THE World University Rankings 2027: 56 Pakistani Universities Make Global List
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Ifrah Aqeel
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- Published October 5, 2026
The British organization, The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, have placed 56 Pakistani universities in the global rankings.
Quaid-i-Azam University leads Pakistan in the 551–600 band, followed by NUST in the 601–650 band and COMSATS University Islamabad in the 651–700 band.
Pakistani Universities in THE Rankings
Three Pakistani universities share the 701–800 band, while several others appear in lower ranking bands. The 2027 edition covers 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories.
| S. No. | University | World Ranking |
| 1 | Quaid-i-Azam University | 551–600 |
| 2 | NUST | 601–650 |
| 3 | COMSATS University Islamabad | 651–700 |
| 4 | Bahauddin Zakariya University | 701–800 |
| 5 | University of Agriculture Faisalabad | 701–800 |
| 6 | University of Lahore | 701–800 |
| 7 | Air University | 801–1000 |
| 8 | Gomal University | 801–1000 |
| 9 | Government College University Faisalabad | 801–1000 |
| 10 | Government College University Lahore | 801–1000 |
| 11 | International Islamic University Islamabad | 801–1000 |
| 12 | Lahore University of Management Sciences | 801–1000 |
| 13 | University of the Punjab | 801–1000 |
| 14 | University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore | 801–1000 |
| 15 | University of Engineering and Technology Taxila | 801–1000 |
| 16 | University of Management and Technology | 801–1000 |
| 17 | Capital University of Science and Technology | 1001–1200 |
| 18 | PMAS Arid Agriculture University | 1001–1200 |
| 19 | Riphah International University | 1001–1200 |
| 20 | University of Peshawar | 1001–1200 |
| 21 | Bahria University | 1001–1200 |
| 22 | University of Sargodha | 1001–1200 |
| 23 | Dow University of Health Sciences | 1601–1800 |
| 24 | University of Karachi | 1601–1800 |
| 25 | NED University of Engineering and Technology | 1801–2000 |
| 26 | National University of Medical Sciences | 2001+ |
THE’s Pakistan listing confirms QAU as the country’s highest-ranked university in the 2027 edition.
Oxford Remains Number One
The University of Oxford has retained the top position for an 11th consecutive year. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) remains second, while Princeton University and Stanford University share third place.
| Global Rank | University | Country |
| 1 | University of Oxford | UK |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | US |
| =3 | Princeton University | US |
| =3 | Stanford University | US |
| 5 | University of Cambridge | UK |
| 6 | Harvard University | US |
| 7 | California Institute of Technology | US |
| 8 | Imperial College London | UK |
| =9 | University of California, Berkeley | US |
| =9 | Yale University | US |
Oxford scored 97.9 overall, compared with 97.8 for MIT, leaving only a 0.1-point difference between the top two universities.
China’s Tsinghua University rose to 11th place, overtaking Switzerland’s ETH Zurich. The National University of Singapore moved into the top 15 at 15th place. THE said three Asian universities entered the top 15 for the first time.
Asia Moves Ahead of Continental Europe
THE said Asian universities resumed their upward movement in the 2027 rankings after a pause last year. Asia has now moved ahead of continental Europe in the number of universities represented in the ranking.
The ranking evaluates research-intensive universities across teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry. THE uses 17 performance indicators across these five areas.
Pakistan’s representation also increased from 48 ranked universities in the 2026 edition to 56 in 2027, according to Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar.
Ifrah Aqeel
Ifrah Aqeel is a news writer and editor covering entertainment, trending stories, and major national and international developments. She specializes in breaking down fast-moving news, viral trends, and current events into clear, engaging content. Backed by a disciplined editorial background, Ifrah brings a fast, factual, and research-driven approach to every story she covers.
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