📚 QS Stars New Methodology: The Four Core Categories Explained | QS Stars 新版方法论的四大核心类别
QS Stars is one of the most widely cited university rating systems in the world, and its revised methodology has reshaped how institutions are evaluated. For students choosing a degree, understanding the four core categories is now as important as reading a league table. This guide unpacks what each category measures, how the evidence is gathered, and how you can use the results sensibly when you apply.
QS Stars 是全球被引用最广的大学评级体系之一，其修订后的方法论改变了院校被评估的方式。对于正在选择学位的学生而言，理解这四大核心类别，其重要性已经不亚于查看一份排行榜。本文拆解每个类别到底测量什么、证据如何收集，以及你在申请时该如何理性运用这些结果。
1. What Is QS Stars? | 什么是 QS Stars？
QS Stars is an opt-in rating system operated by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the company behind the QS World University Rankings. Instead of forcing every institution into one numerical order, QS Stars awards a rating out of five stars, so a university is measured against a published benchmark rather than against its rivals. Institutions that choose to take part submit evidence, are audited, and receive a public profile showing performance in each category.
QS Stars 是由 QS（Quacquarelli Symonds）运营的自愿参评评级体系——QS 也是 QS 世界大学排名的发布机构。它并不把所有院校强行排成一个名次序列，而是给出五星制评级，让大学与公开基准比较，而非与竞争对手比较。选择参评的院校需要提交证据、接受审核，并获得一份公开展示各类别表现的档案。
The system was created partly to serve institutions that never appear in global rankings: newer universities, specialist colleges, teaching-focused institutions and regional providers. By rating rather than ranking, QS Stars allows a strong teaching-led university with modest research output to earn a respectable rating, which a purely research-weighted ranking would not permit.
该体系部分是为了服务那些从未进入全球排名的院校而设立的：新兴大学、专业学院、以教学为主的院校以及区域性办学机构。通过"评级"而非"排名"，QS Stars 让一所研究产出有限但教学扎实的大学也能获得体面的评级，而纯粹以研究为权重的排名则做不到这一点。
Hundreds of institutions across dozens of countries now hold a QS Stars rating, and many universities display their star profile prominently in marketing materials and prospectuses. That visibility is exactly why you should understand what sits behind the stars before you let them influence your choices.
目前已有数十个国家的数百所院校持有 QS Stars 评级，许多大学会在宣传材料和招生手册中显著展示自己的星级档案。正因为这种曝光度，你更应该在看星级之前先弄清楚星级背后的东西。
2. Why the Methodology Was Revised | 为什么方法论会被修订
The main criticism of older rating and ranking models was over-reliance on reputation surveys and on research volume. Employers and prospective students increasingly ask different questions: will this course get me a job, will I be supported, will my degree be recognised internationally, and does the institution behave responsibly? The revised methodology responds by shifting weight towards verifiable outcomes and third-party data.
旧有评级与排名模型最主要的批评在于过度依赖声誉调查和研究体量。而雇主与潜在学生问的问题越来越不同：这门课程能让我就业吗？我会得到支持吗？我的学位国际认可吗？这所机构有社会责任感吗？修订后的方法论将权重向可验证的产出和第三方数据转移，以回应这些问题。
A second driver was simplicity. Earlier versions of QS Stars contained a long list of optional categories, which made comparison confusing. The new architecture groups evaluation into four core categories that every rated institution must address, with additional specialist modules available on top. That gives students a consistent skeleton for comparison while preserving flexibility.
第二个动因是"简化"。早期版本的 QS Stars 包含一长串可选类别，导致比较起来令人困惑。新的架构把评估归入四大核心类别——每一所获评院校都必须涵盖——并在此之上提供额外的专业模块。这样既为学生提供了统一的比较骨架，又保留了灵活度。
A third driver was transparency and anti-gaming. Evidence requirements were tightened, so a claim about graduate employment or academic qualifications needs documentation rather than an assertion in a brochure.
第三个动因是透明度与"反包装"。证据要求被收紧，因此关于毕业生就业或师资资历的主张需要文件支撑，而不能只在宣传册上写一句口号。
3. How the New Scoring Works | 新的评分机制如何运作
Each core category is scored on a 0 to 100 scale using a set of weighted indicators. Category scores are then converted into star bands. The overall rating is not a simple average: an institution normally has to meet a minimum standard in every core category before it can claim a given overall star level, so a single outstanding category cannot compensate for a weak one.
