Browse the full Young University Rankings 2017 results
Three Asian universities top a Times Higher Education table of the best universities founded in the late 1980s and 1990s.
The list of the best “Generation Y” universities (established between 1986 and 1999), a subset of the 2017 THE Young University Rankings, is topped by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Nanyang Technological University and Pohang University of Science and Technology.
Overall, 20 Asian universities make the top 50 list, including universities in India, Taiwan, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey.
But, the UK and Australia dominate the Generation Y table, with 17 and 16 representatives respectively, which is unsurprising given that these two nations are the most-represented countries in the Young University Rankings.
Both countries underwent higher education expansion during the late 1980s and 1990s when technical colleges and colleges of advanced education in Australia were absorbed into existing universities and polytechnics in the UK were given university status.
Generation Y universities generally perform poorly when it comes to their teaching and research environments, compared with other age groups in the young ranking; they are particularly held back in terms of academic reputation, with a lower median score for teaching and research prestige than the group of institutions founded from 2000 to the present.
But Generation Y institutions excel when it comes to internationalisation, with the highest average proportion of international students when compared with the “Generation X” and “Millennial” groups, as well the cohort of institutions founded in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War.
Top 50 Generation Y universities
|
Generation Y Rank |
2017 Young University Rank |
2016 Young University Rank |
World University Rank 2016-17 |
Institution |
Country |
Year founded |
Teaching |
Research |
Citations |
Industry income |
International outlook |
Overall score |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
49 |
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |
Hong Kong |
1991 |
56.0 |
76.9 |
91.2 |
62.0 |
82.8 |
75.0 |
|
2 |
3 |
2 |
54 |
Nanyang Technological University |
Singapore |
1991 |
54.4 |
70.5 |
90.7 |
93.5 |
95.7 |
74.2 |
|
3 |
4 |
5 |
=104 |
Pohang University of Science and Technology |
South Korea |
1986 |
65.8 |
64.3 |
79.2 |
99.6 |
34.2 |
67.8 |
|
4 |
=9 |
10 |
=190 |
Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna |
Italy |
1987 |
58.3 |
48.9 |
74.1 |
86.6 |
44.9 |
59.9 |
|
5 |
15 |
21 |
201-250 |
Australia |
1988 |
33.6 |
56.3 |
73.8 |
44.2 |
92.3 |
57.1 |
|
|
6 |
17 |
15 |
175 |
Spain |
1990 |
34.5 |
42.4 |
93.1 |
40.5 |
65.1 |
56.9 |
|
|
7 |
20 |
27 |
=192 |
Hong Kong Polytechnic University |
Hong Kong |
1994 |
39.2 |
52.4 |
69.9 |
47.9 |
79.7 |
55.6 |
|
8 |
24 |
=28 |
201-250 |
Australia |
1989 |
34.4 |
51.8 |
67.4 |
58.9 |
77.9 |
53.4 |
|
|
9 |
26 |
33 |
301-350 |
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology |
South Korea |
1993 |
51.1 |
57.8 |
51.9 |
44.9 |
35.2 |
52.0 |
|
10 |
32 |
57 |
251-300 |
Australia |
1991 |
38.6 |
43.3 |
58.4 |
82.9 |
90.1 |
50.9 |
|
|
11 |
34 |
=31 |
251-300 |
Australia |
1989 |
24.5 |
28.4 |
91.7 |
44.3 |
77.2 |
50.3 |
|
|
12 |
=36 |
36 |
251-300 |
Turkey |
1993 |
31.7 |
42.7 |
70.3 |
81.9 |
54.4 |
49.5 |
|
|
13 |
39 |
– |
301-350 |
Hungary |
1991 |
50.5 |
37.2 |
48.8 |
32.2 |
97.0 |
49.0 |
|
|
14 |
42 |
– |
251-300 |
Italy |
1997 |
30.3 |
12.1 |
96.1 |
32.3 |
79.9 |
48.3 |
|
|
15 |
44 |
=52 |
301-350 |
Turkey |
1996 |
31.9 |
48.4 |
61.6 |
77.7 |
46.7 |
48.0 |
|
|
16 |
49 |
68 |
351-400 |
Republic of Ireland |
1997 |
33.4 |
35.8 |
61.0 |
37.5 |
77.6 |
45.8 |
|
|
17 |
=52 |
=55 |
351-400 |
Cyprus |
1989 |
25.0 |
37.1 |
66.6 |
34.7 |
75.0 |
45.1 |
|
|
18 |
55 |
51 |
351-400 |
Italy |
1998 |
32.3 |
32.3 |
70.8 |
43.9 |
42.2 |
44.9 |
|
|
19 |
=56 |
– |
351-400 |
Australia |
1990 |
29.0 |
32.1 |
66.9 |
37.2 |
70.8 |
44.6 |
|
|
20 |
61 |
74 |
351-400 |
Australia |
1992 |
29.5 |
35.1 |
60.3 |
35.5 |
74.5 |
44.0 |
|
|
21 |
65 |
=59 |
351-400 |
Plymouth University |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
24.9 |
27.7 |
71.9 |
32.5 |
66.6 |
43.1 |
|
=22 |
=74 |
79 |
401-500 |
Republic of Ireland |
1989 |
34.6 |
38.0 |
42.7 |
46.7 |
78.6 |
41.7 |
|
|
=22 |
=74 |
– |
– |
India |
1997 |
22.1 |
10.1 |
100.0 |
35.4 |
15.5 |
41.7 |
|
|
=24 |
=76 |
=63 |
351-400 |
Sweden |
1999 |
23.5 |
8.6 |
91.7 |
33.7 |
43.6 |
41.3 |
|
|
=24 |
=76 |
=83 |
401-500 |
University of Rovira i Virgili |
Spain |
1991 |
28.1 |
23.1 |
72.1 |
35.2 |
45.5 |
41.3 |
|
26 |
=79 |
=86 |
401-500 |
Australia |
1989 |
22.3 |
34.4 |
57.9 |
35.6 |
77.5 |
41.1 |
|
|
27 |
=81 |
72 |
401-500 |
Italy |
1992 |
29.2 |
27.5 |
67.5 |
37.6 |
37.2 |
41.0 |
|
|
28 |
84 |
=92 |
401-500 |
Australia |
1987 |
25.6 |
31.3 |
52.1 |
39.5 |
93.8 |
40.7 |
|
|
29 |
87 |
98 |
401-500 |
Australia |
1992 |
27.3 |
27.4 |
53.6 |
40.0 |
85.6 |
39.9 |
|
|
30 |
91 |
