Cambridge has been ranked as the second best higher education institution in the world in a new league table published last week (27/06).

The QS World University Rankings saw Cambridge once again outperform Oxford and other UK institutions, being beaten only by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which has held the top spot in QS World Rankings for over a decade.

Acting vice-chancellor Dr Anthony Freeling said the results are a “source of enormous pride” and a “reflection of the hard work by colleagues across the university, ensuring that Cambridge continues to deliver world-leading research and education”.

UK universities did perform strongly overall, with Oxford, Imperial College London, and University College London (UCL) each achieving a top ten World Rankings spot. Vice-chancellor Freeling described these performances as a “testimony to the strength of the UK’s higher education sector”.

This year’s calculations included three new metrics: sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research networks.

Cambridge failed to break into the top thirty in the world or top ten in the UK on the new sustainability measures, being beaten by Durham, LSE, Oxford, and other notable universities.

QS President Nunzio Quacquarelli described the addition of sustainability considerations as an evolution “reflecting the changing missions of universities”.

On the new measures of employment outcomes, Cambridge performed relatively better, ranking sixth globally. However, the university was beaten to the highest ranking UK spot by Oxford.

On the new measures of international research networks, Cambridge was beaten by both Oxford and UCL, being placed seventh globally.