The QS Asia University Rankings evaluates universities across the Asian region using a set of 11 indicators with adapted weightings, developed in consultation with regional experts and stakeholders to reflect key priorities for universities in Asia.
Indicator Weights
| Indicator | Weight |
|---|---|
| Academic Reputation | 30% |
| Employer Reputation | 20% |
| Faculty Student Ratio | 10% |
| International Research Network | 10% |
| Citations per Paper | 10% |
| Papers per Faculty | 5% |
| Staff with PhD | 5% |
| International Faculty Ratio | 2.5% |
| International Student Ratio | 2.5% |
| Inbound Exchange Students | 2.5% |
| Outbound Exchange Students | 2.5% |
Indicator Definitions
Academic Reputation (30%)
Based on the QS Academic Survey, where academics worldwide identify leading universities in their field. Results are filtered by area of expertise to capture genuine academic standing.
Employer Reputation (20%)
Based on the QS Employer Survey, where graduate employers identify universities they perceive as producing the highest-quality graduates. The higher weight (compared to 15% in the World Rankings) reflects the strong emphasis on employability in the Asian higher education market.
Faculty Student Ratio (10%)
Measures the ratio of full-time academic staff to enrolled students, providing a proxy for available contact time and academic support.
International Research Network (10%)
Uses data from Scopus to measure the diversity of an institution's international research collaborations. An adapted Margalef Index (from environmental sciences) scores the breadth and diversity of partnerships with institutions in different countries.
Citations per Paper (10%)
Measures the average number of citations per research paper, indicating the impact of an institution's research within the academic community. Data is sourced from Scopus.
Papers per Faculty (5%)
Measures the number of research papers published per faculty member, indicating overall research productivity. Data is sourced from Scopus.
Staff with PhD (5%)
The proportion of academic staff holding doctoral degrees, serving as a proxy for the quality and research depth of the teaching body.
International Faculty Ratio (2.5%)
The proportion of faculty members who are international, reflecting the institution's ability to attract global academic talent.
International Student Ratio (2.5%)
The proportion of students who are international, reflecting global appeal and student diversity.
Inbound Exchange Students (2.5%)
The relative size of the institution's inbound student exchange programme, offering additional insight into internationalization beyond the standard international student metric.
Outbound Exchange Students (2.5%)
The relative size of the institution's outbound student exchange programme, measuring the opportunities provided for domestic students to gain international experience.
Data Sources
- Academic Reputation: QS Academic Survey
- Employer Reputation: QS Employer Survey
- Citation and publication data: Scopus (Elsevier)
- Institutional data: Submitted by universities