A total of 47 Pakistani universities have been featured in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025.
Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad leads among Pakistani institutions, ranked in the 401–500 range, followed by several universities positioned between 601–800. These include Air University Islamabad, Capital University of Science and Technology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Government College University Faisalabad, National University of Sciences and Technology Islamabad, Sukkur IBA University, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, and University of Malakand Dir Lower.
Another group of universities, ranked between 801–1000, includes Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, International Islamic University Islamabad, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore University of Management Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, University of Central Punjab Lahore, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, University of Gujrat, University of Lahore, University of Management and Technology Lahore, University of the Punjab Lahore, and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore.
Additionally, 12 institutions are ranked between 1001–1200, eight between 1201–1500, and five in the 1501+ range. Another 48 universities are listed as “reporters,” indicating they submitted data but did not meet the criteria for ranking.
The 2025 rankings include over 2,000 universities from 115 countries and territories. Oxford University retains the top position for the ninth consecutive year, supported by advancements in teaching and industry collaboration. MIT has climbed to second place, overtaking Stanford, which dropped to sixth.
China continues to strengthen its global research impact, nearing the top 10, while Australia’s leading universities have slipped due to a decline in reputation and international outlook. Notably, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have joined the top 200, showcasing the growth of emerging higher education markets.
The rankings are based on the WUR 3.0 methodology, evaluating institutions across 18 indicators in five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook. The 2025 edition ranks 2,092 universities, with 185 new entries, using 472,694 data points collected from 2,860 institutions worldwide.