Oxford Tops THE World University Rankings 2026; IISc Best in India

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, the University of Oxford has retained its first position for the tenth consecutive year, while the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, ranked in the 201–250 band, is the top Indian institution.

• Released on October 9, 2025, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026 show that the University of Oxford has retained its first position for the tenth consecutive year, reflecting its continued strength in research and teaching.
• The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, remains in the 201–250 rank band, maintaining its position from last year.
• Meanwhile, India has emerged as the second most represented country, marking a major leap in global academic visibility. The list includes 128 institutions, compared to only 19 in 2016—behind only the United States (171).
• This year’s ranking indicates a dual trend, where traditional academic powers like the U.S. are slipping, while India and parts of Asia are steadily advancing—though they are still far from the top 200.
• The U.S. has 35 universities in the top 100, down from 38 last year.
• Prestigious institutions such as the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and Duke University have fallen to their lowest-ever positions. Experts attribute this decline to political pressure, funding cuts, and a potential academic talent drain.
• The U.K., with Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London, remains strong in the top 10, but 27% of its universities have dropped in ranking. Financial stress and limited investment are growing concerns.

Top 10 universities in the world

• 1 University of Oxford United Kingdom
• 2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) United States
• 3 Princeton University United States
• 3 University of Cambridge United Kingdom
• 5 Harvard University United States
• 5 Stanford University United States
• 7 California Institute of Technology (Caltech) United States
• 8 Imperial College London United Kingdom
• 9 University of California, Berkeley United States
• 10 Yale University United States

Top Indian universities

• 201–250 Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore India’s top university; consistent from last year
• 351–400 Savita Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai major leap in teaching, research quality, and international outlook
• 401–500 Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi improved from 501–600
• 401–500 Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh retained its rank band
• 501–600 IIT Indore leading among new IITs
• 501–600 Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi consistently performing
• 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 specialized in energy studies
• 601–700 University of Delhi (DU) improved from 801–1000; progress in research and collaboration