is considered one of the three leading international university rankings. Among other factors, the evaluation considers indicators such as "Citations per Faculty"(20%), "Sustainability" (5%), "Employer Reputation" (15%), and "Academic Reputation" (30%). Other criteria include the Faculty Student Ratio, 10 percent; International Students, 5 Percent - whereby the diversity of countries of origin is also taken into account for the first time; International Faculty, 5 percent; International Research Network, 5 percent; and Employment Outcomes, 5 percent.

Extended research mappings in the WUR 2026

In the current ranking edition, QS has increased the number of institutions included in the research indicators by over 65 percent compared to the previous year. This leads to more precise and comprehensive results, which are reflected in new rankings, particularly for the indicators “citations per faculty” and “international research networks”.