QS World University Rankings 2025
London, 5th June 2024: QS Quacquarelli Symonds, global higher education specialists, have released the 2025 edition of the world’s most-consulted international university ranking, the only framework of its kind assessing both employability and sustainability factors.
The 2025 QS World University Rankings show significant improvements in both Academic and Employer Reputation, with all five universities in the Philippines climbing in these metrics. Notably, the Philippines’ average score for Employer Reputation stands at 46.3, the highest among Asian countries and territories, and more than double the global average of 19.8. In terms of Employment Outcomes, the Philippines achieves an average score of 41.5, the second highest in Asia, surpassed only by Singapore’s score of 53.9, and far above the global average of 23.8. It’s important to note that this performance reflects the achievements of a cluster of elite institutions, as only five Filipino universities are included in the rankings, rather than representing a national average. The University of the Philippines, the country’s highest-ranked institution, climbs into the world’s top 400. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) celebrates thirteen consecutive years at the top of the rankings. Imperial College London claims the second spot, repeating its achievement from 2014. The University of Oxford and Harvard University remain in 3rd and 4th place respectively, while the University of Cambridge rounds out the top five. This year’s QS World University Rankings feature 1,500 universities across 106 higher education systems. The United States is the most represented country, with 197 ranked institutions, followed by the United Kingdom with 90 and China (Mainland) with 71.
| QS World University Rankings 2025: Top 20 | |||
| 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | Institution | Location |
| 1 | 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | United States |
| 2 | 6 | Imperial College London | United Kingdom |
| 3 | 3 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
| 4 | 4 | Harvard University | United States |
| 5 | 2 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
| 6 | 5 | Stanford University | United States |
| 7 | 7 | ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | Switzerland |
| 8 | 8 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
| 9 | 9 | UCL | United Kingdom |
| 10 | 15 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | United States |
| 11 | 12 | University of Pennsylvania | United States |
| 12 | 10 | University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | United States |
| 13 | 14 | The University of Melbourne | Australia |
| 14 | =17 | Peking University | China (Mainland) |
| 15 | =26 | Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) | Singapore |
| 16 | 13 | Cornell University | United States |
| 17 | =26 | The University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong SAR |
| 18 | =19 | The University of Sydney | Australia |
| 19 | =19 | The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | Australia |
| 20 | 25 | Tsinghua University | China (Mainland) |
All five ranked institutions in the Philippines climb the rankings in the Academic Reputation and Employer Reputation metrics, with the University of the Philippines placing in the world top 120 for its industry relations and collaboration and providing highly-skilled graduates who feed the demands of the workplace.
The Philippines presents two universities in the world top 200 for Employment Outcomes, with three of the country’s five ranked universities climbing the rankings in this metric.
As students look to universities that reflect their sustainable and socially-just values, universities have an opportunity to better record and market their sustainability efforts to prospective students. The majority of universities ranked in the Philippines show improvement in the Sustainability metric, with the University of the Philippines climbing 140 places to sit in the world top 300. However, there is room for the Philippines to shine in this metric.
There is also an opportunity for Filipino institutions to develop their internationalisation strategies when it comes to both academics and students. All institutions in the Philippines dropped in the International Faculty Ratio and International Student Ratio indicators. When considering average scores across these two indicators, the Philippines places in the bottom ten countries in Asia.
The Philippines is home to five ranked institutions. Among these, three universities climb the table and two decline. The University of the Philippines is the top ranked institution, climbing 68 places this year to rank joint 336th globally.
| QS World University Rankings 2025: Filipino Ranked Universities | ||
| 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank | Institution |
| =336 | =404 | University of the Philippines |
| =516 | =563 | Ateneo de Manila University |
| 641-650 | 681-690 | De La Salle University |
| 851-900 | 801-850 | University of Santo Tomas |
| 1401+ | 1201-1400 | University of San Carlos |
Ben Sowter, QS Senior Vice President, said: “The Philippines continues to enhance its academic prowess and employer reputation, two key areas for a strong higher education system. With two entries in the world top 200 for the employability metrics, Filipino universities should look to these institutions, the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, as benchmarks for developing industry partnerships and employment pathways, ensuring that students are prepared to enter their field with the desired skills and experiences for a thriving career.
“If the country wishes to enhance its attractiveness to international students and faculty, universities in the Philippines would do well to focus on their international staff and student ratios, alongside an enhanced international research agenda and incentivised international mobility, working to create a diverse and inclusive environment for all.”
