- Chinaleads theAsia University Rankings 2026,retainingfirst and second place
- Five of the top10 spots held bymainlandChineseinstitutions
- SingaporeandHong Konghave twouniversitieseach in top 10
- Japanhas one university in top 10– Tokyo achieves highest position in a decade
- Two newly rankedHong Konguniversities enter straight into top 100
- Macaomakes debut in top 30
- Malaysiajoins top 40 for first time, and doubles top100 places
- Record929universitiesrankedin 2026,compared with853in 2025
- 36 countries/territoriesincluded, one more than last year
- Yemenmakes its debut in the ranking
- The most comprehensive and balanced assessment of Asia’s research universities
Top 10 universities overall in theAsia University Rankings 2026
|
Institution |
Country/territory |
Rank 2026 |
Rank 2025 |
|
Tsinghua University |
China |
1 |
1 |
|
Peking University |
China |
2 |
2 |
|
National University of Singapore |
Singapore |
3 |
3 |
|
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore |
Singapore |
=4 |
4 |
|
The University of Tokyo |
Japan |
=4 |
5 |
|
University of Hong Kong |
Hong Kong |
6 |
6 |
|
Fudan University |
China |
7 |
7 |
|
Zhejiang University |
China |
8 |
8 |
|
Shanghai Jiao Tong University |
China |
9 |
10 |
|
The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Hong Kong |
10 |
9 |
= joint
If you reproduce any part of these ranking tables or charts, please attribute it to “ߣߣƵAsia University Rankings 2026”, and link to the full list on our website (link live from21.00 CST 23 April 2026).
Chinaonce againleads thelatestߣߣƵAsia University Rankings,with Tsinghua University intoppositionfor the eighth year running,andPeking Universityretainingsecond place.
MainlandChinatakes five of the top 10 spotsin the 2026 table, with Fudan University and Zhejiang Universityretainingtheirpositionsat seventhandeighthrespectively. Shanghai Jiao Tong University moves up oneplaceto ninth.
The rest of the top 10comprisestwo institutionseachfromSingaporeandHong Kong,andone fromJapan,withvery littlemovement at the top from the 2025ranking.
Alongsidemainland China’s success, it is also a strong year for the country’s two special administrative regions.All six ofHong Kong’sranked universities from last year remain in the top 50 anditstwo newly ranked universities enter straight into top 100.Meanwhile,Macaomakes the top 30 for the first time, with the University of Macau climbing six places to 28th.
Malaysiais another stand-out performer this year; it now features in the top 40 for the first time,withUniversitiTeknologiPetronasrisingeight places to joint 35ththis year. And a record six of its universities are in the top 100, double last year’s tally.
In total, a record 929 universities are ranked from 36 countries/territories, up from 853 universities and 35 countries/territories last year.
Indiais the most-represented nation,with128institutions ranked, followed byJapanwith115andTurkeywith109.Yemenisnewly ranked this year.
Phil Baty,THE’s chief global affairs officer, said:“China’s extraordinary performance and progress in higher education and research is laid bare in the results of this year’s Asia University Rankings – reflected not just by the mainland’s continuedprominenceat the top of the table, but also in the rising performance of itsspecialadministrativeregionsof Hong Kong and Macao.
“It is alsoencouragingto seestrong resultsfromSouth-east Asia – one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Malaysia, in particular, hasmade great strides in the rankings this yearand will be one to watch,as it increasingly becomes a major higher education player, not just in the continent but the world.”
THEAsia University Rankings 2026 country summary
|
Country/territory |
Best university |
Rank of best university |
Total number of universities ranked |
|
India |
Indian Institute of Science |
=43 |
128 |
|
Japan |
The University of Tokyo |
=4 |
115 |
|
Turkey |
Koç University |
=73 |
109 |
|
China |
Tsinghua University |
1 |
97 |
|
Iran |
Sharif University of Technology |
=76 |
90 |
|
Pakistan |
Quaid-i-Azam University |
=148 |
48 |
|
Taiwan |
National Taiwan University (NTU) |
=26 |
47 |
|
South Korea |
Seoul National University |
15 |
41 |
|
Indonesia |
University of Indonesia |
201-250 |
35 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals |
32 |
31 |
|
Malaysia |
UniversitiTeknologiPetronas |
=35 |
27 |
|
Iraq |
University of Technology, Iraq |
401-500 |
25 |
|
|
Tishk International University |
401-500 |
25 |
|
Thailand |
Chulalongkorn University |
=134 |
21 |
|
Bangladesh |
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology |
301-350 |
19 |
|
|
University of Dhaka |
301-350 |
19 |
|
Jordan |
Al-AhliyyaAmman University |
132 |
14 |
|
Vietnam |
UEH University |
=184 |
11 |
|
Hong Kong |
University of Hong Kong |
6 |
8 |
|
Israel |
Tel Aviv University |
=52 |
8 |
|
United Arab Emirates |
United Arab Emirates University |
=55 |
8 |
|
Philippines |
Ateneo de Manila University |
501-600 |
6 |
|
Sri Lanka |
University of Colombo |
501-600 |
6 |
|
Kazakhstan |
Nazarbayev University |
=150 |
5 |
|
Lebanon |
Lebanese American University |
94 |
5 |
|
Uzbekistan |
TashkentInstitute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanisation |
201-250 |
4 |
|
Macao |
University of Macau |
28 |
3 |
|
Oman |
Sultan Qaboos University |
=180 |
3 |
|
Bahrain |
Arabian Gulf University |
201-250 |
2 |
|
Brunei Darussalam |
Universiti Brunei Darussalam |
113 |
2 |
|
Kuwait |
American University of the Middle East |
201-250 |
2 |
|
Palestine |
An-Najah National University |
351-400 |
2 |
|
Singapore |
National University of Singapore |
3 |
2 |
|
Mongolia |
National University of Mongolia |
801+ |
1 |
|
Nepal |
Tribhuvan University |
801+ |
1 |
|
Qatar |
Qatar University |
=47 |
1 |
|
Syria |
Damascus University |
801+ |
1 |
|
Yemen |
Taiz University |
501-600 |
1 |
= joint
If you reproduce any part of these ranking tables or charts, please attribute it to “ߣߣƵAsia University Rankings 2026”, and link to the full list on our website(link live from21.00 CST 23 April 2026). The top 200 list is also at the bottom of this press release.
Methodology
TheTHEWorld University Rankings 2026 is the only global performance table that judges research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledgetransferand international outlook.
Themethodologybehind the Asia University Rankings is based on the same framework as the global rankings but the weightings are recalibrated to reflect the priorities of Asian institutions.
We use 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders,industryand governments. One of the metrics (study abroad) currently has zero weight but will be counted in future. The performance indicators are grouped into five areas: Teaching (the learning environment); Research environment (volume,incomeand reputation); Research quality (citation impact, research strength, researchexcellenceand research influence); International outlook (staff,studentsand research); and Industry (income and patents).
For more information, see the fullmethodology.
Notes to editors
- For more information, or to arrange an interview, please email media@timeshighereducation.com
- THEis the trusted global data partner for higher education. Drawing on five decades ofexpertisein the sector, millions of individual data points and with more unique institutionsparticipatingin our flagship university rankings than any other, we offer deeper and richer insight into university performance than anyone else. From powerful data-driven insights and strategic consultancy support to agenda-setting events, student recruitment and hiring solutions, our products and services enable everyone in higher education to make smarter, more informed decisions.