THE Rankings 2027: No Pakistani university among global top 400

Times Higher Education (THE) has released its World University Rankings 2027, with no Pakistani university securing a place among the world’s top 400 institutions.

The University of Karachi was ranked in the 1,601–1,800 band, while the University of the Punjab was placed in the 1,801–2,000 band.

The rankings raise questions about the state of higher education and research in Pakistan, as well as the global competitiveness of the country’s universities.

According to the rankings, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom retained the title of the world’s best university for the 11th consecutive year.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the United States ranked second, while Princeton University and Stanford University shared third place. The University of Cambridge ranked fifth and Harvard University sixth.

The California Institute of Technology ranked seventh, Imperial College London eighth, while the University of California, Berkeley and Yale University shared ninth place. The top 10 included seven US universities and three from the UK.

In Asia, China’s Tsinghua University ranked 11th and Peking University 13th. A total of 17 Chinese universities made it into the global top 200.

Five Japanese universities featured in the rankings, with the University of Tokyo ranked 27th and Kyoto University joint 62nd. Malaysia’s University of Malaya entered the top 200 for the first time, ranking joint 194th.

Among Pakistani universities, Quaid-i-Azam University was placed in the 551–600 band, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in the 601–650 band, and COMSATS University Islamabad in the 651–700 band.

Bahauddin Zakariya University, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and the University of Lahore were placed in the 701–800 band.

The 801–1,000 band included Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Air University, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Gomal University, Government College University Faisalabad, Government College University Lahore, International Islamic University Islamabad, Iqra University, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, University of the Punjab, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, University of Central Punjab, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, University of Gujrat, University of Malakand and University of Management and Technology.

The 1,001–1,200 band included Capital University of Science and Technology, Hazara University, Islamia College Peshawar, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Riphah International University, Sukkur IBA University, University of Haripur, Women University Multan, University of Okara, University of Peshawar, University of Swat and University of Agriculture Peshawar.

The 1,201–1,400 band included Kohat University of Science and Technology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, University of Education Lahore, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, University of Sargodha, University of Swat and Bahria University.

The 1,401–1,600 band included the Institute of Space Technology, Lahore College for Women University, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro, MNS University of Agriculture Multan and Superior University.

The 1,601–1,800 band included the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Mirpur University of Science and Technology, National Textile University and the University of Karachi.

The 1,801–2,000 band included Khyber Medical University and NED University of Engineering and Technology, while the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) was placed in the 2,001+ category.

A total of 56 Pakistani universities received a ranking in the 2027 edition. However, none made the global top 400, while the country’s highest-ranked institution was placed in the 551–600 band.

The rankings have renewed questions about the quality of higher education and research in Pakistan, and highlight the need for a closer examination of research output, academic performance and the global competitiveness of the country’s universities.