Ranking Page: University of Cambridge

In the QS World University Rankings 2025, the University of Cambridge holds the 5th position, while the THE World University Rankings place it at 5th globally. The university stands at 6th position globally in U.S. News rankings. 

Cambridge excels in subject rankings, securing 2nd in Arts and Humanities and Engineering and Technology in QS rankings. Nationally, it stands 1st in the Complete University Guide 2025. 

University of Cambridge World Rankings 2024-25

The University of Cambridge consistently ranks among the world's top institutions, reflecting its dedication to academic excellence.

Below, you will find the university's standings in major global rankings over the past three years.

The following visual representation illustrates Cambridge’s ranking trends over the past three years, providing a clearer view of its performance across major global rankings.

The University of Cambridge has maintained a strong position among the top global universities, though it experienced slight shifts in rankings. In the QS World University Rankings, Cambridge held the 2nd position in 2023 and 2024, dropping to 5th in 2025. The THE World University Rankings also saw a slight decline, with Cambridge moving from 3rd in 2023 to 5th in 2024 and 2025. 

However, its position in the U.S. News Best Global Rankings improved from 8th in 2023 to 6th in 2024 and 2025, indicating stronger research influence and global recognition. Despite these changes, Cambridge remains a powerhouse in higher education.

Next, we will examine how the University of Cambridge performs across various academic disciplines.

Subject-Wise Rankings of the University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge continues to excel in subject-specific rankings across global ranking systems. In the QS World University Rankings 2025, Cambridge ranks 2nd in Arts and Humanities and Engineering & Technology, maintaining its dominance in these fields. 

The Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 rankings place it 2nd in Life Sciences, while the U.S. News rankings highlight its strength in Biology and Biochemistry (6th) and Arts and Humanities (4th). 

This section delves into the University of Cambridge's performance across various disciplines in 2025.

QS Rankings 2025

Cambridge’s Arts and Humanities and Engineering & Technology programs rank 2nd globally, reinforcing its leadership in these disciplines. Additionally, Natural Sciences ranks 3rd, emphasizing its research influence.

Below are the top five subject rankings for Cambridge in the QS 2025 assessment:

These rankings highlight Cambridge's strengths across a diverse range of academic fields.

Next, we will explore the university's performance in the Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings for 2025.

THE Rankings 2025

The university’s Life Sciences program ranks 2nd globally, reflecting its groundbreaking research. Clinical, Pre-clinical, and Health ranks 3rd, confirming Cambridge’s strength in medical sciences.

Here are Cambridge's top five subject rankings in the THE 2025 assessment:

These standings underscore Cambridge's prominent position in these academic areas.

Next, we will examine the university's subject-wise performance in the U.S. News Rankings for 2025.

U.S. News Rankings 2025

Cambridge ranks 6th in Biology and Biochemistry, highlighting its research output. Chemistry (19th) and Clinical Medicine (32nd) show competitive standings but room for improvement.

Below are Cambridge's top five subject rankings in the U.S. News 2025 assessment:

Also Read: Why Choose UK for Studying Abroad? Benefits & Reasons

These rankings reflect Cambridge's strong performance in these disciplines. Next, we will delve into the Miscellaneous Rankings for 2025.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

This section provides an overview of the University of Cambridge's standings in various national rankings for 2025.

Below are Cambridge's positions in prominent UK university league tables for 2025.

Also Read: Benefits of Studying in UK as Compared to India

The Complete University Guide's 1st place ranking reaffirms Cambridge's dominance in academia, particularly in research impact, graduate employability, and faculty quality. This ranking is expected given Cambridge’s long-standing reputation and its strong student outcomes.

The 3rd place ranking in The Guardian suggests that while Cambridge performs well overall, other universities may be improving in areas like teaching experience, student satisfaction, or inclusivity. Since 

The 4th place ranking in The Times and The Sunday Times suggests a well-rounded performance but highlights potential gaps in accessibility, teaching support, or student welfare. Universities with stronger outreach programs or student-friendly initiatives may have edged ahead.

