Over 1,500 of the world's top universities are included in the 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings, with over 100 locations represented around the world.

For yet another year, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been ranked as the best university in the world, while nearly 500 universities have improved their performance since last year.

Of these, the biggest climber is Sunway University in Malaysia, which has risen over 120 places.

Learn more about how the ranking is compiled by consulting our methodology.