![\"Oxford](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/102814681-15174257-image-a-9_1759937286691.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOxford is still the best university in the world despite the worst performance in a decade from the UK overall, according to new rankings.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Times Higher Education (THE) league tables found that while some of our universities are still world-leading, there are \u2018clear warning signs of UK decline\u2019.<\/p>\n
It comes amid a financial crisis in the sector, caused by rising costs and a reduction in the number of international students following changes to visa rules.<\/p>\n
Experts said it represented a \u2018shift in the balance of power\u2019 from Western universities to the \u2018rising stars of the East\u2019 as part of a \u2018new world order\u2019.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Professor Irene Tracey, Oxford\u2019s vice chancellor, said she was \u2018honoured\u2019 to get first place but warned of \u2018a time of real strain for UK higher education\u2019.<\/p>\n
She added: \u2018Sustaining a dynamic and globally competitive sector requires renewed investment and support, so that universities can continue to drive discovery, opportunity and economic growth for future generations.\u2019<\/p>\n
The respected rankings, which have been running for 21 years, placed 49 UK universities in its top 500.<\/p>\n
This is the first time since 2016 that the UK has featured fewer than 50 times.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Oxford (pictured) is still the best university in the world despite the worst performance in a decade from the UK overall, according to new rankings<\/p>\n
The UK is now the joint fourth most represented country in the rankings, down from joint third last year, and lagging behind the USA, India and Japan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A total of 28 UK universities lost ground in the ranking, more than double the 13 that made improvements, while 64 retained their positions.<\/p>\n
The UK did well in some areas, but saw a fall in scores for research strength, and the student-staff ratio grew from 16.8 to 20.5 students per teacher.<\/p>\n
Phil Baty of THE said: \u2018There are clear warning signals of serious decline for the UK\u2019s \u201cjewel in the crown\u201d university sector, as the full extent of the sector\u2019s financial crisis kicks in with mass redundancies and course closures.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018This year\u2019s rankings highlight a dramatic and accelerating trend \u2013 the shift in the balance of power in research and higher education excellence from the long-established, dominant institutions of the West to rising stars of the East.<\/p>\n
\u2018We appear to be shifting towards a new world order and a new, Eastern centre of gravity for new knowledge creation and innovation, and the UK must act to support its university sector if it is not to miss out.\u2019<\/p>\n
Of the top performers, Oxford was placed number one for the 10th consecutive year, due to its research and teaching excellence.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Cambridge rose to third position and Imperial College London has rose to eighth position.<\/p>\n
The UK had 11 universities in the global top 100, including University College London, Edinburgh and King\u2019s College London.<\/p>\n
However, other top universities suffered losses, with London School of Economics (LSE) suffering its worst ever performance by dropping from joint 50th to 52nd place.<\/p>\n
Warwick also had its worst year on record, dropping to 122nd from 106.<\/p>\n
Global rankings of the top 10 UK universities\u00a0 <\/p>\n
1. University of Oxford, UK<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0University of Cambridge, UK<\/p>\n
8. Imperial College London, UK<\/p>\n
22. University College London, UK<\/p>\n
29. University of Edinburgh, UK<\/p>\n
38. King\u2019s College London, UK<\/p>\n
52. London School of Economics, UK<\/p>\n
56. University of Manchester, UK<\/p>\n
80. University of Bristol, UK<\/p>\n
84.\u00a0University of Glasgow, UK\u00a0<\/p>\n