Next, we will explore the excellence and achievements of the University of Cambridge campuses.

University of Cambridge Campuses: Excellence and Achievements

The University of Cambridge's campuses showcase a blend of academic distinction, cultural contributions, and community involvement, shaping its global reputation.

Academic Excellence

Cambridge's dedication to academic excellence is reflected in its numerous achievements, prestigious awards, and groundbreaking research contributions. These milestones highlight the university's leadership in education and innovation.

Below are key academic achievements that underline Cambridge's excellence:

These recognitions affirm Cambridge's status as a leader in global academia.

Next, we will explore the university’s cultural contributions.

Cultural Achievements

Cambridge's cultural heritage is rich, with its influence extending across literature, science, and the arts. The university has played a pivotal role in nurturing influential thinkers and artists.

Here are some notable cultural achievements:

These cultural achievements underscore Cambridge’s impact beyond academia.

Next, we will examine the university's community support initiatives.

Community Support

Cambridge is committed to community engagement, fostering initiatives that address societal challenges and promote well-being both locally and globally.

Highlighted below are key community support initiatives:

These initiatives reflect Cambridge’s dedication to making a positive societal impact. 

University of Cambridge: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

The University of Cambridge maintains a competitive acceptance rate, with undergraduate programs admitting approximately 16.35% of applicants.

Below is a comparison of select programs, their QS World Rankings, and corresponding acceptance rates:

These figures highlight the university's selectivity, especially in high-demand programs. Prospective students should consider both the prestige of the program and the competitiveness of admissions when applying.

Next, we will examine the methodologies employed by various ranking bodies.

Ranking Bodies Methodologies

University rankings are determined using diverse evaluation criteria that measure academic reputation, research output, teaching quality, and employability. Understanding the methodologies used by top-ranking organizations helps students make informed decisions when choosing an institution. 

Below, we break down the ranking systems of QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, and The Complete University Guide to reveal what factors shape Cambridge’s global standing.

QS World University Rankings

The QS World University Rankings focus on a combination of academic prestige, employability, research impact, and global engagement. Cambridge consistently ranks highly due to its strong academic reputation and research output.

In the 2025 QS rankings, research and faculty citations account for 50% of the overall score, highlighting the university’s influence on global academia.

 Below is a breakdown of these indicators and their respective weightings:

These metrics aim to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a university's performance across various domains.

Next, we will explore the methodology employed by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

The Times Higher Education rankings utilize 13 performance indicators The THE World University Rankings assess institutions based on teaching environment, research strength, international outlook, and industry collaborations. 

Cambridge’s strong research quality and teaching reputation ensure its competitive position in this ranking. A key distinction of THE’s methodology is its equal emphasis on teaching (30%), research (30%), and citations (30%), ensuring a balanced evaluation.

The table below outlines these areas and their respective weightings:

These indicators collectively measure a university's performance across its core missions.Next, we will examine the methodology of U.S. News and World rankings.

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

The U.S. News & World Report Rankings evaluate universities based on research performance, faculty credentials, and global reputation. The methodology considers factors like academic citations, regional research influence, and faculty-student ratio.

The following table details these criteria and their weightings:

Also Read: Exploring University of Cambridge Postgraduate Course Options

These measures aim to provide a comprehensive assessment of university performance across various aspects.

Conclusion

The University of Cambridge maintains its top-tier status globally, ranking 5th in QS World University Rankings 2025 and 5th in THE Rankings. Its Engineering & Technology and Arts & Humanities programs rank 2nd globally, while Life Sciences ranks 2nd in THE rankings. 

Nationally, Cambridge holds the 1st position in the Complete University Guide 2025. Despite minor ranking fluctuations, Cambridge’s research excellence, academic reputation, and graduate employability solidify its status as one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.