The latest edition of the QS World University Rankings (WUR) 2026, published by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on Thursday, Jun. 19, 2025, places Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) at 224th out of 1,501 evaluated universities worldwide. UGM rose 15 places from its 239th position the previous year.
“This achievement marks the highest ranking UGM has attained in the QS WUR over the past 16 years. UGM successfully maintains its position among the top 2 universities in Indonesia,” said UGM Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Professor Wening Udasmoro, on Saturday, Jun. 21, 2025, at the UGM campus.
Of the eight indicators assessed by QS WUR, UGM improved its score in all categories.
Notably, the university ranked first in Indonesia for both Academic Reputation and Sustainability. UGM also placed third in the International Research Network indicator, and fourth nationally for both Employer Reputation and Faculty-Student Ratio.
Academic Reputation carries the highest weight in the ranking methodology, accounting for 30% of the overall score.
This metric is based on a survey conducted by QS among academics worldwide.
In this indicator, UGM advanced 11 places, moving from 145th to 134th globally.
“This progress is the result of our commitment to the university’s tri-dharma (three pillars of higher education) through strong partnerships and expanding networks with academic stakeholders,” Vice-Rector Udasmoro stated.
Sustainability is a relatively new indicator in QS WUR, encompassing three categories aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Environmental Impact, Social Impact, and Governance.
UGM made significant progress in this area, climbing 92 places from 473rd to 381st.
Vice-Rector Udasmoro emphasized UGM’s strong commitment to supporting all 17 SDGs through a green mindset and the adoption of sustainability principles across environmental, social, and governance domains.
According to her, UGM’s performance in the QS WUR reflects the quality of its learning processes.
However, she acknowledged that there is still room for improvement in all evaluated indicators.
“UGM must continue to evaluate and improve its learning processes to remain competitive on the global stage,” she concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna