TEHRAN – The 22nd edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings (WUR), 2026, has placed nine Iranian universities among the world’s top institutes, unchanged from the 2025 ranking.

University of Tehran, with a global ranking of 322, ranks first among the Iranian universities.

Sharif University of Technology (ranking 375), and Amirkabir University of Technology (456), are placed second and third.

Iran University of Science and Technology (496), Isfahan University of Technology (571), University of Tabriz (578), Shiraz University (701-710), Shahid Beheshti University (741-750), and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (951- 1000) are other top universities included in this year’s ranking.

Among Iranian universities, Shahid Beheshti University has improved its ranking by 100 positions, up from 851-900 in 2025, Mehr news agency reported.

QS World University Rankings being compiled by Britain’s QS since 2024 – is a global indicator of higher education quality. Some 8,500 universities across the globe were nominated to be included in year 2026 rankings, and only 1,501 got their position in the final list.

It evaluates universities in a number of key indicators, such as academic and employer reputation, faculty student ratio, citations per faculty, international cooperation and partnership, international student and faculty ratio, employment outcomes and sustainability.

Every QS World University Rankings sees country-level shifts, and this year’s edition is no different. 

Based on the report, 41 percent of Indian institutions have improved their ranking, with only 20 percent moving down – while China and Germany have a higher percentage moving up, they also have a higher percentage moving down, making India’s performance particularly impressive. The U.S. continues to be the most represented location with 192 institutions. 11 of the U.S. institutions in the top 100 improved their ranking.

Five of Hong Kong’s nine institutions are in the top 100, and four have improved their rank. 

In the United Arab Emirates, all institutions that improved their rank did so by more than five places. 

Sunway University in Malaysia is the most improved institution, improving their rank by 129 positions. They have seen improvements across most indicators, with their International Student Ratio and Citations per Faculty seeing particularly large jumps. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Imperial College London, and Stanford University are the top three universities in QS WUR 2026.

Recent rankings

The Round University Ranking (RUR) 2025 has placed 36 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world, up from 32 universities in 2024.

RUR Ranking evaluates the performance of over 1200 leading world universities from 85 countries by 20 indicators within the framework of 4 key objectives: teaching, research, international diversity, and financial sustainability. 

It is designed as an evaluation system aimed to provide sufficient information about university performance to address stakeholders’ personal tasks: students, academic community, university management, and policy makers. 

Islamic Azad University, with a global ranking of 93, is placed first in the country. 

Tehran University of Medical Sciences (125), University of Tehran (202), Iran University of Science and Technology (355), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (371), Sharif University of Technology (389), University of Tabriz (422), Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (440), Qazvin University of Medical Sciences (445), and Shahid Beheshti University (454) ranked second to tenth. 

Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University are ranked third and fourth globally in terms of Teaching Ranking index, they are placed first and second in the country. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (with a global ranking of 69) is placed third.

Based on the Research Ranking index, University of Tehran (with a global ranking of 138), Sharif University of Technology (252), Islamic Azad University (259) are placed first to third in the country, respectively.

Islamic Azad University (414), Graduate University of Advanced Technology (542), and Imam Hossein University (572) are ranked first to third in terms of the International Diversity Ranking index.
Based on the Financial Sustainability index, Imam Hossein University (155), Baqir al-Olum University (212), and Iran University of Science and Technology (245) are the top three universities in the country.

The Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2025 has placed 85 Iranian universities among the top Asian institutions, compared to 75 universities in 2024.

Sharif University of Technology is ranked first in the country, with a global ranking of 69.

Amirkabir university of Technology (70), Iran University of Science and Technology (77), University of Tehran (97), Tehran University of Medical Science (109), Isfahan University of Technology (115), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (121), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (154), and Shiraz University of Technology (155) are placed second to tenth in the country.

The 15th edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2025 has included 17 Iranian universities in 21 subject entries, compared to 17 Iranian universities in 17 subject entries in 2024.

Iranian universities are ranked among the top institutions in three faculty areas, including Engineering and Technology; Life sciences and Medicine; and Natural sciences, Mehr news agency reported.

In Engineering and Technology subject area, University of Tehran, with a global ranking of 280, is placed first in the country. In Petroleum Engineering, University of Tehran ranks 22 globally, progressing from 32 in 2024 to 22 this year. In Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Sharif University of Technology and University of Tehran rank 151-200 and 201-250, respectively.

In the Life Sciences and Medicine broad subject, Tehran University of Medical Sciences is ranked first nationally; its ranking elevated from 358 in 2024 to 309 this year. In Agricultural and Forestry, University of Tehran ranks 101-150, and University of Tabriz ranks 251-300. 

In Anatomy and Physiology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and Tehran University of Medical Sciences rank 51-100 and 101-170, respectively.

In Nursing, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences rank 151-225, jointly. In Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences is ranked 201-250. 

In Chemistry, University of Tehran ranks 301-350, and Sharif University of Technology 351-400. In Mathematics, Sharif University of Technology and University of Tehran rank 301-350. In Material Sciences, Sharif University of Technology, and University of Tehran rank 251-300.

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR) by international outlook 2025 has ranked 85 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world. Sharif University of Technology (with a global ranking of 301- 350) tops the universities of the country.

THE World University Rankings 2025 has placed 81 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world in 10 out of 11 subject areas, compared to 73 universities in 2024.
Iran’s best rankings are in Computer Science, and Engineering.

Sharif University of Technology (151-175), University of Tehran (201 -250), Amirkabir University of Technology (251-300) are placed first to third in Computer Science, respectively.

Sharif University of Technology (151-175), University of Tehran (201-250), and Iran University of Science and Technology (251-300) are ranked first to third in Engineering, respectively.

MT/MG