WANA (Jul 01) – The 22nd edition of the QS World University Rankings, one of the most prestigious global university ranking systems, was released in June 2025. It includes 11 universities from the Islamic Republic of Iran among more than 1,500 top institutions worldwide. Last year (QS 2025), only 9 Iranian universities were listed, indicating a growing trend in the country’s higher education sector.

The first 10 top Universities in the Latest QS World University Rankings 2026 / WANA News Agency

The first 10 top Universities in the Latest QS World University Rankings 2026 / WANA News Agency

According to Mohammad Mehdi Alavian Mehr, President of the Islamic World Science Citation and Monitoring Institute (ISC), in the 2026 rankings, the University of Tehran leads among Iranian universities with a global rank of 322. It is followed by:

 

  • Sharif University of Technology (rank 375)
  • Amirkabir University of Technology (rank 456)
  • Iran University of Science and Technology (rank 496)
  • Isfahan University of Technology (rank 571)

 

Other Iranian universities included in the rankings are:

 

  • University of Tabriz (rank 578)
  • Shiraz University (rank 701–710)
  • Shahid Beheshti University (rank 741–750)
  • Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (rank 951–1000)
  • University of Isfahan (rank 1001–1200)
  • Islamic Azad University (rank 1201–1400)

 

In 2020, only 6 Iranian universities were featured in the QS rankings, but this number has risen to 11 in 2026. Beyond the increase in numbers, many of these universities have also improved their positions. For example, the University of Tehran has advanced from rank 530 to 322, while Shahid Beheshti University has moved from around rank 1200 to the 741–750 band.

 

Alavian Mehr also commented on the overall global ranking results. For the 14th consecutive year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) holds the top spot in the QS 2026 list. Imperial College London is ranked second, with Stanford University, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University in third to fifth places, respectively.

University students in Iran. Social media/ WANA News Agency

The QS ranking is compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds in the UK and has independently assessed universities worldwide since 2010. Data on university publications is drawn from the Scopus database over a five-year window, while citations are measured over six years.

 

The QS 2026 ranking indicators are:

  • 30% Academic reputation
  • 15% Employer reputation
  • 10% Faculty-to-student ratio
  • 20% Citations per faculty
  • 5% International faculty ratio
  • 5% International student ratio
  • 5% International research network
  • 5% Employment outcomes
  • 5% Sustainability