The University of Oxford has retained the top spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, 8th year in a row. The recently released rankings feature Stanford, MIT, Harvard and University of Cambridge in the top five spots.
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, staff-to-student ratio, research output, citation impact, and international collaboration.
In comparison to last year, the rankings have seen a few notable shifts. While the University of Oxford continues its reign at the top for the eighth consecutive year, some reshuffling occurred within the rest of the top five. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) climbed to second place, overtaking Stanford University, which dropped out of the top five this year. Harvard University moved up from fourth to third position, while Princeton University made its entry into the prestigious top five, securing the fourth spot. The University of Cambridge held steady at fifth place, maintaining its position from last year. Here’s a look at Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.
Top 10 Universities according to the THE World University Rankings 2025
Here’s a closer look at the top ten universities, and their scores in THE World University Rankings 2025-
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford, established in 1096, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It has consistently ranked at the top of the THE World University Rankings for eight years in a row, maintaining its prestigious reputation. In 2025, Oxford achieved an overall score of 98.5, excelling in research quality (99.6) and teaching (96.8). Its international outlook also scored high at 97.3.
QS World Rankings 2025: Oxford secured the 3rd position 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 pioneer in science and technology education. MIT ranked 2nd in THE 2025 rankings 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 Rankings 2025: MIT retained its top position globally, scoring a perfect 100.
Harvard University
Harvard University, established in 1636, remains one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. In the 2025 THE rankings, Harvard secured the 3rd spot with a score of 97.7, excelling in both research (99.9) and teaching (97.3). However, its research environment score (85.7) reflects a slight drop compared to other leading institutions.
QS World Rankings 2025: Harvard ranked 4th globally with a score of 96.8, continuing to dominate academic circles.
Princeton University
Princeton University, founded in 1746, has a strong reputation in the humanities and sciences. It ranked 4th in THE rankings for 2025, scoring 97.5 overall. With notable strengths in research quality (96.9) and teaching (98.3), Princeton has maintained its academic rigour. Its international outlook score (87.4) indicates room for growth.
QS World Rankings 2025: Princeton ranked 22nd, with a score of 85.5, a significant contrast to its standing in THE.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge, established in 1209, held onto its position at 5th place in the 2025 THE 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 Rankings 2025: Cambridge ranked 5th with a score of 96.7, continuing its legacy as one of the top educational institutions in the world.
Stanford University
Stanford University, founded in 1885, ranked 6th in the 2025 THE rankings with a score of 97.2. Known for its cutting-edge research, Stanford earned perfect marks in research quality (100) and excelled in teaching (97.5).
QS World Rankings 2025: Stanford ranked 6th globally, with a score of 96.1, a testament to its innovation and academic prowess.
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech), established in 1891, ranked 7th in the THE rankings with an overall score of 96.3. Its research quality score of 100 showcases its leadership in scientific research, while its teaching score stood at 95.2.
QS World Rankings 2025: Caltech was placed 10th with a score of 90.9, reflecting its continued excellence in technical and scientific education.
University of California in Berkeley
Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) 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. The university, however, had a lower teaching score of 87.2.
QS World Rankings 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, established in 1907, ranked 9th in the 2025 THE rankings, scoring 94.4 overall. The university excelled in research (94.9) and international outlook (98.3), reflecting its strong global presence.
QS World Rankings 2025: Imperial College London was ranked 2nd with a score of 98.5, showcasing its leadership in science, engineering, and business.
Yale University
Finally, Yale University, founded in 1701, secured the 10th spot in the 2025 THE rankings with a score of 94.1. Its research (95.0) and teaching (93.7) scores demonstrate its academic strength, while its international outlook (82.3) was the lowest among the top 10.
QS World Rankings 2025: Yale was ranked 23rd with a score of 85.2, indicating a significant difference in its global perception compared to THE.