2027 university rankings: Singapore’s NUS takes 10th place globally

Nanyang Technological University, The University of Hong Kong, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong also feature in the global top 20, while Malaysia’s Universiti Malaya ranks among the global top 100.

Universities in Singapore continues to hold a strong position on the global higher education stage, according to QS's recent World University Rankings 2027 report.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) ranked 10^th in the world, placing it among the global top 10 universities. Close behind, Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) ranked 12^th. 

At the top of the table, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained the number one spot globally. Imperial College London and Stanford University shared second place, followed by the University of Oxford in fourth and Harvard University in fifth. 

While the highest ranks remained largely stable, the results also point to growing movement just below the top tier, with universities from Hong Kong, China, and the Middle East gaining ground. 

Here is the list of the top 20 universities across the world: 

Beyond the top 20, the rankings also point to a wider shift in global higher education, with East Asia and the Middle East gaining ground. China, in particular, recorded the highest number of new entrants globally and contributed the largest number of upward moves across the rankings. This momentum was reflected near the top of the table as well, with Peking University and Tsinghua University ranking 13^th and 14^th respectively.

Hong Kong also had a strong showing. The University of Hong Kong placed 11^th, while The Chinese University of Hong Kong entered the top 20 at 18^th. Together with Singapore’s NUS and NTU, these results point to East Asia’s growing influence in the global higher education landscape.

While Malaysia did not feature in the global top 20, it still secured a place among the world’s top 100, with Universiti Malaya (UM) ranking 56^th globally.

The Middle East also saw more universities move up the rankings. According to QS, nine institutions in the UAE and 12 in Saudi Arabia climbed this year, supported by internationalisation efforts, research investment, and infrastructure development.

The movement comes at a time when traditional study destinations are facing new pressures. As countries such as the UK, US, Canada, and Australia introduce student caps, international student levies, or tighter graduate work visa rules, other markets appear to be gaining share. QS noted that Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea improved their average International Student Ratio, while many of the traditional "Big Four" destinations recorded year-on-year declines. 

This broader shift was also visible in overall rank movements. The UK and US saw 15 and 36 institutions respectively fall by more than 20 places, compared with seven in Canada and two in Australia.

By contrast, China had 29 institutions rise by more than 20 places. South Korea recorded 10 such gains, while the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia each saw five institutions climb by at least 20 places.

Taken together, the 2027 rankings suggest a changing global higher education market. While the top remains stable, anchored by reputation and long-term performance, the middle is becoming more competitive and volatile, while emerging systems are gaining ground steadily, not abruptly.

Find out more on the report's methodology here.

For the full list of global university rankings, click here.

READ MORE: Singapore and China universities make a mark in latest rankings by subject 

Lead image / NUS