Tehran – The Times Higher Education (The) includes 34 universities from Iran among the top universities pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 33 universities in 2024.
The ranking rated 2,526 universities from 130 countries to generate an overall impact ranking for 2025.
Important Standards of the Times of Higher Education Impact Rankings include research, stewardship, outreach and education. We assess the performance of universities in 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) indexes, including no poverty. Zero Hunger; Health and Happiness. Quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable clean energy. Decent work and economic growth. Industry, innovation, infrastructure. Reduced inequality; sustainable cities and communities. Responsible consumption and production. Climate action; living under the water; living on the land; peace, justice, and powerful institutions. Goal partnership.
The Iranian School of Medicine, which has the Global Rankings 301-400, is the first in the country to be placed.
Alzahra University, Kerman University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (ranked 401-600) will be second in the list.
Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (Ajums), Mazandaran Medical Sciences University, Shahid Beheshti University (601-800), University of Tehran, Kelmanshire University of Medicine and Tarbiat Modare University (801-1000) were ranked third.
Amilkavir Institute of Technology, Baborno Silvani Institute of Technology, BU-ALI SINA University, Kazbin Medical University, Shahidbajonaar University Karman University, Sharek University School of Medicine, Kurdistan University Mohagagheguardevili University, Zanjanrank University 1001-1500.
Bakiyatala University of Medical Sciences, Golestan University, Hadan Medical University, Medicine University, Hormozgan University, Ilam University, Imam Khomeini International University, Kermansha University, Pailam Noor University, Shiraz University, Hormozgan University Urmia Medical University Rank 1501+.
The overall impact ranking table identifies and celebrates universities that demonstrate comprehensive excellence that contributes to global sustainable development. By excelling in a variety of SDGs, these universities demonstrate their commitment to addressing the world’s most urgent challenges, including environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth, and partnerships.
Iran’s University of Medical Sciences ranks 48th in terms of health and well-being and reduction inequality, quality education goals.
Alzara University and Carman University Medical University rank 85th and 89th in gender equality, respectively.
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences ranks 30th in Health and Happiness.
Amilkavir Institute of Technology and Shahid Beheshti University are ranked 46th and 60th in industry, innovation and infrastructure.
The overall impact ranking methodology integrates scores from multiple SDGs to reflect overall performance and impact. The analysis shows that universities in East and Southeast Asia are rapidly improving in terms of their contribution to sustainable development.
There is more analysis of the results, including tables, charts and interviews with university leaders in the Impact Rankings 2025 digital report.
Recent Rankings
The 22nd edition of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings (WUR) in 2026, unchanged from the 2025 rankings, placing nine Iranian universities among the world’s top institutes.
Tehran University, with a global ranking of 322, is the first Iranian university ranked.
Sharif University of Technology (Rankings 375) and Amilkavir University of Technology (456) are located in the second and third positions.
The Iranian University of Science and Technology (496), Isfahan Institute of Technology (571), Tabriz University (578), Shiraz University (701-710), Shahid Beshti University (741-750), and Feldousi University Mashhad University (951-1000) are the other top universities included in the Land of the year.
Among Iranian universities, Shahid Beheshti University has improved its position of 100 from 851-900 in 2025, Mehr News Agency reported.
QS World University rankings compiled by the UK QS since 2024 are global indicators of the quality of higher education. Approximately 8,500 universities around the world were nominated to be included in the 2026 rankings, with 1,501 positions on the final list.
Round University Ranking (RUR) 2025 has placed 36 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world from 32 universities in 2024.
RUR Ranking assesses the performance of over 1,200 world universities from 20 countries within four key objectives: education, research, international diversity and financial sustainability.
It is designed as a rating system aimed at providing ample information about university performance to address the personal tasks of stakeholders, including students, academic community, university management, policy makers, and more.
With a global ranking of 93, the University of Islamic Azad is the first to be placed in the country.
Tehran University of Medical Sciences (125), Tehran University (202), Iran University of Science and Technology (355), Shiraz University Medical University (371), Sharif University of Technology (389), Tabriz University (422), Kurdistan University School of Medicine (440), Kazbin University School of Medicine (445) (454) 2nd to 10th place.
Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Islamic Azad University are ranked third and fourth in the world in terms of educational ranking index. They will be placed first and second in the country. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (global ranking 69) is third place.
Based on the research ranking index of Tehran University (Global Rankings 138), Sharif University of Technology (252) and Islamic Azad University (259) each ranks number one in the country.
Islamic Azad University (414), Graduate School of Advanced Technology University (542), and Imam Hossein University (572) rank from 1st to 3rd in terms of the international diversity ranking index.
Based on the Financial Sustainability Index, Imam Hossein University (155), Bakil Al-Olm University (212), and Iran University of Science and Technology (245) are the top three universities in the country.
The Times Asian University Rankings 2025 has placed 85 Iranian universities at the top institutions in Asia compared to 75 universities in 2024.
Sharif University of Technology is the first in the country, with a global ranking of 69.
Amilkavir Institute of Technology (70), University of Science and Technology (77), University of Tehran (97), University of Tehran (109), University of Isfahan Institute of Technology (115), University of Kermansha University of Medicine (121), University of Shahid Beshti Medical Science (154)
The 15th edition of the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University rankings includes 17 Iranian universities in 21 subject entries compared to 17 Iranian universities in 2024.
Iranian universities are ranked among the top institutions in three faculty disciplines, including engineering and technology. Life Sciences and Medicine; Natural Sciences, Mehr News Agency reported.
Times Higher Education (The) World University Rankings (WUR) ranks 85 Iranian universities among the world’s top universities, according to International Outlook 2025. Sharif Institute of Technology (global rankings of 301-350) is the top university in the country.
World University Rankings 2025 placed 81 Iranian universities among the top universities in the world in 10 of 11 subject areas compared to 73 universities in 2024. The best rankings in Iran are computer science and engineering.
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