Results of the 2025 World University Ranking have been released

The University of Oxford has maintained its position as the top university in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the ninth consecutive year, making it the longest reign in the history of the ranking. Oxford’s continued dominance is attributed to significant strides in income from industry, the number of patents citing its research, and teaching quality. Its strong international outlook—particularly the proportion of international students and co-authorship with global researchers—also contributes to its leading position. However, the reputation of the wider UK higher education sector appears to be eroding. This trend is mirrored in the US, where institutions like Stanford University have seen a drop in their rankings. Stanford fell from second place to sixth, its lowest rank since 2010, due to declining scores in teaching, research environment, and international outlook. In contrast, MIT has reached its highest-ever position, moving up to second place globally. This marks an impressive achievement for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which has been improving its rankings steadily over the past decade. Harvard University and Princeton University have also made notable gains, with Harvard moving from fourth to third place and Princeton jumping from sixth to fourth. These shifts highlight the evolving dynamics in global university rankings, with MIT and Princeton emerging as strong contenders, while some of the traditional giants, such as Stanford and Harvard, experience challenges in maintaining their positions at the top.