Ateneo de Manila University remained the highest-ranked Philippine institution in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, extending its lead among local universities to a fifth consecutive year.
In the 2027 edition, Ateneo placed in the 1001-1200 bracket out of 2,297 institutions worldwide. The list was topped by the University of Oxford.
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Research Quality Drives Ateneo’s Global Standing
Ateneo Research Communications attributed much of the university’s global standing to its performance in research quality, where it recorded a score of 66.9, compared with 52.4 in 2024. The university ranked 705th worldwide in the research quality metric.
"The primary engine of the Ateneo's overall global position is its research quality, with a score of 66.9—up from just 52.4 in 2024. It far outstripped its local rivals and many international institutions to land in the 705th spot for the metric worldwide," the Ateneo Research Communications statement said.
Among the other Philippine institutions included in the rankings, the University of the Philippines placed in the 1201-1400 bracket, while the University of Santo Tomas landed in the 1601-1800 bracket. De La Salle University and Mapua University were both in the 1801-2000 bracket, while Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology was in the 2001+ bracket.
Ateneo’s current standing follows its entry into the 2022 edition as an unranked institution. The university then "jumped to first place" among Philippine institutions in the 2023 edition and has retained the position since.
THE Rankings Reflect Global Shifts in Higher Education
At the global level, the University of Oxford continued to occupy the top position for an 11th consecutive year. The 2027 rankings also showed a stronger presence from Asian universities, according to Ateneo Research Communications.
"Globally, the University of Oxford held the top position for a record 11th consecutive year. But the 2027 list highlights the growing presence of Asian institutions among the world's leading universities," the statement read.
"Three Asian universities appeared in the top 15: China's Tsinghua University, which overtook Switzerland's ETH Zurich to take 11th place; followed by Peking University in 13th place; and the National University of Singapore in the 15th spot," the statement added.
The assessment was based on "five pillars" covering teaching, research, environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook. According to the statement, the rankings can serve as a reference for students, researchers and universities when assessing institutional performance and opportunities for improvement.
"The rankings provide an international benchmark and help students evaluate institutions, guide researchers in international collaboration, and allow universities to identify areas for improvement," it read.
Ateneo Research Communications also acknowledged the limits of university rankings in capturing an institution’s full contribution.
"While no ranking captures the full value of a university's work, the THE's assessment offers an external measure of institutional performance in a global context, which can be considered in assessing an institution's fulfilment of its mission and vision."
The rankings provide one external reference when considering local universities, while the continued presence of Philippine institutions in global assessments also reflects how the country’s higher education sector is being measured against international standards. The more consequential question remains whether improvements in research and education translate into stronger opportunities for students, researchers and the wider economy.
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