A SCOTTISH university has dropped out of an influential league table of the world's best institutions, prompting calls for sustained public investment in the sector.

Dundee University came 196th in last year's Times Higher World University rankings - which records the best 200 institutions across the globe - but was not placed this year.

However, four other Scottish universities were featured, with Edinburgh 36th and Glasgow 94th after a jump of 23 places.

St Andrews was placed 111th, up from 117th last year, while Aberdeen University came 178th after a rise of ten places.

Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, which represents principals, said the fact the country still had four institutions in the top 200 was a significant achievement.

But he added: "Leading Asian institutions are significant competitors for international students and research investment and continue to rise in the world rankings.

"Now more than ever Scottish institutions require sustained public investment and government policy that enables them to realise their ambitions to keep Scottish teaching and research truly excellent in world terms."

The call was echoed by a ­spokesman for Dundee University, who stressed the institution had improved its standing in several other recent league tables.

He said: "These rankings demonstrate the increasing competition facing UK universities from higher education institutions in emerging economies across the world and for Scottish universities to maintain their global position, continued investment and support from government and industry will be required."

However, Mary Senior, UCU ­Scotland official, warned universities that cutting staff would damage their international reputations.

She said: "The Dundee branch of the union has been working hard to ensure planned redundancies are minimised, but you can't remain one of the top 200 universities in the world if you get rid of the very staff that put you there in the first place.

"If our universities are going to compete internationally then they need a committed workforce who are properly invested in, but across Scotland staff have seen their pay cut and threats to their pensions."

Professor Anton Muscatelli, principal of Glasgow University, said: "It is always tremendous to see Glasgow ranked highly in any league table."

At the top of the table, the California Institute of Technology retained its place at number one for the fourth consecutive year, with Harvard University, in Massachusetts, retaining second place.

Oxford University slipped one place from joint second to third, Stanford University held fourth and Cambridge University came fifth.

Phil Baty, the editor of the rankings, said: "East Asia's top universities continue their strong upward movement on the back of government financial support, strong leadership and a commitment to excellence in higher education and research."

Disadvantaged pupils to reap benefits of university classes