The QS Graduate Employability Rankings evaluates how well universities prepare their students for the job market. Unlike other QS rankings that assess broad institutional quality, this ranking focuses specifically on graduate employability outcomes and employer-university connections.
Indicator Weights
| Indicator | Weight |
|---|---|
| Employer Reputation | 30% |
| Alumni Outcomes | 25% |
| Partnerships with Employers | 25% |
| Employer-Student Connections | 10% |
| Graduate Employment Rate | 10% |
Indicator Definitions
Employer Reputation (30%)
Based on the QS Employer Survey, where employers worldwide identify the universities from which they prefer to recruit graduates. This is the same survey used across other QS rankings, providing a consistent measure of employer perceptions.
Alumni Outcomes (25%)
The Alumni Outcomes Index identifies universities whose graduates have gone on to achieve notable success. It tracks over 50,000 high-achievers — including CEOs, executives, board members, and other prominent individuals — and maps them back to their alma maters. Data is collected from publicly available sources.
Partnerships with Employers (25%)
Measures the extent of formal partnerships between universities and employers. This includes research collaborations, internship programmes, employer-sponsored projects, and other institutional links that demonstrate active engagement with the employment market. Data is scaled by the size of the institution.
Employer-Student Connections (10%)
Measures the number of individual employer interactions taking place on campus, including career fairs, recruitment events, company presentations, and other activities that connect students directly with potential employers. This indicator captures the active effort an institution makes to facilitate employment opportunities.
Graduate Employment Rate (10%)
Measures the proportion of graduates who are in full-time or part-time employment within 12 months of graduation, based on data provided by universities. Graduates engaged in further study are excluded from the calculation to focus on those entering the job market.
Data Sources
- Employer Reputation: QS Global Employer Survey
- Alumni Outcomes: Publicly available corporate and biographical data
- Partnerships and campus activity data: Submitted by universities
- Employment rates: Submitted by universities