QS World University Rankings 2027: South Asia's Position

On June 18, the UK-based education and research organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released the QS World University Rankings 2027. This year’s rankings include 1,504 universities from 106 countries and territories.

According to the final assessment, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States secured the top spot for the 15th consecutive year. It achieved a perfect score of 100. Imperial College London and Stanford University share second place, both scoring 99.2.

The United States leads with 25 universities in the top 100. The UK follows with 16. Australia has 9, and China has 11 universities, with six from the mainland and five from Hong Kong. South Korea, Germany, France, Canada, and Japan each have four universities in the top 100.

Switzerland and Sweden each have three universities. Singapore and the Netherlands each have two. Argentina, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia each have one university on this list.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) ranks 10th, making it the best university in Asia. However, no South Asian university made it into the global top 100 this year. India's Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi ranks 118th, giving India the highest representation in the overall rankings with 52 universities.

In other South Asian countries, Pakistan has 18 universities, Bangladesh has 13, and Sri Lanka has three in the rankings. Pakistan’s top institution, Quaid-i-Azam University, ranks 381st globally, while Bangladesh’s top institution, the University of Dhaka, falls within the 600 band, making it the country’s leading university.

Unfortunately, none of the remaining four South Asian countries—Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan—appear in the list. This lack of representation highlights serious challenges in higher education and research across the region.

In conclusion, developed countries worldwide have made significant progress in their education systems. To compete globally and meet international standards, South Asian countries must invest adequately in higher education and research through long-term, sustainable planning.

Source: QS World University Rankings 2027

Author: Sherazur Rahman, Teacher and Writer, Bangladesh