The University of Liverpool has achieved the highest rating, Gold, in the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Learning Rankings 2024.
The University is one of 11 institutions globally and two in the UK to achieve the highest rating in the new ranking, which is the first attempt to measure excellence in online learning on a global scale.
Online education has been a growing trend in higher education, with the Covid-19 pandemic driving demand exponentially. The University of Liverpool was one of the first UK universities to offer degrees online and has more than 21,000 graduates in over 180 countries worldwide. The University operates its online education portfolio in partnership with Kaplan Open Learning. Together, the University and Kaplan provide rigorous and exciting academic experiences and comprehensive support services for students in a 100% digital environment.
University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said: “This is a fantastic result for the University as we enter our 25th Anniversary year of Liverpool Online. I am incredibly proud of our online education community of staff, students and alumni and our partnership with Kaplan Open Learning, through which we are making high quality education available everywhere in the world.”
Nicola Pittman, Managing Director of Kaplan Open Learning said: “Our entire team is focused on providing a world-class educational experience for our partner universities. We welcome the creation of a new ranking methodology by Times Higher Education, which takes into account the important criteria unique to online learning environments and the needs of online students. These rankings will be an important benchmark for all online learning providers and students when assessing quality in online higher education.”
The University of Liverpool climbed eight places to 160th in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, which mirrors the University’s improvement across both international and domestic rankings this year. These include an 11-place rise to 165th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, 23rd place in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, 27th place in the Guardian University Guide and 19th place in the Complete University Guide.