It secures 194th place in The World University Rankings 2027
PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaya (UM) has become the first Malaysian university to reach the global top 200 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027.
Finishing in 194th place marks UM’s best-ever performance in the rankings, up from the 201–250 band in the previous edition.
UM recorded an overall score of 59.5, scoring highest in International Outlook (90.4) and Research Quality (71.6), alongside Teaching (52.7), Research Environment (44.8) and Industry (66.0).
UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Ir Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the achievement reflected UM’s growing confidence and global relevance, driven by the collective efforts of its university community.
“Breaking into the global Top 200 is not a finish line; it is a statement of intent. It shows that UM is moving with greater confidence, sharper purpose and stronger global relevance,” he said in a statement.
Malaysia’s other top universities also performed well, with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) retaining its position in the 201–250 band and Sunway University climbing to 283rd, from the 301–350 band last year.
Sunway University president and vice-chancellor Prof Sibrandes Poppema said the university’s progress was largely driven by its strong Research Quality, which placed it 101st globally, and its International Outlook, where it ranked 11th.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) also improved, moving into the 301-325 band, while Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) climbed into the 326-350 band.
UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sufian Jusoh said international rankings were an important indicator for universities to assess their position within the global higher education landscape.
USM said its improved standing also came with a responsibility to ensure that academic excellence translated into wider societal impact.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) retained its position in the 401–500 band, while Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) were both placed in the 451-500 band.
The rankings, released yesterday (Sept 30), also placed Management and Science University (MSU) in the 501-550 band and Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) in the 551-600 band.
Making their debuts in the ranking are Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in the 1,001-1,200 band and International Islamic University Malaysia in the 1,201-1,400 band.
Overall, 29 Malaysian universities were included in the rankings this time, up from 27 in 2026.
THE said Malaysian universities recorded gains across all three income metrics – institutional, research and industry income.
THE chief global affairs officer Phil Baty said the latest rankings reflected a broader shift in global higher education, with Asian universities making significant gains.
The UK-based THE World University Rankings are one of the most globally respected and rigorous assessments of institutional excellence, ranking universities worldwide across five key pillars: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry and International Outlook.
The 2027 rankings assessed 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories.
The University of Oxford retained the top spot for the 11th consecutive year, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while Princeton University and Stanford University tied for third place.
The full rankings can be viewed at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/latest/world-ranking
