This year Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 ranked over 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories, marking a 9.7% year-on-year increase in the number of ranked universities—the largest growth in the past five years—compared to a 6% rise last year.
Pakistan has 47 ranked universities, making it the 14th most-represented nation globally, alongside Taiwan. The country’s top-ranked institution, Quaid-i-Azam University, remains in the 401-500 band, maintaining its position from last year.
Eight Pakistani universities are in the 601-800 band, one more than last year. The University of Malakand has moved up to this band from the 801-1,000 range, swapping places with Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, which has fallen. Sukkur IBA University, a newly-ranked institution, also entered the 601-800 band this year. However, only seven Pakistani universities improved their rankings, while 10 declined.
| University | Rank 2025 | Rank 2024 |
| Quaid-i-Azam University | 401–500 | 401–500 |
| Air University | 601–800 | 601–800 |
| Capital University of Science and Technology | 601–800 | 601–800 |
| COMSATS University Islamabad | 601–800 | 601–800 |
| Government College University Faisalabad | 601–800 | 601–800 |
| National University of Sciences and Technology | 601–800 | 601–800 |
| Sukkur IBA University | 601–800 | NR |
| University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila | 601–800 | 601–800 |
| University of Malakand | 601–800 | 801–1000 |
Globally, the University of Oxford continues to hold the top position for a record nine consecutive years. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks second, followed by Harvard University in third place.
| University | Country | Rank 2025 | Rank 2024 |
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | 1 | 1 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | United States | 2 | 3 |
| Harvard University | United States | 3 | 4 |
| Princeton University | United States | 4 | 6 |
| University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | 5 | 5 |
| Stanford University | United States | 6 | 2 |
| California Institute of Technology | United States | 7 | 7 |
| University of California, Berkeley | United States | 8 | 9 |
| Imperial College London | United Kingdom | 9 | 8 |
| Yale University | United States | 10 | 10 |
In Asia, 853 universities from 35 countries are ranked this year, with Pakistan’s 47 institutions placing it as the 6th most-represented nation on the continent.
The 2025 THE World University Rankings are the most comprehensive, rigorous, and balanced global rankings, assessing research-intensive universities across 18 performance indicators, divided into five key pillars covering teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and internationalization.
A total of 2,860 institutions submitted data this year, a 6.9% increase from the previous year (2,674), representing 133 countries and territories. An additional 768 institutions achieved “reporter” status, meaning they submitted data but did not meet the eligibility criteria to be ranked.
THE’s World University Rankings, which began with 200 universities, now include more than 2,000, making it the most global and inclusive university ranking system in the world.
“Only 1 Pakistani University Ranks Among Top 500 of World University Rankings 2025”
I’m shocked that there’s even 1.
Where is ILMA university, the so called 2nd best private university of Pakistan
I am studying at agha Khan hospital Karachi Pakistan
Who approved your admission in AKU? The name of Hospital is Aga Khan and not Agha Khan.
Strange NED, LUMS, NUST, DUHS, JSMU, UET etc does not make it, seems fake rating by our donors
Fake ranking and what about GIki
Why ignore GIKI?
I agree with Mr. Rizwan, there are many universities in Pakistan which are even better than Quaid-e-Azam university. Not sure, what was the criteria of this ranking.
Minhaj university is also ranked why it is not published.
Same thoughts like Rizwan khan
Where is Punjab University?GCU Faisalabad is better than NUST what Nonsense
After studying for four years at NUST,I have realised that ranking doesn’t matter at all,it’s a fake thing tbh.You can be very good student at Iqra as well.
LUMS and IBA Karachi laughing on right side
Where is LUMS, UET Alhoore, IBA Karachi? Does anyone really believe they are lower than University College Faisalabad and CUST?
Where is iqra university
Really sorry but your provided information is wrong
Massachusetts inst is on top…. (13th consecutive year)
2nd: Imperial college of London
3rd: Oxford
4th: Harvard
In Pak:-
Quaid e Azam 315th rank
Nust 353rd rank
Lums 535th rank
PU 570th rank
Source: QS World University rankings 2025
Were is Karachi university it is totally fake ranking.