St Andrews and Dundee universities have been named among the top 200 higher education establishments in the world.
Times Higher Education published its World University Ranks on Wednesday, which grades nearly 1,000 universities across the globe.
St Andrews was ranked 110th in the world, down from 86th place last year, while Dundee rose five places to number 180.
Oxford University was named as the world’s best, knocking five-time champion the California Institute of Technology into second place.
Universities are judged on a 13 measures of performance such as teaching, research and international outlook.
Edinburgh University was ranked 27th in the world Glasgow 88th and Aberdeen 188th.
Dundee University’s climb up the table is another accolade for the institution.
It also came 15th in the QS Top 50 Under 50 poll, which celebrated universities under 50 years old, making it the top-ranked UK institution.
Dundee is also the reigning Scottish University of the Year (Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide) and was named in the top 10 of the UK’s National Student Survey.
Professor Sir Pete Downes, principal and vice-chancellor of the university, said: “We are absolutely delighted not only to be named once again as one of the world’s top 200 universities, recognition that institutions across the globe covet, but to continue to climb in the rankings of globally successful universities.
“When we were named within the top 200 last year I said that we were determined to build on this success so it is very pleasing to see that our progress continues thanks to the hard work of the whole University community.
“Our aim as a university is to transform lives, locally and globally, through our top-class research, innovative teaching and a student experience that is being increasingly recognised as the best in Scotland.
“While we have a long-term goal to become Scotland’s leading university in all the fields in which we choose to work, our ambitions do not end at the country’s borders.
“We operate on a worldwide stage and this ranking, along with our other hugely positive recent results, will help further bolster our reputation internationally.”
Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education World Rankings, said Brexit could make it harder for British universities to compete globally in future years.
He said: “It is fantastic news that the University of Oxford has topped the World University Rankings for the first time. It is a great result for the UK higher education sector and cements its position as one of the greatest university nations in the world.
“The UK’s vote to leave the EU in June is a big threat to the country’s higher education sector, especially given that some of the country’s universities are already slipping out of the top 100, before the full effects of Brexit have begun.
“The referendum result is already causing uncertainty for the sector. As well as some top academics reporting they have been frozen out of collaborative research projects with EU colleagues, many are admitting that they might look to relocate to a university outside the country.
“A Times Higher Education survey conducted before the referendum found that 40% of university staff said they would be more likely to leave the country in the event of a Brexit.”
