QS 2026 rankings: UoH ranked among world’s leading 850 universities by education analysts

Hyderabad: The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has secured a place among the top 850 universities worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026, released by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

With a rank of 801-850 overall and a strong performance in ‘Citations per Faculty’ at 335, UoH stands out among Indian public universities for research output.

UoH’s research output recognised globally

Among the various performance indicators, UoH’s showing in ‘Citations per Faculty’ — a key measure of research impact — has been its strongest. This indicator assesses how widely a university’s research is referenced in academic literature globally.

“We are delighted to have achieved a notable ranking of 335 in the world in the ‘Citations per Faculty’ indicator,” said Prof BJ Rao, vice chancellor, University of Hyderabad. “This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of our faculty and researchers.”

The university’s overall score placed it in the 801-850 band out of 1,501 institutions worldwide, evaluated from a pool of 8,467 institutions. Rankings were based on over 19.8 million academic papers and more than 200 million citations.

Areas for growth identified

Despite the achievement in research, UoH’s performance in other key indicators such as Academic Reputation (692), Employer Reputation (701+), and Faculty-Student Ratio (801+) show significant scope for improvement.

“We acknowledge that there is room for improvement in other parameters, such as global visibility and perception,” Prof Rao noted. “We are committed to enhancing our overall ranking by focusing on these areas and continuing to strive for excellence in research and education.”

India becomes fourth most represented country

India has registered its best-ever showing in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, with 54 institutions making the list — a five-fold increase since 2015. Only the US, UK and Mainland China have more universities featured. India’s top performer is IIT Delhi, which rose to 123rd globally from 150th last year.

Notably, eight Indian universities entered the rankings for the first time, the highest number of new entrants from any country. These include Ashoka University, Galgotias University and Shiv Nadar University, reflecting the growing strength of India’s private higher education sector.

Indian universities gaining in global perception

According to QS data, Indian institutions are making strides not just in research but also in employability. Five Indian universities are ranked in the global top 100 for Employer Reputation. Additionally, eight Indian universities, including UoH, feature in the world’s top 100 for Citations per Faculty.

Methodology changes highlight research and sustainability

The 2026 rankings have undergone major methodological changes — the largest in QS’s two-decade history. New indicators such as International Student Diversity and Sustainability were introduced, while others like Citations per Faculty and Academic Reputation continue to carry significant weight.

Each university is assessed using a weighted combination of indicators grouped under four ‘lenses’: Research and Discovery (50%), Employability and Outcomes (20%), Global Engagement (15%), and Learning Experience (10%), with an additional 5% weight for Sustainability.

With its strength in academic research clearly acknowledged, UoH is now focusing on areas like global partnerships, visibility and student engagement. As Prof Rao concluded, “This achievement motivates us to work even harder and make a greater impact in the global academic landscape.”