- Aston University in the top 21% of sustainable universities worldwide
- The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability assess how universities are tackling environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues
- Aston University is in the top 21% cent of ranked institutions.
Aston University has risen in the global sustainability rankings to the top 21% of universities for sustainability worldwide.
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability encompasses three categories - environmental impact, social impact, and governance. This year 1,751 universities were ranked, of which 99 are from the UK.
Aston University has improved its previous year’s position of top 24% of globally ranked institutions. In addition, the University increased its placing in three specific measurements; environmental sustainability - of which it is in the top 140 globally - governance and knowledge exchange.
In November the University unveiled its new sustainability strategy which embodies its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will serve as a blueprint to embed such issues in all its activities and operations.
Professor Aleks Subic, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Aston University, said:
“Our improved position signifies the progress being made to achieve our sustainability goals as set out in our 2030 strategy.
“Our new sustainability strategy represents a significant step in our journey towards making a positive transformational impact on our community.
“We are committed to protecting our local environment, supporting regional and national businesses to adopt sustainable practices and building global partnerships that embody our commitment to the UN sustainable development goals. This includes our target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions from the Aston University estate by 2030.”
This latest ranking follows a series of accolades for the University. For the fourth year running, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) placed Aston University second in the country in its social mobility index. In September it was named University of the Year for Student Success in the 2025 Daily Mail University Guide due to its impressive results in graduate outcomes, including high earnings, highly skilled jobs and proportion of students achieving first class and upper second class degrees. The University holds the prestigious ‘triple’ TEF Gold award for its excellent teaching and was runner up for graduate employment in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2024.
The sustainability results were introduced in 2023 to signal higher education analytics firm, QS’s commitment to sustainability and the scores given contribute five percent to its main world university rankings.
- Notes to editors
About Aston University
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming the Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk.
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