每个核心类别都通过一组加权指标，按 0 到 100 分打分。类别分数随后被转换为星级档位。总评级并不是简单平均：院校通常必须在每个核心类别都达到最低标准，才能宣称某个总星级，因此单靠某一类别特别突出，无法弥补另一类别的薄弱。
A simplified version of the calculation looks like this:
计算方式的简化示意如下：
e = (Teaching × w₁) + (Employability × w₂) + (Research × w₃) + (Internationalisation × w₄)
w₁ + w₂ + w₃ + w₄ = 1
The weightings are set by QS and are periodically reviewed, so the exact numbers matter less than the principle: employability and teaching carry substantial weight alongside research, which is where the new methodology differs most sharply from a classic research ranking.
权重由 QS 设定并定期复核，因此具体数值的重要性低于其原则：就业与教学与研究一样占相当权重——这正是新方法论与经典研究型排名差别最大的地方。
Star bands are indicative and are published in the official methodology document. A typical structure looks like the table below; always confirm current thresholds on the QS website before quoting them.
星级档位是示意性的，会在官方方法论文件中公布。典型结构如下表；引用前请务必在 QS 官网核实最新门槛。
| Star Rating | 星级 | Indicative Score Band | 示意分数区间 | What It Usually Signals | 通常意味着 |
|---|---|---|
| 5+ Stars | 五星加 | Approximately 90-100 | 约 90-100 | World-class performance across all four cores | 四大核心均达世界一流水平 |
| 5 Stars | 五星 | Approximately 80-89 | 约 80-89 | Excellent, internationally competitive | 优秀，具国际竞争力 |
| 4 Stars | 四星 | Approximately 70-79 | 约 70-79 | Strong and consistent, some gaps | 表现稳健，但仍有短板 |
| 3 Stars | 三星 | Approximately 60-69 | 约 60-69 | Solid in core areas, narrower provision | 核心领域尚可，覆盖面较窄 |
| 1-2 Stars | 一至二星 | Below approximately 60 | 约 60 以下 | Meets basic requirements only | 仅达到基本要求 |
One practical point: a rating is usually valid for a limited period and is then reviewed. Treat any star profile as a snapshot with a date on it, not as a permanent property of the university.
一个实用要点：评级通常只在有限期限内有效，之后会复核。请把任何星级档案视为标有日期的快照，而非该大学的永久属性。
4. Core Category One: Teaching and Learning | 核心类别一：教学与学习
Teaching and Learning examines the quality of the academic experience itself. Indicators typically include the student-to-academic-staff ratio, the proportion of academic staff holding a doctorate, teaching qualifications and professional development, student satisfaction and engagement survey results, progression and retention rates, and the quality of learning resources such as laboratories, libraries and digital platforms.
"教学与学习"考察学术体验本身的质量。指标通常包括：学生与学术人员的比例、拥有博士学位的学术人员占比、教学资格与专业发展、学生满意度与参与度调查结果、升学率与留存率，以及实验室、图书馆、数字平台等学习资源的质量。
In the revised methodology, QS also looks at curriculum design: whether programmes are periodically reviewed, whether assessment is aligned to learning outcomes, and whether academic support services are genuinely accessible rather than merely advertised.
在修订后的方法论中，QS 还会考察课程设计：课程是否定期复审、考核是否与学习成果对齐，以及学术支持服务是否真正可及，而非只是宣传口号。
How to read this as an applicant | 申请者应如何解读
A high Teaching score is a signal that the institution invests in the day-to-day experience of students. It is particularly relevant if you are choosing between a large research-intensive university and a smaller teaching-focused one, or if you know you will need substantial academic support during a demanding A-Level-to-degree transition.
教学得分高，说明该机构在学生日常体验上有投入。若你正纠结于大型研究型大学与较小型教学型院校之间的选择，或者你清楚自己在从 A-Level 过渡到学位阶段时需要大量学术支持，这一项尤其相关。
Look beyond the headline number. A strong teaching profile usually shows up in concrete facts: class sizes, contact hours, how many staff hold teaching qualifications, and whether first-year students are taught by permanent academics or largely by postgraduate teaching assistants.
