The results draw on the analysis of 17.5mln academic papers and the expert opinions of 240,000+ academic faculty and employers. Massachusetts Institute of Technology celebrates twelve years at the top, the University of Cambridge retains 2^nd place while the University of Oxford (3^rd) climbs one position.

This year, QS has implemented its largest-ever methodological enhancement, introducing three new metrics: Sustainability, Employment Outcomes and International Research Network.

“Deep consultation across global higher education has empowered the QS World University Rankings to align better with Gen Z and Alpha priorities, focusing on what genuinely matters to increasingly socially conscious students in our rapidly evolving world,” stated Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President, QS.  

In this edition:

• 75% of Africa’s universities fare better. Nine new entries.
• Arab Region remains increasingly competitive.
• Asia’s top university, National University of Singapore (8^th) breaks into top-10. South Korea and Japan remain strong but less prolific. Thailand and Indonesia emerging.
• Australia excels at global engagement. Three universities join the top-20.   
• Canada: University of Toronto is the new national leader.
• China: Most improved for research impact (79% institutions rise in Citations per Faculty).
• ETH Zurich is continental Europe’s best university for the sixteenth consecutive year.  
• France’s merged universities shine. Université PSL (24^th) enters the top-25.
• India: New national leader, IIT Bombay, climbs into world top-150.
• Universidade de São Paulo (85^th) takes Latin America’s top-spot.
• UK: Shines for cross-border research collaborations. 72/90 institutions place higher.
• USA: UC Berkeley, named world’s leader in Sustainability, breaks into top-10.