THE World University Rankings 2027: 108 Pakistani universities, QAU top at 551-600

Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in Islamabad is Pakistan's highest-ranked university in the THE World University Rankings 2027, placed in the 551 to 600 band. In all, 108 Pakistani universities made the list, which Times Higher Education (THE) published this week with 2,297 institutions from 118 countries and territories.

Pakistan's top universities in THE rankings 2027

THE ranks precisely only the top 200. Below that, universities are grouped in bands, so two universities in the same band are treated as tied.

The University of Oxford is first in the world for the 11th year in a row.

How THE scores a university

THE uses 17 indicators in five areas:

• Research quality: 30% (citation impact and research strength)
• Teaching: 29.5%
• Research environment: 29%
• International outlook: 7.5%
• Industry: 4%

Because research quality and research environment together count for almost 60%, the ranking favours universities that publish a lot of well-cited research. It says much less about teaching for undergraduates, fees or how easily graduates find jobs.

THE and QS are different lists

THE is not the same as the QS World University Rankings. In the QS 2027 list, published in June, 18 Pakistani universities were ranked and QAU and NUST were again the top two. A university can sit in very different places in the two tables because they weigh reputation surveys, research and employers differently.

What it means if you are choosing a university

A ranking band is one signal, not the whole answer. Before you apply:

1. Check that the programme is recognised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and, for engineering, medicine or law, by the relevant council (PEC, PMDC, Pakistan Bar Council).
2. Compare fees, hostel costs and scholarships, not only the band.
3. Look at the department, not just the university: a 701 to 800 university can have a strong department in your subject.
4. Keep your CGPA in view if you plan a master's abroad. Our CGPA calculator converts marks on the HEC 4.0 scale.

You can browse universities by city in our directory, for example universities in Islamabad and universities in Lahore.