In the newly released 2025 global rankings, Semmelweis University remains in the 251-300th range. The university’s quick analysis shows that the institution’s total score has improved slightly compared to last year, moving up 28 places to 271st within the range of 251-300th.
The UK-based Times Higher Education ranks the world’s universities based on indicators in five areas: Teaching, Research Environment (research income and productivity), Research Quality (e.g. citation impact), Industry (industry income and patents), and International Outlook (e.g. number of international students, international co-authorship).
This year again, Semmelweis University achieved the best result in indicator group Teaching, which, among others, assesses the excellence of education and lecturers.
Semmelweis University has jumped 71 places compared to last year in terms of Research Quality, which measures the research strength and citation impact of the papers authored by the university. Furthermore, the institution has strengthened its position in terms of Research Environment, as a result of increased scores for research productivity and research income. Compared to last year, the university has achieved the biggest improvement in scores related to Industry (measuring innovation and knowledge transfer); however, this group of indicators weighs less than the others in the overall result.
We are proud that Semmelweis University continues to be the number one higher education institution in Hungary, maintaining its regional leadership and moving up 28 places within the 251-300th range. – Dr. Béla Merkely
The Rector of Semmelweis University, Dr. Béla Merkely, emphasized that the key to the university’s excellence was the practice-oriented education based on strong theoretical foundations, as well as a translational approach and internationality in the field of research.
In the latest world rankings, the university maintained its maximum score in several areas within Teaching (e.g. doctorate bachelor ratio and doctorate staff ratio). The excellence of the scientific work at Semmelweis University has further strengthened compared to last year, our publications are increasingly cited worldwide, which means that the impact and productivity of our research have also increased, emphasized Dr. Béla Merkely.
The rector pointed out that it was a significant achievement for Semmelweis University to maintain its position and even to move forward in the rankings, whose methodology changed a lot last year. Nonetheless, our goal is to keep improving, as the university is destined for an even higher position based on the excellence of its citizens, noted Dr. Béla Merkely.
The rankings list 11 Hungarian higher education institutions, with Semmelweis University remaining the leading Hungarian participant. The runner-up, Óbuda University, is ranked in the 601-800th range; the University of Debrecen and ELTE are in the 801-1000th range; the University of Pécs, the University of Szeged, and the Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences (MATE) are listed in the 1001-1200th range; the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) and the University of Pannonia are in the 1201-1500th range; while the University of Miskolc and the University of Győr are placed in the 1501+ range.
Semmelweis University continues to be the leading university in Central and Eastern Europe, ranking ahead of institutions such as Charles University in the Czech Republic (401-500th); as well as Wrocław Medical University (501-600th), Jagiellonian University (601-800th), and Warsaw University (601-800th) in Poland.
The University of Oxford has kept the top place, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
Pálma Dobozi
Translation: Judit Szabados-Dőtsch
Photo (illustration) by Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
