70% of Malaysian varsities rise in latest QS global rankings
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia achieved the world's highest rate of improvement - more than any other country with 10 or more ranked universities - with 70% of its 32 institutions climbing in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026.
Of the 32 universities ranked, 19 rose, five remained stable in their ranks or bands, five featured for the first time, and three dropped.
Leading the nation is Universiti Malaya (UM), which is the only Malaysian university in the top 100. It rose two positions to 58th globally and is ranked 16th in Asia.
UM is also the country's top performer in five of the nine QS indicators, most notably in Academic Reputation, where it placed 58th, and Employer Reputation, where it ranked 40th.
Coming in second is Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), which climbed 12 spots from 138th to 126th.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) are third in Malaysia, tied in 134th spot globally, climbing 14 and 12 spots, respectively.
Rounding out the institutions in the top 200 is Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), which climbed 28 spots to place 153rd
In the top 300, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) rose 18 places to secure 251st, making it the highest-ranking private institution in Malaysia, followed by Taylor's University at 253rd and UCSI University at 269th.
Meanwhile, Sunway University and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) broke into the global top 500, placing 410th and 491st, respectively.
These institutions make up Malaysia's 10 top 500 universities, up from eight last year.
SEGi University achieved Malaysia's highest rank in any individual indicator, placing 13th globally in International Students Ratio - the third-highest ranking in Asia.
In a statement on Thursday (June 19), QS said Malaysia outperformed the global average in five indicators, most notably in International Student Ratio.
"This indicator marked a significant strength for the country, with an exceptional six Malaysian universities among the top 50.
"Malaysia also improved overall in five indicators, most prominently in Academic Reputation and International Research Network. It dropped overall in four indicators, with the sharpest drop seen in Employment Outcomes, marking a challenge for the country in this indicator, in which it also achieved its lowest average score.
"No Malaysian universities placed among the top 100 in Sustainability, Employment Outcomes or International Research Network, reflecting areas for improvement for the country's universities," it said.
QS senior vice president Ben Sowter said employability, sustainability strategy, and research are three pillars that are central to the rankings and sustained higher education excellence.
'As Malaysia competes with regional peers like Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam, investing in these areas will not only enhance its global reputation but also ensure its universities play a transformative role in shaping a skilled, future-ready workforce,' he said.
Sowter added that as the country advances towards a high-income economy, its higher education institutions must equip graduates with both the technical skills and human competencies required to excel in the workforce and drive innovation.
The QS World University Rankings 2026 featured more than 1,500 universities across 106 countries and territories, evaluated across nine indicators: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty Student Ratio, Citations per Faculty, International Faculty Ratio, International Students Ratio, International Research Network, Employment Outcomes, and Sustainability.
The United States is the most represented higher education system, with 192 ranked universities, followed by the United Kingdom (90) and Mainland China (72).
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology topped the rankings for the 14th consecutive year. Imperial College London stayed in second place while Stanford University climbed three positions to third. The University of Oxford and Harvard University each dropped one spot, placing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Singapore is the only Asian country featured among the world's top 10, with the National University of Singapore ranked 8th globally.
The full 22nd edition of the rankings, released today, can be found at https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings?items_per_page=100
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