The latest edition of the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey (GEURS) 2025 underscores the growing importance of adaptability and practical work experience for graduates entering the workforce. Compiled by French consultancy Emerging in partnership with Times Higher Education (THE), the rankings reveal the factors employers prioritize when assessing graduate readiness for modern workplaces.
The survey highlights that graduates with work experience or internships are becoming increasingly desirable to employers. This preference reflects a broader trend in which practical exposure complements traditional academic skills. Alongside experience, other key attributes sought by employers include adaptability to emerging technologies (cited by 45.9% of employers) and collaboration abilities like communication and teamwork (valued by 45.1%).
GEURS remains the only ranking system that evaluates universities globally based on their ability to produce employable graduates. The 2025 edition is the most comprehensive to date, gathering 129,126 votes from 13,240 operational and international managers across 33 countries.
Growing Prominence of Asian Universities
Asian universities have made notable strides in employability rankings, with 52 institutions appearing in the top 250, three more than last year. This year, Indian universities have delivered an especially strong performance, with 10 institutions in the top 250. India’s success is attributed to the technological focus of its institutions, which appeals to international employers. The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi leads among Indian universities at 28th place, while the Indian Institute of Science has climbed to 47th, securing a spot in the top 50.
Chinese universities continue their ascent, with Peking University rising three places to 11th and Tsinghua University advancing two spots to 19th. These improvements demonstrate the growing recognition of Chinese institutions for their contributions to employability.
Consistency Among US and UK Institutions
The United States and the United Kingdom continue to dominate the top rankings. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) hold the first and second spots, respectively, reaffirming their excellence. Despite a long-term decline over the past 15 years, American universities appear to have stabilized their presence, with 52 institutions in the top 250—a slight increase from recent years.
The University of Cambridge leads UK universities, ranking fifth, followed by the University of Oxford in seventh place. Overall, 13 UK institutions are represented in the rankings.
US and UK universities account for half of the top 20 spots. The remainder of the top tier features institutions from Germany, Japan, Singapore, China, Canada, Spain, France, and Switzerland, reflecting the diverse geographical spread of excellence.
Mixed Trends in Canada
Canada exhibits a mix of stability and decline in employability rankings. While the University of Toronto (14th), McGill University (31st), and the University of British Columbia (36th) maintain their positions, other institutions like Université de Montréal/HEC and McMaster University have dropped by 12 and three places, respectively.
Progress in Other Regions
In Latin America, Mexico leads the region with three universities in the top 250, while Brazil and Colombia also make significant contributions.
The Gulf region continues to show improvement, with the United Arab Emirates University debuting at 230th place. Qatar University, a consistent performer, has climbed into the top 150 globally, remaining the sole representative of its nation.
A Global Perspective
This year’s rankings feature universities from over 40 countries and regions, showcasing the global emphasis on employability. These include nations such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Australia, South Africa, and Taiwan, among others.
Sandrine Belloc, managing partner at Emerging, emphasized the transformative impact of employability on higher education. She remarked, “The mounting global emphasis on employability is driving a transformative shift as universities and employers increasingly unite to equip graduates with essential skills for today’s dynamic workforce. It’s inspiring to see this commitment to skill alignment expanding globally, giving a growing number of students access to the competencies and opportunities needed to thrive in an interconnected job market.”
Top 10 universities in the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey 2025
| University | Country/region | Rank 2025 | Rank
last year |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | US | 1 | 2 |
| California Institute of Technology | US | 2 | 1 |
| Stanford University | US | 3 | 3 |
| Harvard University | US | 4 | 5 |
| University of Cambridge | UK | 5 | 4 |
| Princeton University | US | 6 | 6 |
| University of Oxford | UK | 7 | 8 |
| The University of Tokyo | Japan | 8 | 7 |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | 9 | 9 |
| Imperial College London | US | 10 | 11 |
Top 10 countries in the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey 2025
| Country/region | Rank 2025 | Number of unis 2025 | Number of unis compared with last year | Number of votes 2025 | Score 2025 |
| US | 1 | 52 | +1 | 28,391 | 22.01% |
| France | 2 | 19 | 0 | 10,937 | 8.48% |
| Germany | 3 | 20 | +1 | 10,085 | 7.82% |
| UK | 4 | 13 | 0 | 8,167 | 6.33% |
| China | 5 | 15 | +2 | 7,799 | 6.05% |
| Canada | 6 | 10 | -1 | 5,361 | 4.16% |
| Australia | 7 | 9 | 0 | 5,125 | 3.97% |
| Japan | 8 | 9 | 0 | 4,541 | 3.52% |
| South Korea | 9 | 7 | 0 | 4,508 | 3.49% |
| Switzerland | 10 | 7 | 0 | 4,408 | 3.42% |
The GEURS rankings reaffirm the critical role of higher education institutions in preparing graduates for the evolving demands of the global workforce, emphasizing the need for adaptability, practical experience, and collaboration in modern careers.