101-150 |
401-500 |
Australia |
1990 |
25.6 |
35.6 |
50.8 |
35.0 |
60.1 |
39.0 |
|
|
31 |
96 |
– |
401-500 |
Higher School of Economics |
Russian Federation |
1992 |
34.6 |
33.0 |
46.6 |
40.3 |
32.2 |
37.7 |
|
=32 |
=98 |
– |
401-500 |
Turkey |
1996 |
25.3 |
12.1 |
75.3 |
47.9 |
33.3 |
37.5 |
|
|
=32 |
=98 |
99 |
401-500 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
21.3 |
18.5 |
61.8 |
32.6 |
82.4 |
37.5 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
– |
601-800 |
Australia |
1991 |
18.9 |
25.3 |
44.2 |
35.4 |
40.3 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
– |
501-600 |
Australia |
1989 |
24.5 |
31.0 |
37.1 |
36.3 |
89.5 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
21.7 |
21.6 |
32.4 |
32.4 |
72.7 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
Taiwan |
1987 |
26.8 |
36.1 |
30.3 |
36.4 |
17.1 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
21.3 |
18.1 |
37.7 |
32.8 |
62.1 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
501-600 |
Australia |
1991 |
23.3 |
28.1 |
45.7 |
36.5 |
68.5 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
– |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1993 |
23.5 |
15.7 |
38.8 |
33.2 |
59.3 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
501-600 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
20.8 |
16.6 |
56.2 |
33.0 |
77.5 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
India |
1994 |
34.3 |
23.3 |
42.1 |
35.4 |
14.6 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
501-600 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
20.8 |
19.0 |
56.7 |
32.7 |
65.0 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
501-600 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
24.0 |
19.5 |
39.5 |
32.2 |
84.9 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
501-600 |
Germany |
1993 |
29.8 |
19.8 |
40.3 |
41.1 |
49.3 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
101-150 |
401-500 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
29.1 |
28.6 |
37.8 |
32.3 |
71.5 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
94 |
501-600 |
Australia |
1994 |
22.5 |
34.7 |
47.1 |
38.6 |
52.6 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
– |
501-600 |
Australia |
1996 |
20.1 |
26.5 |
47.1 |
33.5 |
60.0 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=34 |
101-150 |
– |
601-800 |
India |
1994 |
29.7 |
21.3 |
39.8 |
32.2 |
12.3 |
28.5-37.0 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Spain |
1989 |
23.3 |
16.1 |
23.7 |
35.5 |
27.3 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
United Arab Emirates |
1997 |
21.2 |
18.1 |
13.6 |
33.2 |
95.3 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1993 |
19.8 |
14.6 |
22.6 |
32.8 |
73.1 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
Spain |
1989 |
29.6 |
19.1 |
29.6 |
37.2 |
53.1 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology |
Pakistan |
1998 |
22.0 |
10.4 |
45.2 |
32.1 |
43.5 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
21.8 |
13.4 |
27.7 |
32.6 |
76.1 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Republic of Ireland |
1992 |
19.8 |
15.1 |
27.7 |
32.1 |
72.6 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
24.4 |
18.5 |
11.7 |
32.2 |
76.7 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
23.6 |
18.0 |
24.5 |
32.9 |
63.6 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Spain |
1993 |
18.0 |
16.2 |
50.1 |
34.2 |
25.9 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Jordan |
1986 |
13.4 |
11.1 |
50.2 |
33.2 |
62.4 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
King Juan Carlos University |
Spain |
1996 |
19.5 |
14.0 |
35.3 |
35.0 |
39.2 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
=50 |
151-200 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
21.2 |
19.6 |
27.5 |
32.7 |
79.7 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
Pakistan |
1991 |
26.3 |
11.9 |
36.2 |
32.6 |
35.2 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Taiwan |
1989 |
25.4 |
31.9 |
17.5 |
39.7 |
18.5 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
20.5 |
15.3 |
32.2 |
32.3 |
55.3 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Australia |
1992 |
28.3 |
21.1 |
20.7 |
32.7 |
67.7 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Oman |
1986 |
30.8 |
14.0 |
17.0 |
40.9 |
70.3 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Thailand |
1990 |
27.4 |
16.1 |
22.4 |
33.6 |
31.5 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
Malaysia |
1997 |
33.3 |
25.2 |
10.3 |
65.5 |
64.4 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
Spain |
1989 |
20.4 |
16.6 |
33.2 |
37.0 |
36.5 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
20.5 |
19.5 |
38.3 |
32.9 |
53.3 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
– |
601-800 |
United Kingdom |
1992 |
19.6 |
19.0 |
22.2 |
32.4 |
81.0 |
21.9-28.4 |
|
|
=50 |
151-200 |
101-150 |
601-800 |
Taiwan |
1989 |
22.4 |
20.6 |
25.3 |
45.7 |
20.9 |
21.9-28.4 |
Note: ‘Generation Y’ institutions are those founded between 1986 and 1999.
