Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026: Oxford has been named the best university in the world for an unprecedented tenth consecutive year.
London, October 9, 2025 — Oxford University has maintained its position as the world’s top university in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings since 2017. It marks the most extended period any university has held the number one spot in the rankings, which have been published annually for 21 years.
In this year’s edition, a record 2,191 universities from 115 countries were ranked. Alongside Oxford, only Harvard University and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have ever achieved the top ranking in the history of these rankings.
“We are honoured that Oxford has been ranked number one globally by Times Higher Education for the tenth year in a row. The THE rankings, rooted in internationally competitive research and teaching excellence, are recognised worldwide as a vigorous and demanding benchmark of university performance. This achievement reflects the dedication of our academics, professional services staff, and students, but it comes at a time of real strain for UK higher education. Sustaining a dynamic and globally competitive sector requires renewed investment and support, so that universities can continue to drive discovery, opportunity, and economic growth for future generations.”
— Professor Irene Tracey, CBE, FRS, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford
Phil Baty, THE’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, said:
“At a time of extraordinarily intense competition in global higher education, research and innovation, it is truly remarkable for the University of Oxford to have maintained its place as the world number one university in the rigorous Times Higher Education World University Rankings for ten years in a row. Oxford holds its position at the top of the world against better-funded US institutions and rapidly rising research powerhouses in East Asia, led by China.
“The key to success, is of course strength across the full range of 18 performance metrics deployed by the THE world rankings – which range across the teaching and research environments, research excellence, industry outreach and international outlook – but I think it is Oxford’s resolute international focus and commitment to international talent attraction and cross-boarder knowledge sharing, that really helps it hold on to the top position.”
International Outlook
The process for the Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings involves extensive research, analyzing nearly 19 million research papers, 1.5 million responses from an Academic Reputation Survey, and comprehensive institutional data from over 3,000 universities around the globe.
These rankings are based on 18 specific metrics that encompass the core missions of global, research-driven universities. These metrics are grouped into five key areas:
- Teaching: This includes the learning environment, with teaching reputation being the most heavily weighted factor.
- Research Environment: This considers the volume, income, and overall reputation of research.
- Research Quality: This metric focuses on citation impact, research strength, research excellence, and research influence.
- International Outlook: This area evaluates the diversity of staff, students, and research contributions.
- Industry: This includes income generated from industrial engagements and patents obtained.
Oxford performed exceptionally well across all metrics in the ranking, showing a notable strength in its research environment. It includes factors such as academic reputation for research, success in obtaining funding, and overall research productivity. Additionally, Oxford excels in its international outlook, which encompasses international research collaboration and the ability to attract global talent, including both staff and students.
Sources: Times Higher Education; Oxford University
— The CitiTimes Editor holds an Oxford Alumni Card.
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