Philippines: In Focus
| Performance Lens | Weigh | Top Performing University in the Philippines | Rank by Indicator | Overall Rank |
| Academic Reputation | 30% | University of the Philippines | 239th | =336th |
| Employer Reputation | 15% | University of the Philippines | 119th | =336th |
| Faculty Student Ratio | 10% | University of the Philippines | 506th | =336th |
| Citations per Faculty | 20% | De La Salle University | 982nd | 641-690 |
| International Faculty Ratio | 5% | University of Santo Tomas | 459th | 851-900 |
| International Student Ratio | 5% | University of Santo Tomas | 868th | 851-900 |
| International Research Network | 5% | University of the Philippines | 624th | =336th |
| Employment Outcomes | 5% | Ateneo de Manila University | 156th | =515th |
| Sustainability | 5% | University of the Philippines | 230th | =336th |
| QS World University Rankings 2025 | ||
| Institution | Employer Reputation rank | Overall rank |
| University of the Philippines | 119 | =336 |
| De La Salle University | 122 | =515 |
| Ateneo de Manila University | 161 | 641-650 |
| University of Santo Tomas | 237 | 851-900 |
| University of San Carlos | 750 | 1401+ |
Asia Overview
Singapore is the only Asian country featured among the world’s top 10 in the latest rankings. Mainland China leads the region with the most ranked universities and has the highest percentage of universities improving their positions (69%) among countries/territories with more than 10 ranked institutions, followed by India at 61%. Conversely, Japan sees the most significant decline, with 63% of its ranked universities losing ground, continuing a decade-long downward trend. Nevertheless, it boasts the region’s highest number of top-200 universities, with ten, followed by Mainland China with nine and South Korea with seven. Indonesia stands out for its stability, with 65% of its ranked universities maintaining their positions and 35% improving.
| Regional comparison: Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Country/Territory | Ranked Universities | % Improved | % Unchanged | % Declined | New | Top 10 | Top 20 | Top 50 | Top 100 | Top 200 | Top 500 | Top 1000 |
| Singapore | 4 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| China (Mainland) | 71 | 69 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 57 | ||
| Hong Kong SAR | 7 | 86 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
| South Korea | 43 | 37 | 28 | 35 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 29 | |||
| Japan | 49 | 16 | 20 | 63 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 28 | |||
| Malaysia | 28 | 50 | 29 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 19 | ||||
| Taiwan | 27 | 26 | 44 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 14 | ||||
| India | 46 | 61 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 31 | ||||
| Indonesia | 26 | 35 | 65 | 0 | 5 | 10 | ||||||
| Thailand | 13 | 23 | 38 | 38 | 2 | 8 | ||||||
| Macau SAR | 2 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||
| Pakistan | 14 | 57 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 10 | ||||||
| Philippines | 5 | 60 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 4 | ||||||
| Brunei | 2 | 50 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 2 | ||||||
| Vietnam | 6 | 67 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||
| Bangladesh | 15 | 33 | 47 | 20 | 3 | |||||||
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
The chart below provides a detailed comparison of various performance indicators for higher education institutions across multiple Asian countries and territories. Of the countries with less than 10 ranked universities, the Philippines’s average score for Employer Reputation soars, beaten only by Singapore.
| QS World University Rankings 2025: Regional comparison: Asia by average scores per indicators | ||||||||||
| Country/Territory | No HEi ranked | Academic Reputation Score | Employer Reputation Score | Faculty Staff Ratio Score | Citations Per Faculty Score | International Faculty Ratio Score | International Students Ratio Score | International Research Network Score | Employment Outcomes Score | Sustainability Score |
| Global | 1503 | 20.3 | 19.8 | 28.1 | 23.5 | 30.7 | 25.6 | 50.1 | 23.8 | 24.3 |
| China (Mainland) | 71 | 17.3 | 15.8 | 26.5 | 61.5 | 16.8 | 7.9 | 51.7 | 18.2 | 11.0 |
| Japan | 49 | 22.4 | 26.6 | 44.0 | 12.6 | 15.1 | 10.4 | 34.2 | 15.9 | 21.2 |
| India | 46 | 15.1 | 19.2 | 16.2 | 37.8 | 9.3 | 2.9 | 39.0 | 13.8 | 13.0 |
| South Korea | 43 | 19.2 | 23.4 | 56.1 | 26.1 | 11.6 | 17.7 | 30.7 | 14.5 | 30.2 |
| Malaysia | 28 | 23.1 | 29.2 | 37.3 | 12.9 | 34.6 | 46.3 | 43.4 | 9.7 | 19.7 |
| Taiwan | 27 | 19.2 | 23.5 | 24.4 | 18.0 | 10.9 | 11.0 | 26.3 | 21.3 | 21.6 |
| Indonesia | 26 | 16.8 | 24.8 | 23.1 | 1.5 | 26.9 | 2.8 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 9.2 |
| Bangladesh | 15 | 10.2 | 18.1 | 6.8 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 17.6 | 11.2 | 2.0 |
| Pakistan | 14 | 11.0 | 28.9 | 18.7 | 22.0 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 48.3 | 19.8 | 7.4 |
| Thailand | 13 | 21.9 | 11.9 | 17.2 | 4.5 | 7.6 | 2.2 | 40.5 | 19.5 | 27.5 |
| Hong Kong SAR | 7 | 60.3 | 35.4 | 61.5 | 78.0 | 99.8 | 96.1 | 56.7 | 53.6 | 66.0 |
| Vietnam | 6 | 10.5 | 15.9 | 4.6 | 18.6 | 11.1 | 1.3 | 57.6 | 20.3 | 8.1 |
| Philippines | 5 | 20.1 | 46.3 | 16.3 | 2.3 | 8.7 | 2.8 | 26.1 | 41.5 | 17.9 |
| Singapore | 4 | 52.8 | 46.0 | 64.7 | 67.6 | 100.0 | 77.1 | 58.3 | 53.9 | 55.2 |
| Sri Lanka | 3 | 9.4 | 13.3 | 6.3 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 18.7 | 30.5 | 7.7 |
| Macau SAR | 2 | 8.2 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 77.8 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 41.6 | 39.9 | 9.5 |
| Brunei | 2 | 17.8 | 7.6 | 90.7 | 9.9 | 100.0 | 26.2 | 25.7 | 35.6 | 7.1 |
Key observations and insights, with a focus on regional performances:
The Philippines shine for Employability
The country attains the highest average score in Asia for Employer Reputation, indicating that its elite institutions effectively prepare work-ready graduates who achieve significant success. This is further evidenced by the country’s second-best regional average score in Employment Outcomes. However, the country faces challenges in achieving research impact and internationalizing its student and faculty bodies.
