Times Higher Education (THE) has released its World University Rankings 2027, featuring 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, making it the most inclusive edition of the rankings to date.
Pakistan has 108 universities represented in the 2027 ranking system. Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) is the highest-ranked Pakistani institution, followed by the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and COMSATS University Islamabad.
QAU is placed in the 551–600 global band, while NUST appears in the 601–650 band and COMSATS University Islamabad in the 651–700 band.
Top Pakistani Universities in THE Rankings 2027
Bahauddin Zakariya University, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and the University of Lahore are all placed in the 701–800 band.
The following Pakistani institutions appear in the ranked portion of THE World University Rankings 2027:
| University | City | THE 2027 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Quaid-i-Azam University | Islamabad | 551–600 |
| National University of Sciences and Technology | Islamabad | 601–650 |
| COMSATS University Islamabad | Islamabad | 651–700 |
| Bahauddin Zakariya University | Multan | 701–800 |
| University of Agriculture, Faisalabad | Faisalabad | 701–800 |
| University of Lahore | Lahore | 701–800 |
| Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan | Mardan | 801–1000 |
| Air University | Islamabad | 801–1000 |
| Capital University of Science and Technology | Islamabad | 801–1000 |
| Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute | Topi | 801–1000 |
| Gomal University | Dera Ismail Khan | 801–1000 |
| Government College University Faisalabad | Faisalabad | 801–1000 |
| Government College University Lahore | Lahore | 801–1000 |
| Hazara University | Mansehra | 801–1000 |
| Institute of Space Technology | Islamabad | 801–1000 |
| International Islamic University Islamabad | Islamabad | 801–1000 |
| Islamia College Peshawar | Peshawar | 801–1000 |
| Lahore University of Management Sciences | Lahore | 801–1000 |
| University of Education | Lahore | 801–1000 |
| University of Engineering and Technology Taxila | Taxila | 801–1000 |
| University of Malakand | Chakdara | 801–1000 |
| University of Management and Technology | Lahore | 801–1000 |
| University of Okara | Okara | 801–1000 |
| University of the Punjab | Lahore | 801–1000 |
| University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences | Lahore | 801–1000 |
| Bahria University | Islamabad | 1001–1200 |
| Islamia University of Bahawalpur | Bahawalpur | 1001–1200 |
| Kohat University of Science and Technology | Kohat | 1001–1200 |
| Mehran University of Engineering and Technology | Jamshoro | 1001–1200 |
| Mirpur University of Science and Technology | Mirpur, AJK | 1001–1200 |
| PMAS Arid Agriculture University | Rawalpindi | 1001–1200 |
| Riphah International University | Islamabad | 1001–1200 |
| University of Engineering and Technology Lahore | Lahore | 1001–1200 |
| University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar | Peshawar | 1001–1200 |
| University of Gujrat | Gujrat | 1001–1200 |
| University of Peshawar | Peshawar | 1001–1200 |
| University of Sargodha | Sargodha | 1001–1200 |
| Allama Iqbal Open University | Islamabad | 1201–1500+ |
| Dow University of Health Sciences | Karachi | 1201–1500+ |
| Khyber Medical University | Peshawar | 1201–1500+ |
| King Edward Medical University | Lahore | 1201–1500+ |
| Lahore College for Women University | Lahore | 1201–1500+ |
| National University of Medical Sciences | Rawalpindi | 1201–1500+ |
| NED University of Engineering and Technology | Karachi | 1201–1500+ |
| Superior University | Lahore | 1201–1500+ |
| The Agriculture University Peshawar | Peshawar | 1201–1500+ |
| University of Health Sciences | Lahore | 1201–1500+ |
| University of Karachi | Karachi | 1201–1500+ |
| Virtual University of Pakistan | Lahore / Virtual | 1201–1500+ |
Pakistani Universities Listed as Reporter
A further group of Pakistani institutions appears under Reporter status rather than receiving an official numerical rank.
THE uses the Reporter designation for institutions that participate in the data collection process but do not meet the eligibility requirements for an official ranking position. Such universities are listed separately from ranked institutions.
The Pakistani universities listed as Reporter institutions are:
Abasyn University, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Aga Khan University, Akhuwat College / University, Al Ghazali University, Al-Kawthar University, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design & Heritage, Baba Guru Nanak University, Bacha Khan University, Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Baqai Medical University, Barani Institute of Information Technology, Beaconhouse National University, Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University Lyari, CECOS University of IT and Emerging Sciences, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, City University of Science and Information Technology, Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, DHA Suffa University, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, Forman Christian College, Government Sadiq College Women University, Government College Women University Faisalabad, Government College Women University Sialkot, University of Home Economics, Ilma University, Information Technology University, Iqra University, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and IT, Kinnaird College for Women, Kohsar University, Lahore Leads University, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Minhaj University, Mir Chakar Khan Rind University of Technology, MNS University of Agriculture, Namal University, National Textile University, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, National University of Modern Languages, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science & Technology, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi Women University, Shah Abdul Latif University, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Sukkur IBA University, University of Balochistan, University of Baltistan, University of Chitral, University of Mirpurkhas, University of Poonch, University of Sahiwal and University of Swat.
Reporter status should not be interpreted as a numerical ranking. It indicates participation in the rankings process without an official position in the ranked table.
How THE World University Rankings 2027 Are Calculated
THE assesses research-intensive universities using 17 performance indicators grouped into five broad areas: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook and Industry.
The weightings are:
- Research Quality: 30%
- Teaching: 29.5%
- Research Environment: 29%
- International Outlook: 7.5%
- Industry: 4%
Research Quality includes citation impact, research strength, research excellence and research influence. Teaching considers areas such as academic reputation, staff-to-student ratios and doctoral education.
Research Environment covers research reputation, income and productivity, while International Outlook considers international students, international staff and research collaboration. Industry performance is measured through industry income and patents.
For the 2027 edition, THE also introduced more granular ranking bands below the top positions. The organisation says banding is used where differences between institutions are not statistically significant.
Top 10 Universities in the World in 2027
The University of Oxford retained the top position for an 11th consecutive year. MIT remained second, while Princeton University and Stanford University shared third place.
| Global Rank | University | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | United States |
| =3 | Princeton University | United States |
| =3 | Stanford University | United States |
| 5 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
| 6 | Harvard University | United States |
| 7 | California Institute of Technology | United States |
| 8 | Imperial College London | United Kingdom |
| =9 | University of California, Berkeley | United States |
| =9 | Yale University | United States |
THE reported that Oxford finished only 0.1 points ahead of MIT in the overall score. China’s Tsinghua University moved to 11th place, becoming the highest-ranked university in Asia and moving ahead of ETH Zurich.
The 2027 edition reflects the continued expansion of global participation in THE’s rankings, with 2,297 ranked institutions across 118 countries and territories.
