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 institutions from 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