Explore UCD

UCD Home >

University Rankings

University Rankings

UCD participates in a number of global university rankings and UCD Institutional Research has responsibility for submitting data, conducting analysis and communicating rankings results. Find out more information below.

QS World University Rankings

UCD is ranked 118 in the QS World University Rankings 2026 edition.  

QS has placed UCD in the top 8% of the institutions ranked.

UCD has achieved the below global rank in each of the nine individual QS indicators:

Sustainability Employment Outcomes International Faculty Academic Reputation International Students Employer Reputation International Research Network Citations per Faculty Faculty Student Ratio
49= 88 112 149 170 204 188 272 801+

For more information about the QS World University Ranking see (opens in a new window)https://www.topuniversities.com/

Last updated 2026

QS Subject Rankings

UCD performed strongly in the QS Subject Rankings 2026, with 13 subject areas ranked within the Top 100 in the world:

Top 50: English Language & Literature, Veterinary Science, Petroleum Engineering, Nursing

Top 100: Archaeology, History, Performing Arts, Philosophy, Agriculture & Forestry, Anatomy & Physiology, Social Policy & Administration, Sports Related Subjects, Library & Information Management

See the below rankings wheel for all UCD QS subject rankings.

For more information on these rankings visit the (opens in a new window)QS World University Subject Rankings website.

Times Higher Education World University Rankings

UCD remains in the 201-250 band and is ranked 2nd in Ireland in the 2026 THE World University Rankings. 

UCD's ranking in each of the THE ranking indicators is below:

Teaching Research Environment Research Quality Industry  International Outlook
503 241 232 406 134

For more information, visit (opens in a new window)https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings

Last updated January 2026

QS Sustainability Ranking 2026

UCD is ranked 47th in the world in the QS Sustainability Ranking 2026. This ranking was introduced by QS in 2023 to provide a framework to show how universities are taking action to tackle the world's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) challenges. QS ranked 2,001 institutions globally in 2026.

This ranking consists of three separate ranks - an Environmental Impact Rank, a Social Impact Rank and (new in 2024) a Governance Rank. The first twi ranks contain a number of performance lenses, with UCD's performance in each detailed below.

Environmental Impact Rank: UCD ranked 68 in the world in 2026

Social Impact Rank: UCD ranked 59 in the world in 2026

Governance Rank: UCD ranked 29 in the world in 2026


Environmental Impact Rank Performance Lenses

Environmental Education Environmental Sustainability Environmental Research
132 84 44

Social Impact Rank Performance Lenses

Employment & Opportunities Equality Health & Wellbeing Impact of Education Knowledge Exchange
108 16 62 301 82

For more information about the QS Sustainability Ranking see (opens in a new window)https://www.topuniversities.com/

Last updated January 2026