The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have risen in the latest Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings released this morning.

NUS climbed three places to the 24th position, closing the gap on the top Chinese institutions, whose Tsinghua University retained its 14th spot. Meanwhile, Nanyang Technological University moved up from the 81-90 band to the 51-60 bracket.

Harvard University takes the top spot for the eighth year in a row. The rankings are based on ratings by senior academics around the world. This year, over 10,000 academics were asked to rate institutions based on excellence in research and teaching .

Commenting on the higher rankings by NUS and NTU, Mr Phil Baty, the editorial director for global rankings at Times Higher Education, said: "The growing strength of both institutions seems to be increasingly matched by rising prestige among the global scholarly community."

On NUS' performance, he said: "It is clear... that scholars around the world are increasingly paying attention to NUS, recognising and reporting its excellence. This should produce a virtuous circle, where excellence drives improved reputation and improved reputation supports excellence - helping to attract more global talent, more prestigious international partnerships and more inward investment."

NUS president Tan Eng Chye said he and his staff were pleased that NUS' reputation for excellence is recognised by leading academics around the world.

He added: " We remain committed to delivering high-quality education and conducting cutting-edge research in areas of strategic importance to Singapore and the region."

Meanwhile, NTU president Subra Suresh said: "Reputation takes time and effort to build. For a young university such as NTU Singapore to climb about 30 places to the 51-60 band from 81-90 within one year is therefore quite an achievement.

"Some of the universities ranked above us have had several centuries to build their international standing, while NTU climbed to its current position within a relatively short period of time."

TOP 10 UNIVERSITIES

1. Harvard University

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3. Stanford University

4. University of Cambridge

5. University of Oxford

6. University of California, Berkeley

7. Princeton University

8. Yale University

9. University of California, Los Angeles

10. University of Chicago

24. National University of Singapore

51-60. Nanyang Technological University