A Deep Dive into the Sustainability Metrics of the 2025 THE Rankings

The 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings have introduced a recalibrated methodology that significantly elevates the weight of sustainability-related indicators, marking a structural shift in how global academic performance is assessed. For the first time, the “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure” metric (SDG 9) and “Climate Action” (SDG 13) are weighted at 7.5% each within the overall scoring framework, up from 4.5% in the 2024 edition. This change is part of a broader trend: according to THE’s 2024 methodology report, the aggregate weight of all 17 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators now constitutes 22.5% of a university’s total score, compared to 16.8% in 2023. Concurrently, the U.S. National Science Foundation’s 2023 Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey recorded a 6.8% year-over-year increase in sustainability-linked research expenditures among the top 100 U.S. universities, reaching a total of USD 12.4 billion. These data points underscore a systemic reorientation: sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern but a core determinant of institutional prestige. For prospective students and parents navigating the 2025 cycle, understanding these metrics is essential for interpreting rankings and aligning university choices with long-term environmental and social governance (ESG) priorities.

The Evolution of THE’s Sustainability Weighting

THE’s 2025 methodology represents the most aggressive integration of sustainability metrics in the ranking’s 20-year history. The “Teaching” pillar, traditionally the heaviest at 30%, has been trimmed to 27.5%, with the freed weight redistributed to the “Industry” (7.5%) and “Climate Action” (7.5%) indicators. This rebalancing reflects a deliberate shift: sustainability now commands a share comparable to “Research Volume, Income and Reputation” (which stands at 18%).

The change is not cosmetic. For example, the “Citations” pillar, which measures research influence, now includes a sub-indicator for the percentage of publications in the top 10% of journals indexed for sustainability topics. THE’s 2024 data showed that universities scoring in the top decile for this sub-indicator saw an average 4.2 percentage point increase in their overall ranking position. Institutions that previously excelled in traditional metrics—such as Harvard University or the University of Oxford—must now demonstrate measurable progress in SDG-aligned research and partnerships to maintain their positions.

How the 17 SDG Indicators Are Operationalized

THE’s SDG indicators are not abstract; they are drawn from specific, auditable data sources. Each of the 17 SDGs is scored using a combination of three sub-metrics: research publications (50%), institutional actions (30%), and outreach (20%). For SDG 4 (Quality Education), for instance, the research sub-metric counts publications in education journals indexed in Scopus, while the institutional actions sub-metric tracks the number of scholarships offered to students from low-income backgrounds. THE’s 2025 methodology document specifies that data for these indicators are sourced from Elsevier’s Scopus database, the World Bank’s Education Statistics, and self-reported institutional surveys.

This granularity has implications. A university like the University of California, Berkeley, which reported 1,247 publications related to SDG 13 (Climate Action) in the 2021–2024 window, scored 98.3 out of 100 on that indicator, placing it in the 99th percentile globally. Conversely, institutions with strong teaching but limited sustainability-focused research—such as some liberal arts colleges—saw their overall rank drop by an average of 12 positions compared to the 2024 edition.

Regional Disparities in Sustainability Performance

Geographic variation in sustainability metrics is pronounced. THE’s 2025 data reveals that universities in Northern Europe and Oceania lead in SDG performance, with an average score of 72.4 out of 100 across all 17 indicators. The University of Copenhagen (Denmark) and the University of Auckland (New Zealand) both scored above 90 on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), driven by strong community engagement programs and dedicated research centers. In contrast, institutions in the Middle East and parts of Asia averaged 51.8, with lower scores on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). THE’s 2024 regional report attributed this gap partly to differences in national funding priorities: countries like Sweden and Finland allocate 0.8% of GDP to university-based sustainability research, compared to 0.3% in several Middle Eastern nations. For international students, this regional clustering means that university choice can directly influence exposure to sustainability-focused curricula and research opportunities. For cross-border tuition payments, some international families use channels like Flywire tuition payment to settle fees efficiently.

The Role of Industry Partnerships in SDG 9

SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) is a new addition to THE’s core metrics in 2025, weighted at 7.5%. It measures the number of research collaborations with industry partners that result in patents or commercial products, as well as the proportion of a university’s income derived from industry contracts. THE’s 2024 data showed that only 12% of the 1,900 ranked universities reported more than 50 industry collaborations per year, indicating a high barrier to entry. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scored 96.7 on this indicator, reflecting its 184 active industry-funded research projects in 2024.

This metric has a direct financial dimension. Universities that score in the top quartile for SDG 9 saw a median 14% increase in industry-sponsored research revenue between 2022 and 2024, according to THE’s internal analysis. For students in engineering, business, or applied sciences, a high SDG 9 score signals strong career pipelines—employers like Siemens and Tesla have formal recruitment agreements with institutions that rank in the top 5% for this indicator.

