EduAsiaNews, Tehran — Amid ongoing geopolitical pressures and international sanctions, Iran’s academic community has achieved a significant milestone in global university rankings. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026 reveal that 101 Iranian universities have been included in the list—marking the highest number the country has ever attained. This upward trend has been consistent in recent years: 63 universities in 2023, rising to 75 in 2024, 85 in 2025, and now 101 in 2026.
Of these 101 institutions, two have successfully entered the world’s top 500 universities: the University of Tehran and Sharif University of Technology. Another twelve universities are ranked within the 501–1,000 range globally, including Amirkabir University of Technology, Isfahan University of Technology, and Tarbiat Modares University. “The University of Tehran ranked 374th in research and 504th in international outlook,” reported the Academic News Agency (ANA), citing data from the ranking body.
A similar achievement is reflected in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR) 2026, which assess universities’ contributions to cross-disciplinary research. A total of 28 Iranian universities are listed among the world’s best in ISR. Amirkabir University of Technology leads among Iranian institutions, ranking 99th globally, followed by Shahid Beheshti University at 147th and Shiraz University at 196th. Mohammad Mehdi Alavian Mehr, President of the Islamic World Science Citation and Monitoring Institute (ISC), stated that this upward trend reflects the strength of Iran’s research ecosystem, built over years despite limited access to technology and international collaboration due to sanctions.
In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Iran has 11 universities listed among more than 1,500 top global institutions—up from 9 in the previous edition and just 6 in 2020. The University of Tehran ranks 322nd globally, followed by Sharif University of Technology at 375th and Amirkabir University of Technology at 456th.
In the field of Petroleum Engineering, the University of Tehran has reached 22nd place globally, improving from 32nd the previous year. Iran also demonstrates strong performance in Electrical Engineering, with Sharif University of Technology ranked within the 151–200 range worldwide.
These achievements are widely seen as tangible evidence of Iran’s long-term strategy to position human capital and scientific advancement as the backbone of national development. Since the early 1980s, Iran’s student population has grown from around 100,000 to several million today. The country now produces tens of thousands of scientific publications annually and maintains a presence across various global research rankings—an accomplishment that, according to some analysts, has been driven in part by the pressures of sanctions, which have compelled Iran to develop its scientific and technological capabilities independently. (**)
