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Despite Ongoing War, Ukraine Sets Historic Record With 22 Universities On THE 2026 Global Rankings List
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Ukraine has achieved its strongest-ever performance in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, according to Serhii Babak, head of the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on Education, Science and Innovation
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The 2026 rankings include 22 Ukrainian higher education institutions, five more than in the previous edition, marking the country's highest level of representation since joining the ranking.
The highest-ranked Ukrainian institutions were Sumy State University, placed in the 801–1000 band, and Ternopil National Medical University, which was ranked in the 1201–1500 band.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 assess 2,191 universities from 115 countries based on teaching quality, research environment, research impact measured through citations, industry collaboration, and international outlook.
“Ukraine has set a new record in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. This year, 22 Ukrainian higher education institutions were included in one of the world's most authoritative university rankings, five more than last year. This is Ukraine's best result since it began participating in the rankings,” Babak said.
He described the growing number of Ukrainian universities represented in the rankings as a positive sign, particularly given the challenges posed by Russia's full-scale invasion.
At the same time, Babak acknowledged that Ukrainian universities continue to trail the world's leading institutions in several key areas, including research quality, the development of research infrastructure, international cooperation, and funding.
The record performance comes as Russia continues to inflict damage on Ukraine's educational infrastructure through repeated attacks.
During the Russian drone strike on Kyiv in Novemeber 2024, buildings belonging to Taras Shevchenko National University sustained significant damage. According to the university's Institute of International Relations, drone debris struck the area, damaging both the institute's main academic building and one of its dormitories.
University officials said the blast shattered windows and doors at the Institute of International Relations, while nearby commercial premises and former industrial facilities, including the site of a former motorcycle plant, were also damaged.
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