Oxford University has retained the top position for the 8th consecutive year in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. In the recently released ranking, Stanford, MIT, Harvard and Cambridge universities are in the top five places.
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025 evaluates research-intensive universities across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry income. It uses 18 performance indicators, including metrics such as teaching reputation, staffing. -student-to-student ratio, research output, citation impact and international collaboration.
Compared to last year, the rankings have seen some notable changes. While the University of Oxford continued its reign at the top for the eighth consecutive year, there was some reshuffle in the remaining top five. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) moved up to second place, overtaking Stanford University, which dropped out of the top five this year. Harvard University moved up from fourth to third, while Princeton University entered the prestigious top five, taking fourth place. Cambridge University remains at fifth position, maintaining its position from last year. Here’s a look at the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.
Top 10 Universities According to World University Rankings 2025
Here is a closer look at the top ten universities and their scores in the World University Rankings 2025-
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford, founded in 1096, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It has maintained its prestigious reputation and has topped the World University Rankings for eight consecutive years. In 2025, Oxford achieved an overall score of 98.5, excelling in research quality (99.6) and teaching (96.8). Its International Outlook also achieved a high score of 97.3.
QS World Ranking 2025: Oxford came third with an overall score of 96.9, further cementing its academic excellence globally.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Founded in 1861, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) continues to be a leader in science and technology education. MIT ranked second in the 2025 ranking with an impressive overall score of 98.1, achieving perfect scores in research quality (100) and industry outlook (99.7). Its strong teaching score of 99.2 highlights MIT’s exceptional academic environment.
QS World Ranking 2025: MIT maintained its top position globally by scoring full 100 points.
Harvard University
Harvard University, founded in 1636, is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. In the 2025 THE rankings, Harvard ranked third with a score of 97.7, excelling in both research (99.9) and teaching (97.3). However, its research environment score (85.7) shows a slight decline compared to other leading institutions.
QS World Ranking 2025: Harvard ranked fourth globally with a score of 96.8, and continued its dominance in academic areas.
Princeton University
Princeton University, founded in 1746, has a strong reputation in the humanities and sciences. It ranked fourth in the 2025 THE ranking with an overall score of 97.5. Princeton has maintained its academic rigor, with notable strengths in research quality (96.9) and teaching (98.3). Its International Outlook score (87.4) shows room for growth.
QS World Ranking 2025: Princeton ranked 22nd with a score of 85.5, which is in stark contrast to its position in THE.
Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge, founded in 1209, ranked 5th in the 2025 rankings, earning an overall score of 97.4. Cambridge shone in research (99.9) and teaching (95.9), reflecting its long history of academic excellence. It also boasts a strong International Outlook Score of 97.1.
QS World Ranking 2025: Continuing its legacy as one of the world’s top educational institutions, Cambridge ranked 5th with a score of 96.7.
Stanford University
Stanford University, established in 1885, was ranked sixth in the 2025 ranking with a score of 97.2. Known for its cutting-edge research, Stanford earned a perfect score in research quality (100) and an excellent score in teaching (97.5).
QS World Ranking 2025: Stanford is ranked 6th globally with a score of 96.1, a testament to its innovation and academic prowess.
California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology (Caltech), established in 1891, is ranked 7th in the THE ranking with an overall score of 96.3. Its research quality score of 100 reflects its leadership in scientific research, while its teaching score was 95.2.
QS World Ranking 2025: Caltech was ranked 10th with a score of 90.9, reflecting its continued excellence in technical and scientific education.
University of California at Berkeley
Established in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is ranked 8th in the 2025 THE Rankings with an overall score of 94.5. Known for its research output, Berkeley scored an impressive 98.9 in the research category. However, the university’s teaching score of 87.2 was low.
QS World Ranking 2025: Berkeley was ranked 12th with a score of 90.1, highlighting its global impact on education and research.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London, founded in 1907, ranked 9th in the 2025 THE Rankings, scoring an overall score of 94.4. The university excelled in research (94.9) and international outlook (98.3), reflecting its strong global presence.
QS World Ranking 2025: Imperial College London came second with a score of 98.5, demonstrating its leadership in science, engineering and business.
Yale University
Ultimately, Yale University, established in 1701, took the 10th position in the 2025 rankings with a score of 94.1. Its research (95.0) and teaching (93.7) scores demonstrate its academic strengths, while its international outlook (82.3) was the lowest in the top 10.
QS World Ranking 2025: Yale was ranked 23rd with a score of 85.2, indicating a significant difference in its global perception compared to THE.
