QS Insights Magazine
Issue 42 June 2026
How to read the world.
How to read the world.
FEATURED IN THIS EDITION
QS World University Rankings 2027
Explore the results from the latest QS World University Rankings.
Indian's new trajectory
India's rise in QS' rankings signals a maturing higher education system.
When universities run out of students
Demographic decline is changing higher education policy in East Asia.
ALSO INSIDE
Can US research get out of the DOGEhouse?
Funding is restored, but trust will take longer.
Will AI replace knowledge?
Universities must define their value beyond knowledge transfer.
India's ranking moment
How India built a globally competitive higher education system.
China’s new phase of global competition
China has mastered the climb. Now it must define what leadership looks like.
(Bilingual, Chinese)
What's stopping Latin America?
Latin America should be on top of the world. What's isn't it?
Rankings red flags for the US
The US' dominance in QS' rankings is becoming increasingly fragile.
British classrooms keep growing
And it could be impacting their institutions' ranking.
Unwinding reputation in the rankings
What does reputation mean within the rankings?
ANALYSIS
Even elite US universities are cutting back
American flagships aren't immune to economic pressure anymore.
Even elite US universities are cutting back
American flagships aren't immune to economic pressure anymore.
BRIEFING
The heavy hand of free speech
What does the free-speech ruling mean for UK higher ed?
The great consolidation
UK institutions are open to mergers and other cost cutters.
The heavy hand of free speech
What does the free-speech ruling mean for UK higher ed?
The great consolidation
UK institutions are open to mergers and other cost cutters.
Building a playbook for data-ready success
Who said what at this year's QS EduData Summit.
Editor in Chief Anton John Crace
Clients Service Specialist Marina Ramya Josef Khushboo Singh
Contributing Writers Jamaal Abdul-Alim Wesley da Silva Siqueira Francesca Di Meglio Sam Duke Nico Elton Dr Ashwin Fernandes
Nick Harland Gauri Kohli Chloë Lane Seb Murray John O’Leary Duncan Ross Tim van Gardingen Alice Wei
Events Technology Manager Loh Lu Han
Marketing and PR Serena Ricci Mak Leeson
Cover and article header images Produced with ChatGPT
Magazine contact Publications @qs.com
Sales contact [email protected]
The QS Insights is a monthly, online and print magazine that highlights trends within the international education sector.
The online edition is emailed to our network of academics and university leaders worldwide. A limited number of copies of the print edition are also sent to university leaders around the world and distributed at QS events.
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of QS Quacquarelli Symonds.