Three Saudi universities have improved in rankings in the QS World University Rankings for the 2014-2015 academic year out of a total of 800 universities on the index.
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) ranked number 225, surpassing the renowned Paris Sorbonne University and the UK’s Dundee University, as well as the University of Miami and other well-known institutions.
King Saud University (KSU) also ranked 249, sharing the spot with the American University of Beirut, while King Abdulaziz University (KAU) ranked number 334, surpassing City University in London and the University of Iowa.
Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University ranked within the top 500, taking over universities such as Hull in Britain, Boston University in the US and Mumbai University.
The ranking describes KFUPM as an average-sized university, with 12,000 students, and interest in scientific research among students as “very high.”
Both KSU and KAU were described as “very large” institutions, with about 30,000 students each. Interest in research at both institutions was also described as “very high.”
Institutions that were surveyed were each examined for research potential, employability, quality of faculty, innovation, specialization and facilities.
KSU scored high for employability, as well as for quality of facilities. The university was also described as easy to attend and ranked high for innovation.
KAU also ranked high in terms of employability among graduates, in addition to quality of faculty, facilities, foreign student enrollment, innovation and ease of enrollment.
The university was one of the only Arab and developing countries to rank among the top 300 universities, with the exception of the other Saudi universities mentioned.
The other Saudi universities were included in the following rank ranges:
• Al-Imam Mohamed ibn Saud Islamic University - 501-550;
• Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, 551-600;
King Khalid University in Abha - 601-650; and
King Faisal University - 701+.
