What are Custom Peer Lists?
Custom Peer Lists let you create tailored, purpose-built groups of universities for very specific analyses or internal use cases, using sub-sets of institutions that you included in your Master Peer List.
Unlike your Master Peer List or QS Lists (pre-defined groupings), Custom Peer Lists are flexible: you decide the theme, purpose, and visibility.
What Are Custom Peer Lists Used For?
Custom Peer Lists are ideal when you need a temporary or highly specific comparison group which is a sub-set of your broader Master Peer List.
Common use cases include:
Subject-focused peer groups
When you want to analyse or benchmark performance within a single discipline (e.g. “Computer Science peers” or “Business Schools only”).
Example: During Peer Review cycles, universities often created a custom list reflecting only institutions strong in the subject being evaluated.
Project-specific or one-off analyses
Useful for creating peer sets for a specific report, presentation, or internal request without altering your overall peer strategy.
Initiative-based groups
Such as “Sustainability leaders”, “Digital transformation universities”, or “Regional recruitment targets”.
Internal collaboration groups
If multiple colleagues are working on a single topic, you can make the list visible within your workspace so everyone analyses the same peer set.
Regional or Geographic group:
Though QS already provides you with benchmark lists of entire Regions, Sub-Regions or Territories, a Custom Peers List which is a sub-set of your Master Peer List can help you zero down on these specific peers in a regional or geographic area.
Here are a few Custom List examples:
Example A
A Dean wants to examine Research Impact only among Asian STEM-focused institutions.
Custom List Name: “Asia – STEM Research Peers”.
Example B
During Peer Review cycles, a university needs a subject-specific comparison set (e.g., Psychology, Law, or Computer Science).
Custom List Name: "Law-Only Peers"
Example C
An analyst wants to compare only the institutions participating in a specific partnership, alliance, or network.
Custom List Name: “UNICA Collaboration Group Only Peers”.
How to Create a Custom Peer List
➕ Create a Custom Peer List
Go to the Lists page (hover over left-hand collapsible menu)
Under "My List" section at top, click on tile with the plus called "New Peer List"
In pop-up, enter a name for your list (e.g. “Engineering International Peers”), and perhaps give it a Description
Choose whether this List should be visible to a particular Workspace.
Click Save
Start adding universities to this newly created Custom Peer List
Reminder: you can only include institutions in your new Custom Peer Lists which are already part of your Master Peer List.
Note: If an Admin adds to a Custom Peer List an Institution that is not in the Master Peer Lists and there are still slots available in the Master Peer List, that institution will also be added automatically to the Master Peer List.