▎HONOR

National Taiwan University (NTU) has reached new milestones in two of the world’s benchmark university assessments, achieving its highest-ever position in both the QS World University Rankings 2027 and the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026.

NTU ascended to No. 54 worldwide in the latest QS World University Rankings, surpassing the previous year’s performance by nine places, to reach its highest ranking in history. The university’s most robust gains were driven by advances in research impact, internationalization, graduate employability, and sustainability.

Excellence Across Research, Education, and Global Engagement

NTU’s academic strength continues to expand across disciplines. All five of its major subject areas are now ranked among the world’s top 100, with seven individual subjects placing within the global top 50. Notably, NTU entered the world’s top 10 in Classics and Ancient History for the first time, ranking No. 6 globally.

The university also made significant progress in internationalization. In recent years, NTU has strengthened its strategic partnerships with leading universities worldwide, established joint international research centers and laboratories, and collaborated with Academia Sinica and other partner institutions through the Taiwan Bridges Program. Complementing these research initiatives are a number of global talent programs—including the International Mentorship Program, Overseas Internship Program, iNGO Academy, and the Beyond Borders overseas learning initiative—which attract outstanding students and scholars from across the globe while expanding international mobility.

Graduate employability remains another defining strength. NTU once again received a perfect score in the Employment Outcomes indicator, which measures both graduate employment and the global achievements of alumni. The recognition reflects the university’s continued emphasis on experiential learning and industry engagement through such initiatives as Interdisciplinary Career Immersion – Mentorship Program, Learn from CEOs & Chairpersons | NTU Elite Mentorship Internship Program, and its newly launched Global Innovation Program, which enables students to pursue startup learning experiences abroad.

NTU also continuously improves its sustainability performance, earning a score of more than 90 points—ranking first in Taiwan and fourth in Asia on the QS sustainability indicator.

“Our mission as a university extends beyond rankings,” said NTU President Wen-Chang Chen. “We remain committed to educating future leaders and contributing knowledge and research that address society’s most pressing challenges. Thanks to the continued support of the Ministry of Education, government agencies, and our industry partners, NTU strives to achieve steady progress in every aspect.”

A Historic Milestone in Global Sustainability

NTU also reached a historic milestone in the THE Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026, announced during the Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The university ranked 10th in the world, marking both NTU’s highest-ever placement and the best performance ever achieved by a Taiwanese university. During the congress, Times Higher Education also presented NTU with a Certification of Achievement, recognizing its outstanding global contributions toward advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

During the summit, President Chen unveiled NTU’s sustainability strategy through three complementary approaches: Innovate, transform research into practical solutions; Inspire, embed sustainability into everyday campus life; and Integrate, extend the university’s impact beyond the campus through partnerships with communities, industry, and government.

“As Taiwan’s leading university, NTU has a responsibility not only to excel academically, but also to drive sustainable progress throughout society,” President Chen said.

NTU’s strong performance reflects the comprehensive approach emphasized by THE, particularly in partnership building (SDG 17) and societal engagement. Four individual SDGs ranked among the global top 10:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger — 3rd worldwide
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being — 4th worldwide
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure — 9th worldwide
• SDG 14: Life Below Water — 10th worldwide

University officials observed that these achievements represent the collective efforts of NTU’s faculty, students, researchers, and staff. Moving forward, NTU will continue strengthening its four strategic pillars—Research Excellence, University Governance, Societal Engagement, and Educational Impact—while working closely with global partners to facilitate optimal realizations of knowledge with positive societal impact.

As the university approaches its centennial, these historically high rankings testify to NTU’s growing role as a globally engaged research university, committed not only to academic excellence, but equally to addressing the complex challenges facing society through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development.