Cambridge University has climbed two places to third in the 2026 Times Higher Education World Rankings, while Oxford holds the top spot for the tenth year running. For students, researchers, and locals, it’s another reminder of Cambridge’s global academic reputation.
Dr Jane Porter, senior lecturer at Cambridge, said: “It’s encouraging to see Cambridge maintaining its excellence. Our teaching, research, and international collaborations continue to make a real impact in the city and beyond.”
Cambridge now shares third place with Princeton (score 97.2), behind MIT (97.7) and Oxford (98.2). The top ten also includes Harvard, Stanford, Imperial College London, UC Berkeley, and Yale. Rankings are based on teaching quality, research environment, international outlook, and industry engagement.
Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer for THE, commented: “This year’s rankings highlight a dramatic shift in global higher education from established Western institutions to rising stars in the East.”Cambridge performed strongly in student-staff ratios (11.3) and international students (38%). Yet the rankings reveal challenges for UK universities overall, with fewer than 50 making the top 500 for the first time. Other UK universities in the top 50 include UCL (22nd), Edinburgh (29th), and King’s College London (38th).
The results reaffirm Cambridge’s status as a leading global university and underscore the importance of investment in research, teaching, and international partnerships. For Cambridgeshire, it’s a boost for the city’s reputation as a hub of innovation and learning.
While global competition grows, Cambridge’s rise to third place shows that the city remains at the forefront of education and research, shaping both local and international academic communities.