Singapore: Exceptional performance across Indicators
Singapore leads in several key indicators despite having only four ranked institutions. Notably, it scores highest in International Faculty Ratio (100.0), International Students Ratio (77.1), and Citations Per Faculty (67.6). This underscores Singapore’s strong global appeal and its focus on research excellence. Additionally, its high scores in Employment Outcomes (53.9) and Sustainability (55.2) reflect the effectiveness of its higher education policies and the employability of its graduates.
Mainland China: Leader in research impact
Mainland China stands out with the highest Citations Per Faculty score (61.5) among the Asian countries with ten or more ranked universities. This indicates a strong research output and significant academic influence globally. China also achieves a notable International Research Network score (51.7), highlighting its extensive global research collaborations.
Japan: Strong academic and employer reputation
Japan excels in Academic Reputation (22.4) and Employer Reputation (26.6), reflecting the high regard for Japanese universities in both academic and professional circles. However, it lags in Citations Per Faculty (12.6), indicating room for improvement in research impact.
India: Balanced performance with room for growth
India shows a balanced performance but with lower scores in several areas. Its Citations Per Faculty score (37.8) is relatively high, suggesting an increasingly influential research output. However, India needs to improve in International Faculty Ratio (9.3) and International Students Ratio (2.9) to enhance its global engagement.
South Korea: High faculty-student ratio
Of the countries with ten or more ranked universities, South Korea stands out regionally as the top performer for Faculty-Student Ratio (56.1). This indicates a favorable learning environment with more faculty members per student, which is also an indication of a declining population. This is complemented by a strong Employer Reputation score (23.4), suggesting excellent job prospects for graduates.
Malaysia: High internationalisation
Malaysia scores high in International Faculty Ratio (34.6) and International Students Ratio (46.3), indicating its attractiveness to international academics and students. However, its Employment Outcomes score (9.7) suggests a need for better alignment between higher education and the job market.
Indonesia: Improved performance
Indonesia’s most notable score is in Faculty Staff Ratio (26.1), but it has significant room for improvement in Citations Per Faculty (1.5) and International Students Ratio (2.8). These areas highlight opportunities for enhancing research output and global engagement. Nevertheless, it is one of the most improved countries in this edition.
Hong Kong SAR: Leading in international collaboration
Hong Kong SAR achieves high scores in several indicators, particularly International Faculty Ratio (99.8), International Students Ratio (96.1), and Citations Per Faculty (78.0). This reflects its strong international orientation and research impact, making it a prominent educational hub.
Global Highlights
Methodology
The QS World University Rankings 2025 are based on the nine indicators listed below:
Detailed methodological information can be found at QS World University Rankings 2025 methodology (topuniversities.com)
The full rankings can be found at https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-rankings/2025
For further information or to request interviews with QS’ analysts, please contact:
Simona Bizzozero
Director of Communications
QS Quacquarelli Symonds
simona@qs.com
+44 (0) 7880620856
William Barbieri
Communications Manager
QS Quacquarelli Symonds
william.barbieri@qs.com
Notes for Editors
QS Quacquarelli Symonds
QS Quacquarelli Symonds is the world’s leading provider of services, analytics, and insight to the global higher education sector. Its mission is to empower motivated people anywhere in the world to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility, and career development.
The QS World University Rankings portfolio, inaugurated in 2004, is the world’s most popular source of comparative data about university performance. Their flagship website, www.TopUniversities.com – the home of their rankings – was viewed more than 170 million times in 2023, and over 124,000 media clippings pertaining to, or mentioning, QS were published by media outlets worldwide in 2023.