SINGAPORE'S two main universities have climbed a prestigious league table, in a sign of their growing reputations among academics.

Britain's Times Higher Education magazine ranked the National University of Singapore 23rd best in the world, up from 27th last year, reported The Straits Times.

Nanyang Technological University, which was placed in the 91st to 100th band last year, has moved up to the next highest group - the 81st to 90th band.

The magazine compiled its World Reputation Ranking by asking some 17,500 experienced academics in over 130 countries to rate universities in two areas - research and teaching.

This article was first published in The New Paper.