QS World University Rankings 2025, published on Tuesday, comprised the best 1,500 institutions of higher education out of 5,663 institutions in 106 countries altogether, including 21 new entrants. The University of Debrecen was ranked 574th, as one of the top three finishers among Hungarian higher education institutions. Just like in previous years, UD was the best in terms of the ratio of international students, ranking 209th in. Our institution has significantly improved its position in the quality of education indicator, ranking 464th. The university also scored higher in the most important indicator this year, moving up to the 505th position in the area of academic reputation.
Regarding the latest results, Rector Zoltán Szilvássy recalled that, seven years ago, a working group had been set up to promote the international academic visibility of the university.
“This internationally highly visible position is the result of a conscious process and years of hard work, and we expect it to continue to improve. Traditionally, our publication activity is strongest in the fields of medicine and health sciences, but there is also visible progress in agricultural and economic sciences, as well as in engineering and science education and research. The scholarly-scientific objectives of our institution are served by the consolidating of the research infrastructure with the recently inaugurated Manufacturing-Research-Education Facility and the Pilot Laboratory, which will further strengthen the international research network of the University of Debrecen in the near future,” said Zoltán Szilvássy, Rector of the University of Debrecen.
In the recently published QS ranking, UD is the best Hungarian university in terms of the ratio of international students and also regarding its involvement in international research networks.
“We are proud of our international students and also very happy that the University of Debrecen is the best Hungarian institution in the field of international research. However, we need further strengthening in terms of academic reputation and citations per faculty, for which the university has launched a complex science support system,” said Attila Jenei, Director of the Coordinating Center for International Education at the University of Debrecen, to hirek.unideb.hu.
The experts working for London-based Quacquarelli Symonds have been compiling the world rankings of higher education institutions since 2004. The methodology for the 2025 edition also focuses on sustainability and employment outcomes. In addition to academic reputation (30%), citations per faculty (20%), employer reputation (15%), the quality of teaching (10%), international faculty and student ratios (5-5%) and involvement in international research networks (5%), the ranking also measures the employment outcomes of universities (5%) and their institutional sustainability (5%).
This year's ranking was again topped by the overseas partner of the University of Debrecen: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, which retained its top position for the thirteenth consecutive year. Imperial College London came in 2nd, up four places, while the Oxford University and Harvard University are in 3rd and 4th places respectively.
From Hungary, eleven institutions have made the list, with the University of Debrecen, Eötvös Loránd University, the University of Szeged, Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the University of Pécs achieving the best results.
In a fashion similar to QS rankings, the University of Debrecen has also improved its ranking in the recently published RUR (Round University Rankings) world rankings by almost 100 places. In the latest rankings by the Georgia-based international ranking agency, UD has moved forward from the 425th to the 327th place. RUR also ranks institutions of higher education in almost all countries of the world in categories similar to those of QS. They measure performance in the areas of teaching, research, international diversity and financial sustainability by using 20 unique indicators for ranking more than 1100 participating universities this year. From Hungary, nine institutions have been included in the list, with Semmelweis University ranked 109th, a Golden League performer ahead of the University of Debrecen.
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