Thanks for visiting TopUniversities.com today! So that we can show you the most relevant information, please select the option that most closely relates to you.
Your input will help us improve your experience.You can close this popup to continue using the website or choose an option below to register in or login.
Already have an account? Sign in
Save
QS University Rankings: BRICS 2016 – Out Now!
By Laura Bridgestock
Updated UpdatedReleased today, the QS University Rankings: BRICS 2016 sees Chinese universities confirm their dominance of the tables. Led by Tsinghua University (1st) and Peking University (2nd), China now occupies the top five spots in the ranking, and accounts for almost half (23) of the top 50.
Published annually, the QS University Rankings: BRICS compares leading universities in the five BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Collectively accounting for 42% of the world’s population, these five nations remain significant players in the changing global economy, and all have placed higher education at the center of plans for continued development.
For 2016, the ranking has been extended to feature the top 250 BRICS universities (previously 200). This expansion particularly benefits Brazil and India, which now have 54 and 44 entries respectively (compared to 40 and 31 last year). Nonetheless, China remains the most-represented nation, appearing 86 times, followed by Russia (55). South Africa has 11 universities featured, led by the University of Cape Town in 14th place.
Top 10 Universities in the BRICS Countries – Overall
Based on the QS University Rankings: BRICS 2016
Institution
Country
2016 rank
2015 rank
Tsinghua University
China
1
1
Peking University
China
2
2
Fudan University
China
3
3
University of Science and Technology of China
China
4
6=
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
China
5
6=
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
India
6
5
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russia
7
4
Nanjing University
China
8
8
Zhejiang University
China
9
11
Universidade de São Paulo
Brazil
10
9
View the full ranking >
As well as giving institutions an overall position, the ranking also allocates scores for each of the eight performance indicators assessed, allowing for more detailed comparison of relative strengths and weaknesses. The academic reputation indicator, based on a global survey of academics, awards full marks to four of the leading Chinese universities, as well as Russia’s Lomonosov Moscow State University and Brazil’s Universidade de São Paulo. All of these except the Russian institution also claim full marks in the employer reputation indicator, joined by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
Top 10 BRICS Universities – Employer Reputation
Institution
Country
1
Peking University
China
2
Tsinghua University
China
3
Fudan University
China
4
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
China
5
Universidade de São Paulo
Brazil
6
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
India
7
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
India
8
Zhejiang University
China
9
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russia
10
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Brazil
Source: QS University Rankings: BRICS 2016
Indian and Brazilian universities claim many of the strongest scores for proportion of faculty members with a PhD; 17 Indian and 11 Brazilian institutions are awarded full marks on this metric. However, Russian universities come out ahead when the ratio of faculty members to students is considered, accounting for 16 of the top 20 scores on this measure.
The most prolific research publishers, based on papers per faculty member, are the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Both of these also claim full marks for research impact, assessed based on citations per paper, along with the University of Science and Technology of China and Zheijiang University.
The ranking also reflects the particular success of Chinese and South African institutions in attracting academics from other countries. Between them, these two nations occupy almost all of the top 20 positions for proportion of international faculty members, along with two Russian institutions. Meanwhile Russian universities fare notably well when the proportion of international students is considered, with the highest performers on this measure also including South Africa’s Rhodes University and China’s University of International Business and Economics.
Top 10 BRICS Universities – Proportion of International Students
Institution
Country
1
RUDN University
Russia
2
Rhodes University
South Africa
3
Tomsk Polytechnic University
Russia
4
National University of Science and Technology ‘MISiS’
Russia
5
Tomsk State University
Russia
6
University of International Business and Economics
China
7
Novosibirsk State University
Russia
8
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Russia
9
Peking University
China
10
University of Cape Town
South Africa
Source: QS University Rankings: BRICS 2016
About the QS University Rankings: BRICS
The QS University Rankings: BRICS was developed in 2013, in collaboration with Russian news agency Interfax. For the 2016 edition, 421 universities were evaluated, with the top 250 published. The methodology uses eight indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ration, proportion of staff with a PhD, papers per faculty member, research citations, proportion of international faculty and proportion of international students.
For more insights into the latest results, read the free digital supplement.
This article was originally published in . It was last updated in
Want more content like this Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.
The former editor of TopUniversities.com, Laura oversaw the site's editorial content and student forums. She also edited the QS Top Grad School Guide and contributed to market research reports, including 'How Do Students Use Rankings?'
+ 25 others
saved this article
+ 26 others saved this article
Share via
Share this Page
Our expert teams can help start your academic journey by guiding you through the application process.
Related Articles Last year
Top 10 Universities in South Africa 2019
Top Universities in Russia: MSU Vs SPbGU
QS University Rankings: BRICS 2013/14 – Overview
BRICS Countries in the QS World University Rankings
Top Universities in Brazil
Top 10 Universities in the BRICS Countries 2014
Most Shared Last year
Top Universities in Brazil
Top 10 Universities in South Africa 2019
Top 10 Universities in the BRICS Countries 2014
Top Universities in Russia: MSU Vs SPbGU
BRICS Countries in the QS World University Rankings
QS University Rankings: BRICS 2013/14 – Overview
Most Read Last year
Top 10 Universities in South Africa 2019
Top Universities in Brazil
BRICS Countries in the QS World University Rankings
Top Universities in Russia: MSU Vs SPbGU
Top 10 Universities in the BRICS Countries 2014
QS University Rankings: BRICS 2013/14 – Overview