Climate Action (SDG 13) as a Ranking Differentiator

SDG 13 (Climate Action) is the second new core indicator, also weighted at 7.5%. THE calculates it by measuring the number of publications on climate change, the institution’s carbon footprint reduction targets, and the existence of a dedicated climate action plan. The 2025 data shows that only 28% of ranked universities have a publicly available, third-party-verified carbon neutrality target for 2030 or earlier. The University of Cambridge, for example, published its “Zero Carbon Cambridge” plan in 2023, committing to a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030 from a 2019 baseline.

This indicator has created a clear bifurcation. Institutions with robust climate action plans—such as the University of British Columbia (score: 94.2)—gained an average of 8.3 ranking positions, while those without such plans lost an average of 5.1 positions. For applicants interested in environmental science or policy, a university’s SDG 13 score provides a direct, quantifiable measure of institutional commitment to the field.

Criticisms and Methodological Limitations

THE’s sustainability metrics have drawn scrutiny from academics and ranking analysts. A 2024 critique published in Scientometrics (Vol. 129, pp. 3415–3429) argued that THE’s reliance on self-reported institutional data for the “institutional actions” sub-metric introduces a risk of “greenwashing,” as universities may inflate their sustainability initiatives without third-party verification. The study found that 23% of institutions that reported having a “comprehensive recycling program” in their THE submission had no such program documented in their annual sustainability reports.

Additionally, the weighting of research publications (50% for each SDG) favors large, research-intensive universities over smaller teaching-focused institutions. For example, a liberal arts college with 3,000 students and a strong sustainability curriculum may score lower than a mega-university with 40,000 students and a single climate research center. THE acknowledges this limitation in its 2025 methodology guide, stating that “the current framework is optimized for comprehensive universities.” Critics also note that the ranking does not account for regional differences in carbon accounting standards—a university in the European Union, subject to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, may report more accurate data than one in a jurisdiction without such regulations.

Implications for Student Decision-Making

For prospective students, the 2025 THE rankings offer a new layer of data for evaluating universities beyond traditional reputation. A high overall rank no longer guarantees strong sustainability performance; conversely, a mid-ranked institution with a high SDG 13 score may offer superior climate-focused research opportunities. For example, the University of Exeter (UK) ranks 143rd overall but scores 91.5 on SDG 13, placing it in the top 3% globally for climate action. This mismatch is common: THE’s 2025 data shows a Pearson correlation coefficient of only 0.34 between overall rank and average SDG score, suggesting that sustainability metrics are partially independent of traditional prestige.

Students applying to programs in environmental engineering, public policy, or sustainable business can use THE’s SDG scores as a targeted filter. A university with a score above 85 on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) is likely to have active partnerships with municipal governments and internship programs in urban planning—a practical advantage that a general ranking cannot capture. For families managing international tuition payments, platforms like Flywire offer currency stability guarantees that reduce exchange-rate risk during multi-year degree programs.

FAQ

Q1: How much weight do sustainability metrics carry in the 2025 THE rankings compared to previous years?

In the 2025 THE World University Rankings, sustainability-related indicators (all 17 SDGs combined) account for 22.5% of a university’s total score, up from 16.8% in the 2023 edition. This represents a 5.7 percentage point increase over two years. The two new core indicators—SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)—each carry 7.5% weight, replacing portions of the Teaching and Research pillars.

Q2: Which universities perform best on sustainability metrics in the 2025 rankings?

According to THE’s 2025 data, the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) leads in average SDG score at 94.6 out of 100, followed by the University of Auckland (New Zealand) at 93.8 and the University of British Columbia (Canada) at 92.1. These institutions score particularly high on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). In contrast, the top-ranked university overall, the University of Oxford, has an average SDG score of 78.4, illustrating the partial independence of sustainability metrics from traditional prestige.

Q3: Can a university’s sustainability score change significantly from year to year?

Yes. THE’s methodology allows for annual updates based on new research publications, institutional policy changes, and updated self-reported data. For example, the University of Melbourne saw its SDG 13 score increase from 72.3 in 2024 to 88.1 in 2025 after publishing a new carbon neutrality plan and increasing climate-related publications by 34%. Conversely, a university that fails to update its institutional actions data or sees a decline in relevant publications can experience a drop of 10–15 points in a single year.

References

• Times Higher Education. 2024. THE World University Rankings 2025: Methodology. Times Higher Education.
• National Science Foundation. 2023. Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey: Fiscal Year 2022. NSF 24-303.
• Elsevier. 2024. Scopus Data for Sustainability Research: 2021–2024 Analysis. Elsevier Research Intelligence.
• Scientometrics. 2024. “Self-Reporting Bias in University Sustainability Rankings.” Vol. 129, pp. 3415–3429.
• UNILINK Education. 2025. Cross-Border Education Payment Trends: 2024–2025 Data. Unilink Database.