The Times Higher Education has also published a new ‘100 under 50’ table. This table was compiled using the same criteria as their World University Rankings but with the weighting for academic reputation reduced to recognise the fact that older universities have deeper and more established alumni networks. The University of Bath was ranked 37th in this THE table.

Phil Baty, the editor of Times Higher Education rankings, said: “The ‘100 Under 50’ is not about the old institutions that dominate the traditional rankings: it is about a new breed of global universities – those that have managed to join the world’s top table in just decades rather than centuries, and others showing great promise for the future.

“The new ranking gives us a glimpse of the future, hinting at who the future Harvard and Cambridge universities may be.”

—Phil Baty, Editor of The Times Higher Education rankings

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “The fact that the UK has the most universities in the top 100 under 50 proves our higher education sector has strength in depth. Newer universities with a clear sense of their own mission can match those with a longer history."

Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, said: “As a University we have a truly international community – more than 25 per cent of our students are from outside the UK and from over 100 countries around the world.

“We have strong international research and teaching links with industry, government bodies, charities and other universities.

“These new league tables reflect the very high standards of teaching and research we deliver here at Bath.

“The recent appointment of Professor Colin Grant as the University’s new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Internationalisation) will help us to continue to build on this excellent reputation.”