USM RANKED #1 UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA IN ARWU 2026
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has achieved an impressive milestone by emerging as the number one university in Malaysia in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2026, further strengthening its position among globally competitive research universities.
USM is now ranked #581 in the world, climbing 149 places from #730 in 2025. At the national level, USM also improved from #3 to #1 in Malaysia.
The achievement is particularly significant as ARWU does not merely measure university reputation or perception. Also known as the ShanghaiRanking, ARWU uses highly competitive indicators based on academic and research performance.
Among the indicators measured by ARWU are alumni and staff who have won Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, the number of Highly Cited Researchers (HiCi) recognised by Clarivate, publications in Nature and Science, publications indexed in the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), as well as the institution’s per capita academic performance.
Notably, 30 per cent of the overall ARWU assessment is attributed to Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners, while another 20 per cent is allocated to Highly Cited Researchers. This means that half of the ARWU assessment is directly linked to world-class academic achievements and researchers with exceptionally high citation impact.
In this context, USM’s #581 position globally is more than just a number. It places USM in competition with universities that have long-standing research traditions, internationally influential scientists and scholars, and research ecosystems that have been developed over several decades.
More than 2,500 universities worldwide are assessed by ARWU each year, with only the top 1,000 universities published in the ranking. Therefore, USM’s ability to climb 149 places within just one year represents a highly significant achievement.
USM’S RESEARCH STRENGTH CONTINUES TO SHINE
In ARWU 2026, USM’s performance in the Publication (PUB) indicator was ranked #424 globally, demonstrating the university’s strength in producing research publications recognised by major international databases.
More significant was USM’s improvement in the Highly Cited Researchers (HiCi) indicator, where it ranked #503 globally.
USM RESEARCH PERFORMANCE · ARWU 2026
HiCi does not simply measure the number of publications produced by a researcher. The indicator takes into account researchers identified by Clarivate as Highly Cited Researchers - a group whose work has demonstrated exceptionally high citation impact within their respective fields.
Therefore, an improvement in HiCi carries greater significance than simply an increase in the number of publications. It indicates that research produced by the USM community is increasingly being cited, utilised and influencing the advancement of knowledge at the international level.
This is one of the key distinctions of ARWU - it is not only about how much a university publishes, but also the extent to which it has researchers and research outputs capable of standing among the most influential in the world.
FROM #730 TO #581 IN THE WORLD
USM’s rise from #730 to #581 globally, and from #3 to #1 in Malaysia, reflects the strengthening of the university’s overall research ecosystem.
The achievement also demonstrates that efforts to strengthen high-quality publications, increase research impact and citations, develop high-performing researchers and enhance academic productivity are beginning to translate into improved performance in one of the world’s most research-oriented and highly competitive university rankings.
For USM, the #581 position is not the final destination. Instead, it serves as evidence of the university’s capacity to continue advancing in an increasingly competitive global research landscape.
As an APEX University, USM will continue to strengthen research excellence, develop world-class researchers and generate knowledge that is not only published, but also cited, recognised and impactful on the global stage.
Text: Media and Public Relations Centre (MPRC), USM / Photo: Media and Public Relations Centre (MPRC), USM