# Times Higher Education API

> Times Higher Education returns university rankings, scores, and student statistics as a workflow and API.

Times Higher Education (THE) lists World University Rankings by year, country, and subject, with ranks, scores, and student figures. Get university returns a university’s latest displayed world rank, scores, student statistics, and subject rankings; it needs a university name.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/times-higher-education
- Handle: `@times-higher-education`
- Category: [Education](https://fous.com/workflows/category/education)
- Source website: https://timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with Times Higher Education.

## Methods

### Get university

Operation `get_university`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Get a university’s latest displayed world ranking, scores, student statistics and subject rankings. Some statistics may be missing on its public profile.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `university` | string | yes | `"University of Tokyo"` | Name of the university, for example University of Tokyo. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "university"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "university": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Name of the university, for example University of Tokyo.",
      "examples": [
        "University of Tokyo",
        "University of Oxford"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "university": "University of Tokyo"
    },
    {
      "university": "University of Oxford"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `country` | string or null | `"Japan"` |  |
| `world_rank` | string or null | `"26"` |  |
| `profile_link` | string | `"https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-tokyo"` |  |
| `ranking_year` | integer or null | `2026` |  |
| `overall_score` | string or null | `"83.5"` |  |
| `pillar_scores` | object |  |  |
| `pillar_scores.industry` | number or null | `100` |  |
| `pillar_scores.teaching` | number or null | `94.7` |  |
| `pillar_scores.research_quality` | number or null | `68.2` |  |
| `pillar_scores.research_environment` | number or null | `94.2` |  |
| `pillar_scores.international_outlook` | number or null | `50.8` |  |
| `university_name` | string | `"The University of Tokyo"` |  |
| `subject_rankings` | array |  |  |
| `subject_rankings[].rank` | string | `"25"` |  |
| `subject_rankings[].subject` | string | `"Clinical and Health"` |  |
| `number_of_students` | integer or null | `26298` |  |
| `students_per_staff` | number or null | `10.2` |  |
| `female_to_male_ratio` | string or null | `"52 F : 48 M"` |  |
| `international_students_percent` | number or null | `18` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "university": "University of Tokyo"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "country": "Japan",
  "world_rank": "26",
  "profile_link": "https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-tokyo",
  "ranking_year": 2026,
  "overall_score": "83.5",
  "pillar_scores": {
    "industry": 100,
    "teaching": 94.7,
    "research_quality": 68.2,
    "research_environment": 94.2,
    "international_outlook": 50.8
  },
  "university_name": "The University of Tokyo",
  "subject_rankings": [
    {
      "rank": "25",
      "subject": "Clinical and Health"
    },
    {
      "rank": "=26",
      "subject": "Business and Economics"
    },
    {
      "rank": "=46",
      "subject": "Arts and Humanities"
    }
  ],
  "number_of_students": 26298,
  "students_per_staff": 10.2,
  "female_to_male_ratio": null,
  "international_students_percent": 18
}
```

### List university rankings

Operation `list_university_rankings`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

List THE World University Rankings by year, country, and subject, with displayed ranks, scores, student figures, and university links. Older editions use their original pillar names; figures absent from THE are null.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `year` | integer | no | `2025` | Ranking year, such as 2025. Defaults to the latest available year. |
| `country` | string | no | `"Canada"` | Country name as shown by THE, such as United Kingdom. Defaults to all countries. |
| `subject` | string | no | `"Law"` | Subject ranking name, such as Engineering. Defaults to the overall World University Rankings. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `3` | Maximum universities to return, such as 50; at most 200. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "year": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 2011,
      "description": "Ranking year, such as 2025. Defaults to the latest available year.",
      "examples": [
        2025,
        2023
      ]
    },
    "country": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "",
      "description": "Country name as shown by THE, such as United Kingdom. Defaults to all countries.",
      "examples": [
        "Canada",
        "United States",
        "Atlantis"
      ]
    },
    "subject": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "",
      "description": "Subject ranking name, such as Engineering. Defaults to the overall World University Rankings.",
      "examples": [
        "Law",
        "Engineering"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 50,
      "maximum": 200,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum universities to return, such as 50; at most 200.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        3,
        2
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "year": 2025,
      "country": "Canada",
      "max_results": 3
    },
    {},
    {
      "year": 2023,
      "subject": "Law",
      "max_results": 2
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `year` | integer | `2025` | Year of the ranking. |
| `rankings` | array |  | Universities in the order shown by THE after filtering. |
| `rankings[].rank` | string or null | `"21"` | Rank as displayed, including ties and ranges. |
| `rankings[].country` | string or null | `"Canada"` | Country or territory shown by THE. |
| `rankings[].university` | string or null | `"University of Toronto"` | University name. |
| `rankings[].overall_score` | string or null | `"88.3"` | Overall score as displayed, including ranges or n/a. |
| `rankings[].industry_score` | string or null | `"94.9"` | Industry score, if this pillar appears. |
