Asean has two world top-30 universities for the first time ever in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. The National University of Singapore (NUS) moved up to 17th place, up from 19th last year, while Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) is 30th, up two places from last year.
Other highlights include:
- Universiti Teknologi Petronas is Malaysia’s highest ranked institution and joins the top 250 for the 1st time in band 201–250, up from band 301-350 last year.
- Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University are Thailand’s highest-ranked universities, both in band 601–800 (unchanged from last year). Maejo University debuted this year in band 1201-1500 – ahead of eight Thai universities.
- The University of Indonesia, has remained in band 801-1000 since last year and retained its No. 1 position in Indonesia.
- Ateneo de Manila University is the highest-ranked university in the Philippines in band 1001–1200, and is also the country’s highest-ranked university since joining the rankings in 2023.
- Vietnam’s UEH University debuted in band 501–600 while Universiti Brunei Darussalam in Brunei Darussalam is the country’s highest-ranked institution, in the same band.
- Australia’s top five universities have all slipped down the rankings.
Asean universities in the top 800 of the THE World University Rankings 2025
|
University |
Country |
Rank 2025 |
Rank 2024 |
|
National University of Singapore |
Singapore |
17 |
19 |
|
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore |
Singapore |
30 |
32 |
|
Universiti Teknologi Petronas |
Malaysia |
201–250 |
301–350 |
|
University of Malaya |
Malaysia |
251–300 |
251–300 |
|
Sunway University |
Malaysia |
401–500 |
601–800 |
|
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia |
Malaysia |
401–500 |
401–500 |
|
Universiti Sains Malaysia |
Malaysia |
401–500 |
401–500 |
|
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia |
Malaysia |
401–500 |
401–500 |
|
Universiti Utara Malaysia |
Malaysia |
401–500 |
401–500 |
|
UEH University |
Vietnam |
501–600 |
NR |
|
Universiti Brunei Darussalam |
Brunei Darussalam |
501–600 |
401–500 |
|
Chulalongkorn University |
Thailand |
601–800 |
601–800 |
|
Duy Tan University |
Vietnam |
601–800 |
601–800 |
|
Mahidol University |
Thailand |
601–800 |
601–800 |
|
Ton Duc Thang University |
Vietnam |
601–800 |
601–800 |
|
Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) |
Malaysia |
601–800 |
601–800 |
|
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris |
Malaysia |
601–800 |
601–800 |
|
Universiti Putra Malaysia |
Malaysia |
601–800 |
501–600 |
|
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) |
Malaysia |
601–800 |
601–800 |
Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings. See the full list at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking
Three new countries have joined the top 200, including KSA and the UAE, bringing the total to 30 countries.
A record 93 Asean universities were ranked this year, up from 80 last year. Indonesia boasts the most newcomers with seven new universities ranked; the highest-ranked is Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta in band 1201-1500.
Indonesia also has the most-ranked universities from Asean, with 31 institutions represented. Malaysia has the second-most ranked institutions with 23 in Asean, and Thailand is third with 20.
Of Malaysia’s 23 universities, four rose in the rankings, with Sunway University in Malaysia jumping forward to join the top 500 in band 401-500, up from band 601–800 last year. Meanwhile, newcomer Management & Science University (MSU) joined the rankings in band 801-1000. Elsewhere in Malaysia, three universities had lower rankings, and 15 stayed in the same position.
The number of Thai universities increased from 19 last year to 20 this year, with Maejo University debuting strongly in band 1201-1500 – higher than eight other Thai universities.
The Philippines had six universities ranked this year, up from five last year.
The rankings assess research-intensive universities across 18 performance indicators, which are divided into five pillars, covering the core missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and internationalisation. Pillarwise, Malaysia scored well in the research excellence and research influence metrics, and it is particularly successful in the international metrics.
The industry pillar, which measures the exchange between academia and industry, was Thailand’s strongest pillar, however, this has been declining over time relative to the rest of the world. Conversely, its research quality and research environment pillars have been improving since 2019.
While three out of the 31 Indonesian universities fell in the rankings, none improved their position. There were seven new entrants this year, and 21 remained in the same band.
Compared with last year, Indonesian universities, on average, improved by 0.6 points, most of which is driven by research influence and research excellence. Compared with the Asian average, Indonesian universities underperformed in all metrics except two – studying abroad and international staff. Its worst metrics were patents, research strength and research excellence.
Philippine universities underperformed against the Asian average across most metrics except student-staff ratio, studying abroad and international co-authorship. Its worst-performing metric compared with the Asian average was research strength.
The industry pillars have been growing significantly in Singapore, as have research quality and research environment. However, the international pillar has been declining in the last five years relative to the rest of the world.
Across most
of Asean a lack of qualified effective academics, who are equipped
to lead universities there, has contributed to holding back higher
education in those countries. Phil Baty, Times Higher Education Chief Global Affairs Officer, said:
Singapore
“Singapore’s status as a world-class hub for higher education, research and innovation talent is well and truly established, with Times Higher Education’s data now showing that the dynamic city state has two world top-30 universities for the first time ever. It is a remarkable achievement and testament to strong support for universities and R&D as fundamental to the success of the nation and the centring of human talent as Singapore’s greatest resource.”
Malaysia
“Transformations are taking place in Malaysian higher education, including attracting more international students as part of its efforts to globally promote its universities as well as growing research strength, which is paying dividends as a university breaks into the top 250 of the THE World University Rankings 2025. As Malaysia emerges as a strengthening global education hub, we expect to see further success in the world’s most comprehensive and rigorous university rankings in the years to come.”
Thailand
The Thai government is supporting its universities to deliver maximum social and economic impact, and they are emerging as world leaders on the sustainable development goals, which bodes well for their international partnerships and their global academic standing. However, concerns have been raised about a ‘publish or perish’ mindset in Thai research, with too much focus on the quantity of research outputs over their quality. Our rankings methodology values quality over quantity, so we look forward to supporting the sector with data insights and practical support to strengthen the research base."
Indonesia
"It is fantastic to see the participation of Indonesia who have 31 institutions represented, the most in the Asean region and who boast the most newcomers with seven new universities ranked."
The world’s highest-ranked higher education institution is the UK’s University of Oxford, which has maintained the top spot for a record nine years in a row. Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US is the second highest ranked university in the world and in third place is Harvard University.
The THE World University Rankings started with 200 universities. The 21st edition of the rankings has 2,092 universities ranked – up from 1,907 last year – from 115 countries and regions.
This year 2,860 institutions submitted data, up 6.9% from last year, representing 133 countries and territories. The remaining 768 institutions gained “reporter” status, which means, although they submitted data, they did not meet THE’s eligibility criteria to receive a ranking.
Explore
View the full World University Rankings 2025 results at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking
