THE Asia University Rankings 2021 Released

ASIA’S BEST UNIVERSITIES REVEALED BY TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION

• 551 universities rank in total compared to 489 in 2020, a 13% increase in participants
• 30 countries and regions represented in the rankings
• Five countries and regions represented in the top 10
• Chinese universities claim top two positions for the second year in a row
• Top four universities from 2020 are unchanged, mainland China’s Tsinghua University (1^st) retains top spot for the third consecutive year
• Nanyang Technological University, Singapore moves into the top five (5^th)
• Japan’s Kyoto University (10^th) is the only new entrant in this year’s top 10
• 18 countries and regions see increase in participating universities
• 72 universities rank for the first time with Iran’s Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (45^th) the highest ranked debutant
• India sees three universities debut in top 200
• Qatar University (35^th) sees impressive climb to become the first Qatar-based university to rank in the top 50
• View the Asia University Rankings in full here: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2021/regional-ranking
• View the Asia University Rankings methodology here: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/asia-university-rankings-2021-methodology
  
  

2 June 2021

Asia’s best universities have been revealed today in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2021. Comprising 551 universities (a 13% increase on the 489 that ranked in 2020) from 30 countries and regions, the rankings highlight the growing strength of higher education across the Asian continent.

For the second year in a row, mainland Chinese universities claim the top two positions in the rankings through Tsinghua University (1^st), which achieves top spot for the third consecutive year, and Peking University (2^nd). Elsewhere in the top 10, Singapore’s National University of Singapore (3^rd), and Hong Kong’s University of Hong Kong (4^th), retain their 2020 positions. Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (5^th) moves into the top five after finishing 6^th in 2020. The only new entrant in the top 10 is Japan’s Kyoto University (10^th), which climbs two places after ranking 12^th last year.

Overall top 10

With a record 31 institutions in the top 100, mainland China dominates the group, as 26 (84%) of them either improve or maintain their previous ranking positions. South Korea has the second most in the group (12), and Japan follows in third with 11, despite eight of those ranking in lower positions than last year. However, in terms of representation across the 2021 rankings, Japan is leading the way once again, with 116 universities qualifying (110 in 2020), and the University of Tokyo (6^th) remains Japan’s highest ranked institution. Mainland China follows in second, represented by 91 universities, 10 more than in 2020 (81), the biggest increase for any country or region. India (63), Iran (47), and Turkey (43) are the other leading countries for representation. Of the 30 countries and regions included in the 2021 rankings, 18 see an increase in participating universities.

72 universities make their debut this year, making the THE Asia University Rankings the most competitive yet, with 10 debut institutions achieving positions in the top 200. Iran’s Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences (45^th) is the highest ranked debutant this year and is joined in the top 100 by mainland China’s debutant, Zhejiang Normal University (89^th). India sees three universities debut in the top 200 as King George‘s Medical University (=139^th), Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (143^rd), and Mahatma Gandhi University (154^th) all rank in the group.

Despite the new additions this year, those who qualified previously have still seen success. Five universities who ranked outside the top 50 last year move into the group, including Qatar University (35^th) who’s impressive climb sees it become the first Qatar-based university to rank in the top 50. Furthermore, 12 universities who ranked outside the top 100 in 2020 climbed into the elite band, with a further 12 moving up the table into the 101-200 band (previously ranking outside the top 200 last year).

Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer at THE, commented:

“The THE Asia University Rankings are an important measure of the strength of higher education across the continent. While it is clear that mainland China is cementing its position as a regional, and global, leader – with Tsinghua University and Peking University claiming the top two spots for a second successive year – the increasing numbers of participating universities highlights the growing competitiveness across the region. There are fantastic success stories throughout the table, with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore moving into the top five, Japan’s Kyoto University in the top 10 for the first time in seven years, and India seeing three institutions debut in the top 200, to name just a few.

“It will be interesting to see what happens in the region over the coming years, and how universities across Asia adapt to the post-Covid world. Despite the difficulties caused by Covid-19, there may be an opportunity for Asian universities to attract and retain more regional students and academic staff as disruption to traditional talent flow continues.”