| `rankings[].research_score` | string or null | `"89.7"` | Research score, for editions using that name. |
| `rankings[].teaching_score` | string or null | `"76.2"` | Teaching score, if this pillar appears in the chosen year. |
| `rankings[].citations_score` | string or null | `"62.7"` | Citations score, for editions using that name. |
| `rankings[].university_link` | string or null | `"https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-toronto"` | University page on THE. |
| `rankings[].number_of_students` | integer or null | `80107` | Number of students when shown. |
| `rankings[].students_per_staff` | number or null | `25.2` | Students per staff member when shown. |
| `rankings[].industry_income_score` | string or null | `"70.8"` | Industry Income score, for editions using that name. |
| `rankings[].research_quality_score` | string or null | `"93.4"` | Research Quality score, if this pillar appears. |
| `rankings[].research_environment_score` | string or null | `"93.5"` | Research Environment score, if this pillar appears. |
| `rankings[].international_outlook_score` | string or null | `"91.8"` | International Outlook score, if this pillar appears. |
| `rankings[].international_students_percent` | number or null | `29` | Percent of international students, on a 0 to 100 scale. |
| `ranking_name` | string or null | `"World University Rankings 2025"` | Name of this THE ranking edition. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "year": 2025,
  "country": "Canada",
  "max_results": 3
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "year": 2025,
  "rankings": [
    {
      "rank": "21",
      "country": "Canada",
      "university": "University of Toronto",
      "overall_score": "88.3",
      "industry_score": "94.9",
      "research_score": null,
      "teaching_score": "76.2",
      "citations_score": null,
      "university_link": "https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-toronto",
      "number_of_students": 80107,
      "students_per_staff": 25.2,
      "industry_income_score": null,
      "research_quality_score": "93.4",
      "research_environment_score": "93.5",
      "international_outlook_score": "91.8",
      "international_students_percent": 29
    },
    {
      "rank": "41",
      "country": "Canada",
      "university": "University of British Columbia",
      "overall_score": "77.8",
      "industry_score": "79.8",
      "research_score": null,
      "teaching_score": "62.3",
      "citations_score": null,
      "university_link": "https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/university-british-columbia",
      "number_of_students": 59931,
      "students_per_staff": 19.3,
      "industry_income_score": null,
      "research_quality_score": "89.7",
      "research_environment_score": "76.7",
      "international_outlook_score": "94.3",
      "international_students_percent": 34
    }
  ],
  "ranking_name": "World University Rankings 2025"
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@times-higher-education",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_university",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "university": "University of Tokyo"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@times-higher-education\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_university\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"university\": \"University of Tokyo\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@times-higher-education",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_university",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "university": "University of Tokyo"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@times-higher-education","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Compare university ranks by country and subject
- Review ranking scores across years
- Find student figures for ranked universities
- Check a university’s subject rankings

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with Times Higher Education?

No. Fous is not affiliated with Times Higher Education. This workflow reads the public timeshighereducation.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Times Higher Education account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from timeshighereducation.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### What are a university’s latest world rank and scores?

Get university returns the latest displayed world rank and scores for the university name you provide.

### Which universities rank highest in a subject and country?

List university rankings returns universities in THE’s displayed order for the selected subject, country, and year.

### How many students attend a ranked university?

List university rankings includes student figures when shown. Get university returns student statistics that may be missing from the public profile.

## Related

- [QS Top Universities API](https://fous.com/workflows/qs-top-universities.md): QS Top Universities provides rankings and profiles with latest world ranks, student figures, up to five subject ranks and listed tuition; subject editions may differ.
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- [World Bank API](https://fous.com/workflows/world-bank.md): World Bank provides country statistics and latest values within selected years, plus country rankings for a chosen year or the latest broadly covered year.
- [Trading Economics API](https://fous.com/workflows/trading-economics.md): Trading Economics provides economic indicators, market data and country statistics, including country overviews, latest reported country comparisons and current commodity prices reflecting reported trading days.
- [FIFA API](https://fous.com/workflows/fifa.md): FIFA provides official men’s and women’s national-team rankings, excluding unranked teams, and year-specific tournament matches with scores, teams, stages and venues.
- [Udemy API](https://fous.com/workflows/udemy.md): Online courses in professional and personal skills.
- [GreatSchools API](https://fous.com/workflows/greatschools.md): GreatSchools provides school ratings and profile facts, plus nearby US school search results within five miles; unpublished details may be unavailable, and distances are straight-line estimates.
- [All Education workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/education)