Introduction

While some people do not consider university ranking that important, others believe that it is the most critical factor when selecting a university to study at. Here are some of the benefits of attending a well-established university: extensive university resources, state-of-the-art facilities and technology, well-equipped libraries, advanced laboratories, specialised research centres, world-class experts, diverse learning environments, high-quality education, cutting-edge research, numerous research opportunities, excellent networking opportunities, international and influential alumni networks and industry connections that are not available anywhere else. This article examines the other three compelling reasons in greater depth: 1) increased eligibility for immigration programmes; 2) increased odds of winning scholarships; and 3) enhanced job prospects.

1. Increased eligibility for immigration programmes

Some countries welcome international students with degrees from the world’s top universities to seek employment and opportunities in their countries, allowing them to apply for citizenship after a certain number of years of residence. For example, the UK’s High Potential Individual (HPI) visa enables graduates from the world’s top 50 universities to stay in the UK for two years (or three years for PhD graduates) and look for work with no restrictions on the type of work they can do (GOV.UK, 2022a). To be eligible to apply for this visa, your university should have appeared in the top 50 of the three most prominent ranking systems (i.e., Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, and ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities, GOV.UK, 2022b). Once your HPI visa expires, you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa, which grants you the right to continue working in the UK for up to five years, and then you can apply to settle permanently in the UK, which is known as “indefinite leave to remain” (GOV.UK, no date).

The complete list of the establishments from the top 50 rankings that appeared on the three respected global ranking tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-potential-individual-visa-global-universities-list/high-potential-individual-visa-global-universities-list-2022

Another example is if you intend to apply for Hong Kong SAR’s Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), which was introduced in December 2022, allows top talents with rich work experiences and outstanding academic qualifications from all over the world to stay in Hong Kong for two years to seek work (Immigration Department HK, 2022a). To be classified as a world’s top university graduate, one must have graduated from the world’s top 100 universities in any of the following four world university ranking tables: QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s Academic Ranking of World Universities, and US News and World Report: Best Global Universities (Immigration Department HK, 2022b).

The aggregate list of the world’s top 100 universities of HK TTPS: https://webapp.es2.immd.gov.hk/applies2-client/static/app/assets/pdf/World_top_100_uni_list.pdf

2. Increased odds of winning scholarships

Most governments prefer to fund students attending world-class universities. Studying at a highly regarded university can signal to scholarship providers that they have already met rigorous admission criteria and have excelled academically. Taking Macao SAR as an example, to be eligible to apply for a Macao government scholarship (e.g., 資助於頂尖學府就讀獎學金計劃), one must study at one of the world’s top 50 universities in the table of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (Education and Youth Development Bureau, 2022). For students from Hong Kong, your application for the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme is more likely to be successful if you plan to study at one of the top 100 universities in each of the four world university ranking tables published by QS, Times Higher Education, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, and US News and World Report (see Table 1 below); And the top 30 colleges in the National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings published by US News and World Report (Education Bureau, 2023).

Table 1. Top 100 UK universities in world university rankings published by QS, Times Higher Education, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, and US News and World Report

3. Enhanced job prospects

The reputation of a well-respected university can positively impact students’ future career prospects. Undoubtedly, your employers in your home country are more aware of the names of well-known universities in other countries, and you may have access to a broader range of job opportunities, be considered more competitive candidates for coveted positions, have higher earning potential, and facilitate career progression compared to those from less elite institutions. Many recognised universities have a longstanding reputation for nurturing exceptional young talent. Therefore, the degree obtained from one of them says a lot about you as an employee and indicates academic excellence, dedication, and a strong work ethic for employers when choosing qualified candidates. As shown in Table 2 below, 14 UK universities appear in the Global University Employability Ranking 2022 published by Times Higher Education (Times Higher Education, 2022b). The ranking reveals 250 universities worldwide that top company recruiters believe are best at preparing students for the workplace. Six of these higher education institutions are in London, and the remaining universities are located throughout the UK to produce the most employable graduates. Unsurprisingly, nearly all 14 universities in the UK are among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings 2024 (see Table 2).

Table 2. Top 14 UK universities for employability 2022 and top 100 UK universities in the QS World University Rankings 2024

Table 2. Top universities in the UK for employability 2022 and top 100 UK universities in the QS World University Rankings 2024 — Sources: Times Higher Education (2022b); QS Top Universities (2023)

The full list of the Global University Employability Ranking 2022: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-graduate-jobs-global-university-employability-ranking

Conclusion

Even though a renowned university provides an excellent education and a competitive advantage before and after graduation, university rankings are not always as important as they appear. Often, your specific circumstances, academic and professional goals, preferences, and the particular offerings of each institution may come into play when making an informed decision about your education. Most importantly, you can still succeed later in life, even if you attend a lesser-known university. Individual skills, experiences, personal motivation, dedication, networking efforts, and the ability to seize opportunities play significant roles in determining individual success. Thus, we advise prospective international students not to base their decisions solely on their university's reputation. This will be discussed further down the road. Keep an eye on this space, connect with us on social media, and sign up for our newsletter to avoid missing out.

If you have any other compelling reasons for or against attending a top-tier university, please share them in the comments section. Last but not least, if you need help with admission, contact us today for Free Master’s Degree Advice so that we can discuss your options for pursuing postgraduate study and offer practical suggestions on universities, programmes, and cities based on your background, aspirations, and preferences. Learn more about our Postgraduate Admission Application and UK Student Visa Application. For those who have not taken any IELTS tests or met the IELTS requirement, we strongly advise enrolling in Ahead Achiever’s One to One IELTS Preparation Course to achieve your highest IELTS score possible. Try our Free Trial English Class today.