Top universities for advancing global health in 2024

University Impact Rankings for UN SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Times Higher Education has meticulously assessed and ranked 1,498 universities from 115 countries/regions for their exceptional contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3: good health and well-being. These institutions are at the forefront of advancing universal health coverage, reducing preventable deaths, and enhancing public health through innovative research, comprehensive health services and community outreach programmes. They excel in addressing key health challenges such as mental health support, access to essential medicines and reproductive health services.

By prioritising critical areas such as vaccine distribution, tackling soil pollution and combating various forms of abuse, these universities not only foster healthier communities but create resilient systems that support sustained well-being and health equity. Their efforts contribute significantly to global health improvements, making a substantial difference to the lives of people across diverse populations.

Summary of findings

The ranking for SDG 3: good health and well-being is led by JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research in India. The second and third spots are taken by the Australian Catholic University and Mahidol University in Thailand respectively.

The highest-ranked newcomer is Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, also in India, in joint 15th place.

Three of the top ten universities are in Australia, two are in Taiwan and two are in India.

Methodology

Our methodology for SDG 3: good health and well-being encompasses a broad spectrum of indicators that evaluate universities’ effectiveness in promoting health and preventing disease across the global community:

Research on health and well-being (27%)

• Number of studies on universal health coverage and preventive healthcare
• Proportion of health-related papers that are viewed or downloaded
• Proportion of health-related research cited in clinical guidance

Graduates in health professions (34.6%)

• Proportion of graduates who receive a degree associated with a health profession, which reflects the university’s contribution to the global health workforce

Collaborations and health services (38.4%)

• Partnerships with health institutions for improved health outcomes locally and globally
• Health outreach and community service programmes that enhance public health
• Initiatives for better access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health care

The Impact Rankings are inherently dynamic: they are growing rapidly each year as many more universities seek to demonstrate their commitment to delivering the SDGs by joining our database; and they allow institutions to demonstrate rapid improvement year-on-year, by introducing clear new policies, for example, or by providing clearer and more open evidence of their progress. Therefore, we expect and welcome regular change in the ranked order of institutions (and we discourage year-on-year comparisons) as universities continue to drive this urgent agenda.

View the overall Impact Rankings 2024

Read our analysis of the Impact Rankings 2024 results

Download a free copy of the Impact Rankings 2024 digital report

Register to participate in next year’s Impact Rankings

To raise your university’s global profile with Times Higher Education, contact branding@timeshighereducation.com

To unlock the data behind THE’s Impact Rankings and access a range of analytical and benchmarking tools, click here