Dublin City University has secured a position in a league table of the top 50 young universities in the world.

The QS Top 50 Under 50 ranks colleges established in the last half century on the basis of factors such as academic reputation, employer reputation and faculty-student ratio.

DCU has achieved a placing of 46th place, after falling out of the rankings last year.

Professor Brian MacCraith, president of DCU, said he was delighted that the rankings had recognised the quality of the university’s graduates.

“The ranking has a significant impact on our ability to develop international partnerships and to attract international students and staff to DCU,” he said.

“This success has been achieved despite a very challenging funding environment that has had a direct and negative impact on some of the key rankings criteria, such as faculty-student ratios.”

Prof MacCriath said higher education was reaching a tipping point, where further investment was required to protect the quality and reputation of third level education in Ireland.

“Our future prosperity, our innovation ecosystem, and the quality of our shared society are all dependent on a thriving education system which is geared towards developing leaders, critical thinkers and problem solvers,” he said.