The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has achieved notable recognition by being ranked as the sixth most popular international university worldwide, according to a study conducted by the financial services company Remitly[^1]. This ranking is determined based on global search data, which indicates that VUB amassed over 2.6 million searches over the past year, highlighting its significant international presence.
VUB’s appeal is particularly evident in the striking increase in enrolments to its Bachelor’s programs offered in English. Notably, around two-thirds of these new enrolments are non-Belgian students, underscoring the university’s attraction to a global student body[^1]. This trend of rising interest in English-language programs was specifically noted by the university last October, when there was a 20% jump in enrolments[^1].
Despite its success in terms of international searches, VUB’s standing in other university ranking systems, such as those compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), does not mirror this popularity. QS rankings are based on different criteria that encompass academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, and research impact, among others. In the latest QS rankings, VUB was placed 114th in Europe, while the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) was the only Belgian university to make it into the global top 100, ranked at 63rd[^1].
In the QS European rankings, Belgium fares reasonably well with four universities in the top 100: KU Leuven at 27th, the University of Ghent (UGent) at 47th, UCLouvain at 75th, and Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) at 94th[^1]. These varying rankings point to the multifaceted nature of university evaluation systems that consider diverse factors beyond mere internet search interest.
The study by Remitly offers a unique perspective, prioritizing international interest and internet searches as its main criteria, which contrasts with the more traditional and comprehensive evaluative methodologies used by QS and similar ranking organizations. This discrepancy underscores how different ranking systems and criteria can lead to varying representations of a university’s global standing and appeal.
Overall, VUB’s strong performance in the Remitly study reflects its strategic focus on internationalism and the successful attraction of a diverse, global student base[^1].
Suggested Reading:
[https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1154793/belgian-university-ranks-in-top-ten-most-popular-international-campuses-worldwide](https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1154793/belgian-university-ranks-in-top-ten-most-popular-international-campuses-worldwide)
