EDINBURGH university is the only Scottish institution to appear in new global rankings for higher education.
Edinburgh is 49th in the Times Higher Education table of the top 100 institutions, based on reputation.
Overall, the number of UK universities in the world's top 100 has fallen from 12 to 10 – partly due to rising investment in the university sector in Asia.
Dr Wendy Piatt, director general of the prestigious Russell Group universities, which includes Edinburgh, said: "The UK's leading universities punch well above their weight and their global reputation remains very strong.
"However, our global competitors in the US, East Asia and Europe are pumping billions into higher education – and money really matters."
The UCU lecturers' union called on the Westminster Government to recognise the advances being made in other countries to ensure universities in England could continue to compete.
The rankings saw Harvard crowned the world's best university, based on reputation alone. Cambridge beat Oxford to the UK's number one slot.
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