The higher education magazine, working closely with leading research specialist Thomson Reuters, has used a sophisticated new methodology to produce what it says is the most detailed, rigorous and comprehensive study of global university performance ever undertaken.

Ann Mroz, editor of Times Higher Education, said:  “We would like to congratulate the University of East Anglia for its performance in this year’s rigorous rankings. Being ranked 174 in the world top 200 is an impressive achievement. The top 200 universities in the world represent only a tiny fraction of world higher education and any institution that makes it into this table is truly world class.”

The rankings were compiled using data provided by Thomson Reuters combined with a reputation survey of over 13,000 academics by Ipsos Mori. The new methodology gives more weight to objective measures of excellence in research, teaching and knowledge transfer and, as a result, has seen the University rise from 302nd place in last year’s THE table.

Professor Edward Acton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, said: "We are delighted to have risen sharply up the ranking of the world's best universities. It is particularly pleasing given that we have yet to celebrate our 50th birthday.

"My sense is that more refined methods of measuring research are bringing out the extraordinary strength of the 1994 Group of smaller British research-intensive universities which UEA epitomises.

“The superiority of the student experience we offer is confirmed in survey after survey: bring that together with full recognition of our research strength and agility and you have a formidable combination."

The editor of the 2010-11 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Phil Baty, described the rankings as ‘the gold standard for world-class research institutions.’

“As global higher education is becoming more competitive than ever, inclusion in this year’s ranking is an impressive achievement for any institution,” he said.

The full results and details of how the rankings are compiled are available online at: 2010-11 World University Rankings.