不要只看头部数字。优秀的教学档案通常体现在具体事实上：班级规模、接触课时、多少教师持有教学资格，以及一年级学生是由正式学术人员授课，还是主要由研究生助教授课。
5. Core Category Two: Employability and Outcomes | 核心类别二：就业能力与成果
Employability is the most heavily weighted of the four in most configurations, and it is the category students ask about first. Indicators include graduate employment or further-study rates within a defined period, employer reputation surveys, the strength and staffing of the careers service, work-integrated learning such as placements and internships, and employer partnerships embedded in the curriculum.
"就业能力"在多数配置中是四大类别里权重最高的一项，也是学生最先关心的一项。指标包括：在特定时间内的毕业生就业或继续深造比例、雇主声誉调查、职业服务中心的实力与人员配置、实习与工作实践等"工作融合式学习"，以及嵌入课程中的雇主合作关系。
Alumni outcomes matter here too. A university whose graduates progress into recognised professional routes, postgraduate study or competitive graduate schemes has evidence to submit; a university that cannot document this will score lower regardless of its reputation.
校友成果在这里同样重要。若一所大学的毕业生进入受认可的职业路径、继续深造或竞争激烈的毕业生项目，它就有证据可提交；无法提供此类记录的大学，无论声誉如何，得分都会偏低。
What a strong score looks like | 高分档案长什么样
- Published graduate outcomes data collected by an independent body | 由独立机构收集并公布的毕业生去向数据
- Placement or Year in Industry options built into the degree structure | 学位结构中内置实习年或产业年选项
- A careers service with employer-facing staff, not just a website | 配备对接雇主的顾问团队，而不只是一个网站
- Named employer partners who contribute to curriculum design | 参与课程设计的具名雇主合作方
- Alumni mentoring and industry advisory boards | 校友导师制与行业咨询委员会
Be careful with employability claims. Response rates, definitions of "employed" and the time window used can all change the picture. Cross-check the university's own published data with national datasets in the relevant country.
对就业宣传要保持警惕。回复率、"已就业"的定义以及统计时间窗口都会改变全貌。请把大学自行公布的数据与相应国家的官方数据集交叉核对。
6. Core Category Three: Research and Impact | 核心类别三：研究与影响力
Research and Impact measures scholarly activity and its consequences. Indicators include research output relative to staff numbers, citation impact, research income from competitive grants and industry contracts, doctoral degrees awarded, the presence of recognised research centres or institutes, and increasingly, demonstrable societal or economic impact.
"研究与影响力"衡量学术活动及其后果。指标包括：相对于人员规模的研究产出、引用影响力、来自竞争性资助与产业合同的研究经费、授予的博士学位数量、获认可的研究中心或研究所的存在，以及日益重要的、可证明的社会或经济影响。
The shift in emphasis is important. Older models counted papers; newer approaches try to capture whether research changes practice, policy or technology. That is why you now see references to interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge exchange and alignment with global challenges such as sustainability and public health.
重点的转移很重要。旧模型数论文篇数；新方法试图捕捉研究是否改变了实践、政策或技术。这就是为什么现在会看到跨学科协作、知识转化，以及与可持续发展和公共卫生等全球议题对齐的提法。
Why it still matters to undergraduates | 为什么这对本科生仍有意义
You may never publish a paper, but research strength shapes your degree. It determines whether your final-year project has a supervisor with genuine expertise, whether laboratory equipment is current, whether visiting scholars give seminars, and whether the department attracts doctoral students who become your demonstrators and tutors.
你也许永远不会发表论文，但研究实力会塑造你的学位。它决定你的毕业年项目能否由真正具备专长的导师指导、实验设备是否先进、是否有访问学者开设研讨课，以及院系能否吸引到博士生——他们往往会成为你的实验课助教与辅导老师。
Conversely, do not over-weight research if your goal is a professional, applied or creative career. A modest research score with excellent employability and teaching can be the better match.
