Top 100 for Reading in THE Impact Rankings 2023

Action and research on environmental sustainability has helped the University of Reading to improve its position in the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Impact Rankings 2023.

Reading is ranked at 61 equal in the world, out of 1625 participating institutions worldwide – an improvement on Reading’s position of 101-200 in 2022.

The position places Reading at 15 out of 57 UK institutions that submitted themselves for inclusion.

THE Impact Rankings highlight the contribution of universities worldwide in supporting the United Nations sustainable development goals, a set of 17 targets set by the UN to bring about long-term prosperity for all. 

Reading was the second-highest performing university in the world – and the best in the UK and Europe – for its contribution to supporting responsible production and consumption. It also ranked in the global top 10 for climate action and protecting life on land.

'Greenest universities in the world'

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: “As a university, we are addressing global challenges at every level, from work on our own campuses to supporting international efforts to make our world more peaceful, protected, and prosperous.

“I am grateful to our whole university community, whose hard work and collaboration with others is helping to bring about improvement to the lives of people here in Reading and around the world.

“I am particularly proud that this latest ranking recognises our particular efforts around environmental sustainability, a core part of the University of Reading mission. Our research, education and action on climate change, using resources responsibly and supporting the natural world have been ranked among the best globally. We want to be one of the greenest universities in the world, and this achievement shows how the world is increasingly agreeing with us.”

Reading featured in the global top 50 across seven of the 17 sustainable development goals

• SDG1 No poverty (45 out of 876 institutions worldwide)
• SDG2 Zero hunger (22 equal from 647)
• SDG8 Decent work and economic growth (41 equal from 960)
• SDG10 Reducing inequality (30 from 901)
• SDG12 Responsible production and consumption (2 from 674)
• SDG13 Climate action (10 from 735)
• SDG15 Life on land (8 from 586)

The total number of institutions varies across each category, as not all institutions submitted evidence for work across every area. Reading has continued to show its commitment to the goals by entering all 17 categories since first participating in the rankings in 2020.

See the full Times Higher Education Global Impact Rankings 2023.