University of Plymouth Ranked Among World’s Top 100 for Sustainability
The University of Plymouth has been recognised as one of the world’s leading institutions for sustainability, securing 84th place globally and 15th in the UK in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. These rankings assess over 2,500 universities across 130 countries based on their progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Plymouth’s impressive performance highlights its long-standing commitment to embedding sustainability across its teaching, research, and operations. The university has consistently demonstrated leadership in addressing global environmental challenges through innovative initiatives and impactful academic work.
A major factor in this achievement is Plymouth’s continued carbon neutrality, having retained its PAS 2060 certification for a third consecutive year. This independent verification underscores the university’s commitment to measurable and transparent climate action.
In 2024, the university received further recognition with two Green Gown Awards one for its pioneering research into marine litter and another acknowledging graduate Hayley Hill as a national sustainability champion. These accolades reflect Plymouth’s significant contributions both in academic research and student-led sustainability efforts.
The university’s dedication to high-quality, sustainability-focused education also contributed to its recent Triple Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework. In research, 78% of its work was rated world-leading or internationally excellent in the latest Research Excellence Framework.
This latest ranking reinforces the University of Plymouth’s position as a global leader in sustainability in higher education, reflecting its deep-rooted values and consistent delivery of meaningful environmental and social impact.
