47 Pakistani universities rank in Times Higher Education’s world university rankings

Lahore: A total of 47 universities from Pakistan have secured spots in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, marking a significant achievement for the country's higher education sector.

Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad has earned a place in the 401-500 range, leading the pack among Pakistani institutions.

Several others, including Air University Islamabad, Capital University of Science and Technology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Government College University Faisalabad, National University of Sciences and Technology Islamabad, Sukkur IBA University, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, and University of Malakand Dir Lower, are ranked between 601 and 800.

Other notable universities, such as Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, International Islamic University Islamabad, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore University of Management Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, University of Central Punjab Lahore, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, University of Gujrat, University of Lahore, University of Management and Technology Lahore, University of the Punjab Lahore, and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, are ranked between 801 and 1000.

In addition, 12 universities are ranked between 1001 and 1200, eight institutions fall between 1201 and 1500, and five universities are placed in the 1501+ range.

Another 48 institutions from Pakistan are listed as “reporters,” meaning they provided necessary data but did not meet the eligibility criteria for ranking, Dawn news reported.

Global highlights

The 2025 Times Higher Education rankings include over 2,000 universities from 115 countries and territories. Oxford University retains the top position for the ninth consecutive year, bolstered by improvements in industry engagement and teaching. MIT has climbed to second place, surpassing Stanford, which now ranks sixth.

China is closing in on the top 10, reflecting its growing global research influence. On the other hand, Australia's top five universities have slipped in the rankings due to a decline in international outlook and reputation. Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have made their debut in the top 200, signifying the rising prominence of emerging markets in global higher education.

The rankings are based on the new WUR 3.0 methodology, assessing institutions across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook. This year’s rankings feature 2,092 universities, with 185 new entries, drawing from 472,694 data points across 2,860 institutions.