反过来，若你的目标是职业导向、应用型或创意型职业，就不要过度看重研究。研究分数一般但就业与教学出色，可能是更合适的匹配。
7. Core Category Four: Internationalisation and Global Engagement | 核心类别四：国际化与全球参与
Internationalisation looks at how globally connected an institution really is. Indicators include the proportion of international students and international academic staff, the number and depth of international partnerships, student mobility and exchange options, joint or dual degrees, international branch campuses, and participation in global research collaborations.
"国际化"考察一所机构真正的全球连接程度。指标包括：国际学生与国际学术人员的比例、国际合作伙伴的数量与深度、学生流动与交换选项、联合学位或双学位、海外校区，以及参与全球研究协作的情况。
This category is often underrated by domestic applicants, but it has direct consequences. It affects the diversity of your classroom, the availability of a year abroad, whether your qualification travels well when you apply for postgraduate study overseas, and how easily the institution can host international recruiters.
本国申请者常常低估这一类别，但它有直接影响。它关系到课堂的多元程度、是否有海外交换年、你申请海外研究生时学位是否"好使"，以及学校能多容易地邀请到国际招聘方。
Indicators worth checking directly | 值得直接核对的指标
- Percentage of students from outside the home country | 非本国学生所占比例
- Number of active exchange agreements, not just signed ones | 实际运作中的交换协议数量，而非只是签过的
- Availability of funded mobility and travel grants | 是否有资助性的流动与差旅补助
- Support for international students, including visa and language provision | 对国际学生的支持，包括签证与语言服务
- Recognition of the degree by overseas professional bodies | 学位是否被海外专业机构认可
A high internationalisation score should mean that global activity is normal, not exceptional. If a university scores well here but the year-abroad option is oversubscribed and unfunded, the score is technically true but practically less useful to you.
国际化得分高，本应意味着全球性活动是常态而非例外。如果一所大学在此得分很高，但海外交换年名额超额、且无资助，那么分数在技术上成立，对你而言实际价值却有限。
8. The Optional Modules That Sit Alongside the Four Cores | 与四大核心并列的选修模块
Beyond the four core categories, the revised framework retains a set of elective or specialist modules that institutions can opt into. These add detail to the profile but do not replace the core four, and they are usually displayed as separate additional stars.
在四大核心类别之外，修订后的框架保留了一组院校可选择参评的选修或专业模块。它们为档案增加细节，但不取代四大核心，通常以单独的附加星级显示。
| Module | 模块 | What It Assesses | 评估内容 |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 可持续发展 | Environmental and social governance, teaching and research on sustainability | 环境与社会治理、可持续发展相关的教学与研究 |
| Inclusiveness | 包容性 | Access, widening participation, scholarships, support for under-represented groups | 入学机会、扩大参与、奖学金、对弱势群体的支持 |
| Online and Distance Learning | 在线与远程学习 | Quality of digital delivery, learner support, completion rates | 数字化教学质量、学习者支持、完成率 |
| Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 创新与创业 | Start-up support, incubation, tech transfer, enterprise teaching | 创业支持、孵化器、技术转移、创业教育 |
| Facilities | 设施 | Campus infrastructure, laboratories, sports, accommodation, libraries | 校园基础设施、实验室、体育、住宿、图书馆 |
| Specialist Criteria | 专业标准 | Subject-level or discipline-specific evaluation, such as business or medicine | 学科层面或特定领域的评估，如商科、医学 |
For applicants to competitive professional courses, the specialist criteria are frequently the most informative part of the whole profile. A business school with a strong specialist rating is telling you something concrete about accreditation, faculty practice and industry links.
对于申请竞争激烈的专业课程的学生而言，专业标准往往是整份档案中最具信息量的部分。一所拥有强势专业评级的商学院，正在就认证、师资实务与产业联系向你传达具体信息。
9. QS Stars Versus the QS World University Rankings | QS Stars 与 QS 世界大学排名的区别
These two products are frequently confused, and the confusion causes poor decisions. The QS World University Rankings compare institutions against each other in a single ordered list, with heavy weighting on academic reputation, employer reputation and research citations. QS Stars rates institutions against published standards, so many universities can hold the same rating.
这两个产品经常被混淆，而这种混淆会带来错误的决策。QS 世界大学排名把院校放在同一份有序名单中互相比较，学术声誉、雇主声誉与研究引用占权重很大。QS Stars 则让院校与已公布标准对照评分，因此许多大学可以持有相同评级。
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