Times Higher Education (THE) has published its 2015 World Reputation Rankings – a list of the world’s 100 most prestigious universities.It has been a strong year for the UK with 12 of the world’s top 100 university brands (up from 10 in 2014) while Harvard University retains first place on the list of the world’s most prestigious universities.The UK’s Cambridge University ranks in second place and Oxford at third, which pushes the Massachusetts Institute of Technology down to fourth place and Stanford University down to fifth.European powerhouses London and Paris tie for top spot as the world cities with the highest number of top ranked universities, but London pips its European rival to the post with the more highly ranked institutions of the two.For the fifth year in a row, the 2015 rankings have highlighted an elite group of six US and UK “super-brands” that stand head and shoulders above the rest, headed by Harvard University.Overall, the US continues to dominate, with 26 of the top 50 places, and a total of 43 of the top 100 (down from 46 last year). The US’s star performers include Columbia, rising into the top 10 from 23rd in 2011, when the survey was first carried out, and New York University, which this year makes 20th place, up from outside the top 50 in 2011.After the US, the UK has the most top 100 representatives: 12, up from ten last year and nine in 2013.The “golden triangle” of Oxford, Cambridge and London strengthened its grip on UK higher education: As well as Cambridge and Oxford rising closer to the summit, University College London moved up from 25th to 17th, the London School of Economics rose two places to 22nd and King’s College London jumped eight places from 43rd to 31st.Edinburgh University is Scotland’s only representative among the global super-brands, rising from 46th to 29th place.Universities, Science and Cities Minister Greg Clark said, “It’s no coincidence that British universities continue to come out on top of international league tables like this. UK higher education has a long-standing reputation for excellence and more UK and international students than ever before are signing up to benefit from their teachings and world leading facilities.”For more Re:locate news and features about education click here