IMPROVEMENTS IN three of five indicators were not enough to lift the University’s standings in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, as lower scores in research quality and international outlook weighed down its overall performance.
In the latest edition of the assessment, UST remained the country’s third-best institution and kept its place in the 1501+ bracket worldwide after posting an overall score of 10.3–27.2 from last year’s 10.5–25.1.
This is despite drawing slight improvements in most areas of the assessment.
THE ranked the universities according to teaching (29.5%), research environment (29%), research quality (30%), industry (4%) and international outlook (7.5%).
UST dropped 117 spots in the international outlook pillar, its highest-scored indicator, and ranked 635th globally from 518th last edition. It posted a lower score at 59.5 from 64.4 previously.
The University also saw a slip in research quality at 32.1 from 33.6 in the 2025 assessment.
Still, UST slightly improved its performance in its three remaining indicators: it scored 23 in teaching from 19.8 in the previous year; 10.2 from 9.7 in research environment; and 21.1 from 20.4 in industry.
Six other Philippine universities were included in the ranking, with the Ateneo de Manila University leading with the highest score of 32.1–35.4, followed by the University of the Philippines (27.3–32.0).
De La Salle University (10.3–27.2), Mapua University (10.3–27.2) and Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (10.3–27.2) tied with UST.
A total of 42 Philippine universities obtained a “reporter” status, including the Ateneo de Davao University, Bicol University, Bulacan State University, Cagayan State University and Cebu Technological University.
Meanwhile, the University of Oxford emerged as the top institution worldwide with a score of 98.2. It was followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (97.7) and Princeton University (97.2).
This year marked a world record in the number of assessed institutions by THE. A total of 2,191 universities were covered by the assessment, marking the second time that more than 2,000 schools have been ranked.
Launched in 2004, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings provide annual comparative data that evaluate the performance of universities worldwide. F — Ariza Marie Llorca
