Oxford University ranked world’s best for record ninth consecutive year in THE World University Rankings 2025
The University of Oxford has once again been named the world’s highest-ranked university, securing the top position in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025.
It marks the ninth year in a row that Oxford has held the number-one spot, setting a new record and surpassing the eight-year streak previously held by Harvard University.
UK universities performance
The UK maintains a strong presence in the latest edition of the rankings, with three universities in the top 10. The University of Cambridge remains the second-highest UK institution, retaining its fifth-place position.
Imperial College London, however, has slipped one place to ninth. In total, 25 UK universities are ranked within the top 200, including the University of Birmingham, which has entered the top 100 for the first time at joint 93rd.
Despite these achievements, the UK’s higher education sector is facing challenges. The sector recorded a decline in teaching and research reputation scores for the second consecutive year.
The UK also saw the most significant drop in research reputation among large countries, attributed partly to financial constraints affecting the sector. One in three UK universities is reportedly making staff redundancies due to high inflation, frozen English tuition fees, and declining international enrolments.
Phil Baty, chief global affairs officer at THE, noted:
“It is all the more impressive given the ever-increasing competition in our ranking as more and more universities participate each year with more than 2,000 universities assessed this year.
“While, overall, the picture of UK higher education in our rankings is positive, the sector is being battered by numerous prevailing winds. Chief amongst them is the extremely stretched finances it is facing and the restrictions on recruiting international students making it harder for them still, making it almost impossible to see how the sector can sustain its position in the coming years without significant help.”
Top Ten Universities in the THE World University Rankings 2025
The top ten universities globally, as ranked in the THE World University Rankings 2025, are as follows:
University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (United States)
Harvard University (United States)
Princeton University (United States)
University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
Stanford University (United States)
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (United States)
University of California, Berkeley (United States)
Imperial College London (United Kingdom)
Yale University (United States)
Globally, the United States continues to dominate the rankings, with 55 universities in the top 200. MIT has now overtaken Stanford University as the top US institution, ranking second overall. Harvard University follows in third place. Harvard acceptance rate explained reveals the intense competition prospective students face when applying to one of the world's most prestigious universities.
Other countries are making notable gains. Sweden and China have improved their standings, with Sweden achieving the highest improvement rate globally. China follows as the second-best performer, reflecting its strategic investment in higher education.
In total, the 2025 rankings include more than 2,000 universities from 115 countries and regions, the most ever featured. Europe remains well-represented with 684 institutions, although its share in the top 200 has been gradually decreasing.
Future outlook for the UK sector
Despite the current funding issues, UK universities continue to lead in international outlook compared to their European counterparts. However, the sector’s global reputation may be further impacted in the coming years if financial pressures persist.
Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, expressed her satisfaction with the university’s achievement, stating:
“I am absolutely delighted that we have consolidated our position at the top of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for a ninth consecutive year. This achievement is testament to our extraordinarily talented and committed academics, researchers and staff, who deliver exceptional standards of teaching and learning and conduct globally impactful research.
“Above all, I am indebted to all my colleagues at Oxford whose work continues to fire our imaginations, inspire generations, and confront some of the greatest challenges facing our planet.”
