Istanbul Technical University Among the Top 300 Worldwide!

ITU has secured the 298th position in the QS World University Rankings (QS WUR) 2026. Advancing 28 places compared to last year, this achievement is largely attributed to ITU’s growing academic and employer reputation on a global scale.

With its vision as a Research University Focused on Responsibility and Impact, Istanbul Technical University continues to rise among the world's top universities, emphasizing communication, trust, belonging, and performance as its core principles. 

According to the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings 2026, ITU rose 28 places from the previous year, reaching 298th place. Despite 112 additional universities being included in this year’s rankings, ITU achieved its best-ever result in QS WUR, standing among 1,501 universities globally. 

ITU, classified as “very high” in research intensity by QS WUR, improved its relative ranking performance, moving from the top 30% globally last year to the top 20% in 2026. 

In 2026, ITU rose 21 places in employer reputation, ranking 91st worldwide, while in academic reputation, ITU moved 22 places up, securing 305th place. Additionally, ITU climbed three positions in employment outcomes, reaching 162nd place. 

The number of citations per faculty contributed to increasing its reputation, while international students also played a role in strengthening ITU’s global presence. The university advanced 81 places in the citations per faculty metric and 15 places in the international students category. 

Faculty members' citations reflect ITU’s growing contribution to the scientific community and its vision as a research university focused on impact and responsibility. Furthermore, with the evolution of the “international student ratio” indicator, ITU ranked 491st in the newly added “international student diversity” category, hosting students from 84 different nations this year.

QS WUR 2026 Methodology

This year, the QS World University Rankings evaluated the following categories and subfields: Research and Discovery (academic reputation 30%, citations per faculty 20%), Employability and Outcomes (employer reputation 15%, employment outcomes 5%), Learning Experience (faculty-student ratio 10%), Global Engagement (international faculty 5%, international research network 5%, international students 5%), Sustainability (5%) 

The QS WUR 2026 methodology not only measures the number of international students at a university but also evaluates the institution's ability to attract students from a broad range of countries and cultures. Additionally, it includes expanded research mapping and modifications to inclusion criteria, allowing more universities to be ranked.