Sustainability rankings
We are ranked in the top 30 universities in the world for sustainability.
QS Sustainability Rankings 2026
We rank 27th in the world, 15th in Europe and 11th in the UK. The QS Sustainability Rankings are global university rankings that evaluate institutions on their environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices. In particular, the University of Glasgow excels in Social Impact, achieving an impressive 3rd place worldwide.
THE Impact Rankings 2025
We rank top in Scotland, second in the UK and third in Europe. The THE Impact Rankings benchmark performance of universities against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They consider universities’ commitment to addressing the world's most pressing challenges, including environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth, and partnerships.
We are ranked in the world’s top 50 in 11 SDGs and in the world top 10 for three SDGs:
- Third for SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation
- 10th for SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production
- 10th for SDG 15, Life on Land
As a reflection of our commitment to the SDGs, we:
- were the first in the UK to declare we would divest from fossil fuels within a decade
- were the first in Scotland to declare a Climate Emergency
- are committed to a significant plan of action to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
"The University of Glasgow has a proud tradition of practicing and promoting social impact and sustainable development and today we are recognised as a global leader in sustainability. However, we realise that there is more to do, and we are committed to ensuring that we continue to build on our reputation as one of the world’s leading universities for sustainability through research, teaching and operations." Professor Andy Schofield, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Glasgow