World University Rankings 2025: pillars of strength

Browse the full results of the World University Rankings 2025

US institutions top two of the five pillars in the World University Rankings (teaching and research quality), but the country clearly has room to improve in one key area.

No elite US university finishes in the top 50 for the international outlook pillar, a category that is dominated by the United Arab Emirates at the top and the UK lower down. With Ajman University, Al Ain University and the University of Sharjah, the Gulf nation claims three of the top four spots – while UK institutions occupy 32 of the top 50.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranks first for teaching and research quality, and US universities make up 23 of the top 50 in both pillars. Chinese universities fare well in the teaching and research environment pillars, with Tsinghua University and Peking University finishing in the top 10 for both.

In the research environment pillar, the UK’s University of Oxford claims the top spot, as it does in the overall ranking. The industry pillar has a much more democratic result – with 34 institutions from 12 countries all achieving a perfect score and being ranked in a tie for first place.

patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com