Singapore and Hong Kong each have two universities in the top 10, while Japan has one — the University of Tokyo. (Image: AI Generated)
The Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2026 has been released with 929 universities evaluated across 36 countries and territories — up from 853 institutions last year. China leads the Asia University Rankings, retaining first and second place, with five of the top 10 spots held by mainland Chinese institutions.
Tsinghua University holds the top position for the eighth consecutive year, while Peking University stays firmly at second. Fudan University and Zhejiang University retain their positions at seventh and eighth, respectively, with Shanghai Jiao Tong University moving up one place to ninth. Singapore and Hong Kong each have two universities in the top 10, while Japan has one — the University of Tokyo.
Times Higher Education: Asia University Rankings 2026
Rank
Institution
Country/Territory
Score
1
Tsinghua University
China
93.6
2
Peking University
China
93.1
3
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Singapore
91.1
=4
Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Singapore
85.1
=4
The University of Tokyo
Japan
85.1
6
University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Hong Kong
84.3
7
Fudan University
China
82.9
8
Zhejiang University
China
82.6
9
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
China
82.1
10
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Hong Kong
81.1
Malaysia joins the top 40 for the first time, with Universiti Teknologi Petronas rising eight places to joint 35th, and a record six of its universities now in the top 100 — double last year’s tally. Macao also makes its debut in the top 30, with the University of Macau climbing six places to 28th.
India: Largest represented nation, but top performance slips
India is the most-represented nation, with 128 institutions ranked, followed by Japan with 115 and Turkey with 109. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru has secured the 43rd position in the THE Asia University Rankings 2026, slipping five places from 38th last year. Despite the drop, IISc remains the only Indian institution in the top 50. Also, the Institute is the sole Indian representative in the top 100.
BITS Pilani has joined the list of institutions opting out of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. The institute announced that it will no longer share data with THE for evaluation purposes. Several IITs — including Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, and Guwahati — have already boycotted the rankings, citing concerns over transparency in the assessment process.
India’s Top Institutions: THE Asia University Rankings 2026
Asia Rank
Institution Name
Overall Score
=43
Indian Institute of Science (IISc Bengaluru)
65.1
=128
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
52.0
=141
Indian Institute of Technology Indore
50.6
=158
Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences
49.4
=160
Jamia Millia Islamia
49.3
=169
KIIT University
48.0
=186
Aligarh Muslim University
46.7
=186
National Institute of Technology Rourkela
46.7
=197
Lovely Professional University
46.0
=197
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
46.0
=197
Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
46.0
India has 12 institutions in the top 200 this year, an increase from 107 Indian universities featured overall last year to 128 institutions in the current rankings. Among other Indian institutions, Lovely Professional University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, and the University of Delhi are jointly ranked at 197.
