The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, released on October 9, 2025, paints a compelling picture of global shifts in academic excellence. The University of Oxford retained its #1 position for the tenth consecutive year, highlighting its continued strength in research and teaching. Meanwhile, India emerged as the second most-represented country, a major leap in global academic visibility, with 128 institutions on the list, up from just 19 in 2016.
This year’s rankings signal a dual trend while traditional academic powers like the U.S. are slipping, India and parts of Asia are steadily gaining ground—though still distant from the elite top 200.
Global Highlights
THE World University Rankings 2026 Top Spot
- The University of Oxford remains the world’s top university, excelling in research quality, teaching, and international reputation. It leads a top 10 dominated by the United States, which holds seven spots, though several U.S. universities saw drops in ranking.
- The U.S. has 35 universities in the top 100, down from 38 last year.
- Prestigious institutions like the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Duke University have fallen to their lowest-ever positions.
- Experts attribute this decline to political pressures, funding cuts, and potential academic brain drain.
The UK, while strong at the top with Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London in the top 10, saw 27% of its universities drop in ranking. Financial strain and limited investment are growing concerns.
India: A Historic Rise in Global Academic Representation
India’s performance in THE 2026 is its strongest to date, now ranked second globally in terms of the number of universities, with 128 institutions listed—behind only the U.S. (171).
Top Performers in India
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore: Continues to lead India in the 201–250 rank band, holding steady from last year.
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai): Rose from the 401–500 to 351–400 band, with significant gains in,
- Teaching: 34 → 37.9
- Research Quality: 88.6 → 93.4
- International Outlook: 71.8 → 72.5
Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi): Moved up from 501–600 to 401–500 band.
Shoolini University (Himachal Pradesh): Maintained position in 401–500 band.
Other Notable Institutions
- 501–600 Band: IIT Indore, BHU (Varanasi), KIIT (Odisha), LPU (Punjab), UPES (Dehradun)
- 601–800 Band: Delhi University (improved from 801–1000), AMU, IIT Patna, IIIT Hyderabad, Panjab University
- BITS Pilani: Dropped from 601–800 to 801–1000, due to a drop in research quality score (69.4 → 66.9)
Top 10 Universities Globally – THE World University Rankings 2026
| 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank | University | Country |
| 1 | 1 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
| 2 | 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | United States |
| 3 | 4 | Princeton University | United States |
| 3 | 5 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
| 5 | 3 | Harvard University | United States |
| 5 | 6 | Stanford University | United States |
| 7 | 7 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | United States |
| 8 | 8 | Imperial College London | United Kingdom |
| 9 | 9 | University of California, Berkeley | United States |
| 10 | 10 | Yale University | United States |
Top Indian Universities – THE World University Rankings 2026
| Rank Band | University | Highlights |
| 201-250 | Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore | India’s top university; consistent position since last year |
| 351-400 | Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai | Big jump in teaching, research quality, international outlook |
| 401-500 | Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi | Improved from 501–600 |
| 401-500 | Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh | Maintained its rank band |
| 501–600 | IIT Indore | Leading newer IIT |
| 501–600 | Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi | Consistent performer |
| 501–600 | KIIT University, Odisha | Private university in top 600 |
| 501–600 | Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab | Private university with national presence |
| 501–600 | University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun | Specializing in energy studies |
| 601-700 | Delhi University (DU) | Improved from 801–1000; gains in research and collaboration |
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