THE Impact Rankings 2020: table information

Best scores by rank

A university’s final score in the overall table is calculated by combining its score in SDG 17 with its top three scores out of the remaining 16 SDGs. SDG 17 accounts for 22 per cent of the overall score, while the other SDGs each carry a weight of 26 per cent. This means that different universities are scored based on a different set of SDGs, depending on their focus.

The score from each SDG is scaled so that the highest score in each SDG in the overall calculation is 100. This is to adjust for minor differences in the scoring range in each SDG and to ensure that universities are treated equitably, whichever SDGs they have provided data for. It is these scaled scores that we use to determine which SDGs a university has performed most strongly in; they may not be the SDGs in which the university is ranked highest or has scored highest based on unscaled scores.

The individual SDG tables display an institution’s score for that SDG as well as its score in the overall Impact Rankings, if applicable.

View the full methodology for the overall Impact Rankings.

Editor’s note: June 2020

The University of Sharjah attempted to participate in the ranking but it had not properly submitted data due to technical and communications issues. This matter was reviewed in line with our corrections policy and we agreed, at our discretion, to review and calculate the University of Sharjah’s data after the full analysis was carried out.

The University of Sharjah is now included in the 301-400 band in the overall Impact rankings table. It is also included in the tables for SDGs 1-8, 13, and 15-17.

After the ranking production was finalised, Chonnam National University, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Semmelweis University informed us that they had submitted, and signed off, financial data in units other than those requested in THE’s data portal and so their figures were interpreted incorrectly in the calculation. These matters were reviewed under our corrections policy, and we agreed, at our discretion, to re-calculate these institutions’ scores based on corrected data submissions.

Chonnam National University is now ranked in the 301-400 band in the overall ranking (up from 401-600) and 57^th in the table for SDG 9 (up from 101-200) due to corrected research income data. Monterrey Institute of Technology remains in the 101-200 band in the overall ranking and in the 201-300 band in the table for SDG 9. However, it is now ranked 101-200 for SDG 8 (up from 201-300) and 92^nd for SDG 11 (up from 101-200) due to corrected arts expenditure data. Semmelweis University remains in the 401-600 band in the overall ranking and in the 401+ band in the table for SDG 8. However, it is now ranked 101-200 for SDG 9 (up from 301-400) due to corrected university expenditure data.

The University of Edinburgh submitted an incorrect link to evidence for SDG 13. It subsequently supplied the correct link and we assessed the document and re-calculated their score accordingly. It is now ranked 30^th for SDG 13, up from 65^th. It remains in 30^th place in the overall ranking.

As per THE's rankings correction policy, where an amendment is made, the relevant institution is retrospectively listed in its correct position. We do not rerun the complete ranking and we only amend when a change is positive. All other universities maintain their original rank.

Editor’s note: April 2020

After the data submission deadline, IE University informed us that it had attempted to participate in the ranking but it had not properly submitted data due to a communications issue. This matter was reviewed in line with our corrections policy and we agreed, at our discretion, to review and calculate IE University’s data after the full analysis was carried out.

IE University is now included in the 301-400 band in the overall Impact Rankings table. It is also included in the tables for SDGs 5, 8, 10 and 17.

As per THE's rankings correction policy, where an amendment is made, the relevant institution is retrospectively listed in its correct position. We do not rerun the complete ranking and we only amend when a change is positive. All other universities maintain their original rank.

THE is committed to transparency and accountability across all of its rankings.

Our corrections policy is available to view here.