Brussels – June 23, 2025 — Several Belgian universities have improved their standings in the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings, with KU Leuven retaining its position as the nation’s top-ranked institution and climbing three spots to 60th place among the world’s top 1,501 universities.
The 2025 QS World University Rankings — one of the most widely consulted global higher education assessments — evaluates institutions based on nine key indicators, including academic reputation, research impact, employment outcomes, and internationalization.
KU Leuven’s steady ascent was marked by strong performances in its international research network, where it ranked 4th globally, and sustainability, where it placed 25th. The university also achieved a respectable 53rd place in academic reputation. It remains the only Belgian institution within the global top 100.
“Improving rankings can be a useful signal for prospective international students and researchers,” a KU Leuven spokesperson told The Brussels Times. “They’re often one of the first indicators people consult when assessing the quality and reputation of a university.”
Still, university officials cautioned against relying solely on rankings to evaluate institutional quality. “We follow rankings with interest but also with perspective. Some indicators, like research impact and international collaboration, align with our priorities. Others are less relevant or may not fully reflect our reality,” the spokesperson added.
Other Belgian universities also made significant progress. Ghent University rose from 169th to 162nd, UCLouvain climbed from 203rd to 191st, ULB improved slightly from 230th to 227th, and the University of Liège moved from 396th to 379th place.
Like KU Leuven, Ghent University acknowledged the rankings as a useful external benchmark but stressed the need for critical interpretation. “With any ranking, it’s important to understand what is being measured and how,” a university spokesperson said. “While research performance is easier to measure through publications and citations, teaching quality is much more nuanced and often less visible.”
Nonetheless, the university welcomed the improved ranking. “We are pleased with this rise, but we remain cautious not to overstate its significance,” the spokesperson said.
The QS methodology includes academic reputation (30%), employer reputation (15%), employment outcomes (5%), faculty-student ratio (10%), research citations per faculty (10%), sustainability (5%), international student ratio (5%), international faculty ratio (5%), and international research network (5%).
Experts say that while rankings are not definitive assessments, they offer universities valuable insights into their global standing and can aid in attracting international partnerships, funding, and talent.
KU Leuven emphasized that rankings do not guide its academic strategy but acknowledged that positive results often reflect broader institutional efforts. “Above all, we remain focused on our academic mission and the quality we provide to our students and researchers,” the spokesperson said.
As Belgian universities continue to invest in research excellence, sustainability, and global collaboration, their rising profiles on the international stage are likely to enhance their appeal to students and scholars alike.
