BrightKey Independent University Guide
A transparent alternative to commercial rankings. We evaluate universities on what actually matters to international families — not what matters to universities.
How We're Different
No Payments
We accept no money from universities. Our assessments are independent.
Public Data Only
Every data point comes from verifiable public sources. Anyone can check our work.
Family-Focused
We measure what matters to students: outcomes, teaching, fit, and visa pathways.
Tier Profiles, Not Ranks
S/A/B/C/D per dimension. No misleading single number. Universities excel differently.
Honest Limitations
We flag data gaps openly. Missing data is never penalized — it's marked 'unavailable'.
Transparent Method
Our full methodology is published. We welcome criticism and update annually.
Browse by Country
United Kingdom
39 universities
Australia
13 universities
Singapore
4 universities
Hong Kong
6 universities
Netherlands
10 universities
Germany
9 universities
Canada
12 universities
Japan
11 universities
Switzerland
5 universities
Europe (Other)
15 universities
United States
56 universities
South Korea
6 universities
New Zealand
4 universities
Ireland
4 universities
China
6 universities
Our Data Sources
All assessments are based on publicly available, verifiable data.
HESA Graduate Outcomes
UK
Employment & salary data 15 months post-graduation
LEO (Longitudinal Education Outcomes)
UK
Actual earnings from tax records at 1, 3, 5, 10 years
National Student Survey (NSS)
UK
Student satisfaction across teaching, support, resources
QILT (Quality Indicators for Learning & Teaching)
Australia
Graduate outcomes, student experience, employer satisfaction
JAUGES Graduate Employment Survey
Singapore
Employment rate and salary by programme
Office for Students (OfS)
UK
Financial health and regulatory reports
OpenAlex / Leiden Ranking
Global
Open bibliometric data for research quality
Government Visa Policies
Global
Post-study work rights by country
OECD Education at a Glance
Global
Cross-country education statistics
This guide represents BrightKey's independent assessment based on publicly available data. We accept no payments from universities, do not sell consulting services to the institutions we evaluate, and are transparent about our methodology and its limitations. We welcome feedback and update annually. Read our full methodology →