Bristol University ranks as one of world’s most sustainable

The University of Bristol is the 12th most sustainable university in the world, according to the 2025 QS World Sustainability Rankings.

The rankings also placed Bristol as the fifth most sustainable university in the UK and the seventh in Europe.

QS judged 1,744 universities on more than 50 criteria, from their environmental research and teaching, to the gender balance of their staff and their community outreach.

Bristol came second in the world in the ‘equality’ category, which looks at criteria like universities’ disability support, and how their research improves global equality when judged against the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This year’s rankings included 341 more institutions than last year’s, making Bristol’s rise of five places to 12th all the more impressive.

Prof Evelyn Welch, the University’s vice-chancellor and president, said: “This is an exciting moment for the University, and although we still have a long way to go, we are delighted that our efforts toward creating a more sustainable future have been recognised.

“Becoming more sustainable is complicated at a University that undertakes all sorts of scientific experiments and has many Georgian buildings which, although beautiful, were not built with the environment in mind.

“So to everyone who made this possible – to our students, staff, alumni, supporters and our friends in the community – thank you all.”