Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the year 2025 is out, with over 2,000 institutions across 115 countries and territories competing for the top spot. 

This time, a record-breaking 7 Malaysian universities made it into the top 500 of the list. Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), ranked in the 201–250 band, topped the list for the first time ever, surpassing Universiti Malaya (UM)'s 251–300 band.

Globally, Oxford University (UK) continues to hold the top spot for the ninth consecutive year, followed closely by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) which returned to second place after losing the spot last year, with Harvard University rounding out the top 3.

Check out the top 10 universities in the world and the full list of Malaysia’s top universities in the infographic below!

University rankings are not everything, but standing out against other global names is still a big deal. Congratulations to all the universities that made it into the list and may this be the first of many steps towards greatness for our local institutions.

What other factors should you consider when looking for the perfect university? Aside from ranking, keep an eye out for these key details.

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