45 Iranian universities included in Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition
45 Iranian universities were featured in the 2026 Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition, placing Iran first among Islamic nations for the second consecutive year. Additionally, 80 Iranian universities were included in the Leiden Ranking Open Edition, with strong showings in …
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
Iranian higher education institutions have demonstrated significant global recognition, with a notable presence in the 2026 Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition and an even larger representation in the Open Edition. The country has maintained its leading position among Islamic nations in terms of university count in these prestigious rankings, alongside improved performance in other maj…
Imagine schools around the world get report cards, like yours, but for how good their teachers and scientists are at doing research. This story says that many schools in Iran are getting really good grades on these report cards, called 'rankings.' In one big report card, 45 Iranian schools were listed, and in an even bigger one, 80 were included! This means Iran's schools are doing a great job in science and learning, even better than many other countries, especially in their region.
Analysis
The inclusion of Iranian universities in prominent global rankings signifies a consistent upward trend in the nation's academic standing. The 2026 Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition, which is noted as its final release, recognized 45 Iranian institutions among the top 1,618 worldwide. This achievement is particularly significant as it marks the second consecutive year Iran has led Islamic nations in the number of universities featured in this ranking, with the University of Tehran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and Iran University of Science and Technology leading the national contingent.
Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition
The 2026 Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition, which saw an increase in total universities from 1594 to 1618, included 45 Iranian universities. This edition is notable for being its final iteration, with the ranking transitioning entirely to the Open Edition from 2027 onwards. Iran's consistent presence and top position among Islamic nations in this edition underscore its established academic infrastructure and research output. The University of Tehran, globally ranked 182, was the highest-placed Iranian institution in this specific edition.
In contrast, the CWTS Leiden Ranking Open Edition, which utilizes open data from OpenAlex, offers a broader scope, encompassing over 3000 universities globally. This edition included a significantly higher number of Iranian universities, with 80 institutions making the list. Tehran University of Medical Sciences led the Iranian universities in the Open Edition, ranking 154 globally, followed by the University of Tehran at 172. The expansion to 122 countries and territories in the Open Edition, including new entries like Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, and Libya, reflects a more comprehensive global assessment.
Iranian universities
Beyond the Leiden Ranking, Iranian universities have also shown strong performance in several other international assessments. The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Ranking for 2027 listed 50 Iranian universities, an increase from 48 in the previous year, with the University of Tehran securing the top national spot at a global ranking of 114. Similarly, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027 featured 75 Iranian universities among 2,297 institutions worldwide, with Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran University of Science and Technology, and Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences achieving top national placements.
The Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) evaluated Iranian institutions across 33 out of 57 academic subjects, highlighting particular strengths in Engineering and Medical Sciences, with 70 and 24 subjects respectively. Furthermore, the Round University Ranking (RUR) 2026 included 41 Iranian universities, an increase from 36 in 2025. These diverse rankings collectively paint a picture of a robust and improving higher education sector in Iran, with institutions demonstrating competitive research capabilities across various disciplines.
Bibliometric indicators
The Leiden Ranking distinguishes itself by providing advanced bibliometric indicators, focusing exclusively on research output at universities. Its methodology is richly documented and relies on carefully collected data about publications, ensuring independence from self-reported data by universities. The ranking presents both size-dependent and size-independent indicators, allowing for a nuanced comparison of university performance, whether viewed from an absolute perspective (e.g., the number of highly cited publications) or a relative one (e.g., the percentage of highly cited publications).
This approach emphasizes the importance of considering both types of indicators for a comprehensive understanding of scientific impact, collaboration, and open access publishing. The reliance on open data from OpenAlex for the Open Edition further enhances transparency. This rigorous, research-centric methodology provides a credible benchmark for assessing the scientific contributions of Iranian universities, validating their academic standing through objective measures of scholarly productivity and influence.
Key points
- 45 Iranian universities were included in the 2026 Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition, placing Iran first among Islamic nations for the second consecutive year.
- The Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition will be discontinued from 2027, transitioning to the Open Edition which already includes 80 Iranian universities.
- Iranian universities also showed strong performance in other global rankings, with 50 in QS Asia, 75 in Times Higher Education, 33 subjects in Shanghai GRAS, and 41 in Round University Ranking.
- Top Iranian universities like the University of Tehran and Tehran University of Medical Sciences consistently rank high nationally and globally across various assessments.
- The Leiden Ranking emphasizes advanced bibliometric indicators, focusing on research publications and ensuring independence from university-submitted data.
The consistent inclusion and improved standing of Iranian universities in global rankings could significantly boost the country's international academic reputation. This enhanced visibility may foster greater international collaborations, attract more foreign students and researchers, and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, ultimately strengthening Iran's scientific and technological advancements.
While the rankings are positive, the discontinuation of the Leiden Ranking Traditional Edition means Iranian universities will need to adapt to the Open Edition's potentially different metrics and a larger competitive pool. Maintaining and further improving these rankings will require sustained investment in research infrastructure, faculty development, and international engagement, which could be challenging amidst economic pressures.
