Times Higher Education (THE) recently released its “World University Rankings” for the year 2027 in which it ranks 2,297 universities in the world according to a set of weighted criteria, namely teaching (29.5%), research environment (29.0%), research quality (30.0%), international outlook (7.5%), and industry income (4.0%). Two British universities came in the top 5 list namely the University of Oxford which came in first in the world with a score of 97.9 and the University of Cambridge which occupied the 5^th place (score: 96.9). In addition, three American universities made it to the top 5 list with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranking 2^nd with a score of 97.8, Princeton University reserving the 3^rd spot (score of 97.0), and Stanford University the 4^th place (score of 97.0).

On a regional level, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (Qatar) topped the university rankings for the year 2027 with an overall score of 64.5 and an international rank of 126, followed by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia) (overall score: 60.8; international rank: 176), King Saud University (Saudi Arabia) (overall score: 58.7; international rank: 216), Qatar University (Qatar) (overall score: 58.2; international rank: 222), and Khalifa University (U.A.E.) (overall score: 57.7; international rank: 235).

Locally, Times Higher Education ranked four Lebanese universities in the THE list led by the Lebanese American University (overall score: 51.6-52.2; international rank: 351-375), followed by each of the Beirut Arab University and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik with a score of (36.4-40.1) and an international rank of (801-1,000) each, and the Lebanese University with a score of (24.2-27.1) and an international rank of (1,601-1,800). It is worth noting that the American University of Beirut was excluded from the local rankings based on a decision by the university to withdraw from the rankings over credibility concerns as per a statement dated September 11, 2025 published on the university’s website. Similarly, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth was also excluded from the local rankings as the university decided on April 1, 2026, according to a statement published on its website to temporarily withdraw from the rankings, citing concerns regarding the practices adopted by some universities to artificially inflate their performance indicators. The Lebanese American University fared best in three criterions namely research environment (score: 27.1), research quality (score: 93.9), and industry income (score: 33.9), while the Beirut Arab University topped the teaching criterion (score: 42.7) and international outlook criterion (score: 87.2).