The Global Perspective

The journey to choosing a university is often complex, involving a careful balance of academic reputation, student experience, and career prospects. For many prospective students, the oxford brookes university ranking is a critical piece of the puzzle offering a snapshot of its standing on both the national and international stage. Far from being a simple number, the university’s performance across various global and national league tables reveals a compelling story of consistent growth, specialized excellence, and a strong commitment to student success.

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Oxford Brookes University Rankings

Oxford Brookes University has firmly established itself as a globally recognized institution, demonstrating impressive momentum in the most influential international rankings. Its performance is particularly noteworthy in the QS World University Rankings, a key metric for international students and academics alike.

QS World University Rankings 2026

In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Oxford Brookes achieved a significant milestone, securing the 374th position globally out of 1,501 evaluated institutions. This placement is a clear indicator of the university’s rising international profile, positioning it within the top 25% of universities worldwide.

The university’s success in the QS rankings is driven by exceptional scores in metrics related to internationalisation and reputation.

QS Ranking Metric	Score/Rank	Insight
Overall Global Rank	#374	Top 25% of global universities evaluated.
International Student Ratio	89.8	Reflects a highly diverse and welcoming campus environment.
International Student Diversity	143rd globally	Strong performance in a new indicator, highlighting global appeal.
Employer Reputation	62.3	Indicates strong regard from employers worldwide.
National Rank (UK)	38th out of 90	Solidifies its position among the top UK institutions.

This strong international outlook is a hallmark of the university with 36% of its student body comprising international students. The focus on creating a diverse global learning environment is a major factor contributing to the positive Oxford Brookes University Ranking trajectory.

World University Rankings 2026

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings provide a different lens, focusing heavily on research, teaching, and industry engagement. In the 2026 edition, Oxford Brookes was ranked in the 801–1000th band globally.

While this ranking differs from the QS result, a closer look at the underlying metrics reveals areas of significant strength, particularly in research quality and international collaboration.

Ranking Metric	Score	Insight
Research Quality	53.9	A strong score indicating high-quality, impactful research output.
International Outlook	88.1	Confirms the university's global engagement in research and teaching.
Teaching	26.9	Reflects the quality of the learning environment.
Industry	30.6	Demonstrates successful knowledge transfer and commercialization.

The university’s commitment to research is further underscored by its performance in the Research Quality metric, which is a key component of the THE methodology.

National Standing: A Top-Tier UK University

On the national front, Oxford Brookes University consistently ranks among the top modern universities in the UK, often outperforming older, more established institutions in key areas of student experience and graduate outcomes.

The Complete University Guide 2026

The Complete University Guide (CUG) 2026 places Oxford Brookes at 48th out of 130 UK institutions. This ranking is particularly valuable as it provides a detailed breakdown of performance across several student-centric metrics.

CUG Ranking Metric	Rank (out of 130)	Insight
Overall Rank	48th	A strong top-50 position nationally.
Graduate Prospects – On Track	42nd	High success rate for graduates securing professional employment or further study.
Graduate Prospects – Outcomes	50th	Excellent employment and salary prospects for alumni.
Student-Staff Ratio	9th	Exceptional score, indicating a highly personalized learning environment.

The university’s 9th place finish for Student-Staff Ratio is a standout achievement, suggesting a high level of individual attention and support for students, which directly contributes to a positive learning experience. This excellent national standing is a testament to the quality of education and support provided, making the Oxford Brookes University Ranking a compelling factor for UK applicants.

Guardian University Guide 2024

Further reinforcing its national reputation, the Guardian University Guide 2024 ranked Oxford Brookes at 38th in the UK. This ranking, which heavily weights student satisfaction and career prospects, highlights the university’s success in preparing students for the professional world.

World-Leading Specialisms

The true strength of Oxford Brookes often lies in its specialized subject areas, where it achieves world-leading status, particularly in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. This is where the Oxford Brookes University Ranking truly shines, demonstrating focused, high-impact teaching and research.

In the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the university was recognized as a global leader in 23 subject areas, an increase from 21 the previous year. This broad-based excellence across a wide range of disciplines is a rare achievement.

Top Performing Subjects Globally

The university boasts several subjects that rank in the top tier globally, attracting students and faculty from around the world.

Subject Area	Global Rank (QS 2025)	UK Rank (QS 2025)
Hospitality and Leisure Management	21st	2nd
Business & Management Studies	Top 100	Highly Ranked
Marketing	Top 100	Highly Ranked

The Hospitality and Leisure Management program, in particular, is a powerhouse, ranking 21st globally and an impressive 2nd in the UK. This subject-specific success provides a strong foundation for the university’s overall reputation.

National Subject Leadership

The Guardian University Guide 2024 also recognized Oxford Brookes for its national leadership, placing it in the UK top 10 for 10 subjects. This includes:

•Children’s Nursing: 1st in the UK

•Midwifery: 2nd in the UK

•Journalism: 2nd in the UK

•Graphic Design: 3rd in the UK

These results demonstrate that for specific vocational and professional courses, Oxford Brookes is not just a strong contender, but a national leader, offering unparalleled education and career preparation.

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Employability and Graduate Success

Beyond the league tables, the ultimate measure of a university’s value is the success of its graduates. Oxford Brookes places a strong emphasis on employability, with work placements and industry experience built into its teaching model.

The data confirms the effectiveness of this approach: 91% of Oxford Brookes graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduating. This figure, based on the HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey, is a powerful testament to the university’s focus on career readiness. The high scores in the CUG’s Graduate Prospects metrics further solidify this reputation, showing that students are not only finding jobs but are also on track for successful, high-earning careers.

Conclusion

The diverse data from multiple sources paints a clear picture of Oxford Brookes University: it is an institution defined by its momentum in global rankings and its specialized excellence in key subject areas.

While the overall global ranking varies depending on the methodology from the top 25% globally in QS to the 801–1000 band, the consistent thread is one of strong international engagement, high-quality research, and exceptional student outcomes. The national Oxford Brookes University Ranking is consistently strong, placing it firmly in the top half of all UK universities and often in the top 50.

For prospective students, the rankings should be viewed as a guide, not a final verdict. The university’s world-leading subject positions, its top-10 performance in key vocational courses, and its outstanding graduate employability rate collectively offer a compelling case. Oxford Brookes University is a modern, dynamic institution that successfully balances a global outlook with a personalized, career-focused student experience, making it a powerful choice for the next generation of students.