The NUS Times Higher Education ranking for 2027 is 15th in the world, up 2 places from 17th (THE World University Rankings 2027, released September 2026). That is NUS’s highest THE position since the tables began in 2010-11. NUS also says it remains 3rd in Asia and 1st in Singapore.
A note on names: THE labels each edition one year ahead, so the “2027” table was published in September 2026. This page covers THE only. It is separate from the QS World University Rankings 2027 results for NUS and NTU, which use different methods.
NUS Times Higher Education ranking history, 2010-11 to 2027
The table below lists NUS in every THE World University Rankings edition from 2010-11 to 2027. Click a column heading to sort. NUS was 34th in 2010-11, held between 22nd and 29th from 2012-13 to 2021, and has moved up steadily since 2022: 21st, 19th, 19th, 17th, 17th and now 15th.
| 2010-11 | 34 | 72.9 | — | Pre-3.0 |
| 2011-12 | 40 | 70.9 | ▼ 6 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2012-13 | 29 | 77.5 | ▲ 11 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2013-14 | 26 | 72.4 | ▲ 3 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2014-15 | 25 | 73.3 | ▲ 1 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2015-16 | 26 | 79.2 | ▼ 1 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2016-17 | 24 | 81.7 | ▲ 2 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2018 | =22 | 82.8 | ▲ 2 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2019 | 23 | 82.4 | ▼ 1 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2020 | 25 | 81.9 | ▼ 2 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 83.5 | 0 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2022 | 21 | 85.2 | ▲ 4 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2023 | 19 | 87.1 | ▲ 2 | Pre-3.0 |
| 2024 | 19 | 90.0 | 0 | WUR 3.0 (from 2024) |
| 2025 | 17 | 89.9 | ▲ 2 | WUR 3.0 (from 2024) |
| 2026 | 17 | 89.7 | 0 | WUR 3.0 (from 2024) |
| 2027 | 15 | 91.1 | ▲ 2 | WUR 3.0 (from 2024) |
Source: THE World University Rankings tables for each edition (for example the 2027 table ) and the THE NUS profile . “=” marks a tied rank.
NUS pillar scores and pillar ranks in THE, 2025 to 2027
THE's 2027 methodology uses 17 indicators grouped into five pillars: Teaching (29.5%), Research Environment (29%), Research Quality (30%), International Outlook (7.5%) and Industry (4%). The table shows NUS's score and its rank within each pillar for the last three editions (all under the WUR 3.0 pillar names). We have not verified the weightings for the 2025 and 2026 editions, so they are not shown.
| Teaching | 78.4 | 78.6 | 80.9 | +2.3 | 24 | 26 | 24 | ▲ 2 |
| Research Environment | 93.6 | 93.1 | 95.3 | +2.2 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| Research Quality | 95.7 | 95.1 | 95.4 | +0.3 | 41 | 41 | 29 | ▲ 12 |
| Industry | 100.0 | 99.9 | 100.0 | +0.1 | 17 | 44 | 20 | ▲ 24 |
| International Outlook | 91.9 | 92.8 | 93.3 | +0.5 | 107 | 82 | 68 | ▲ 14 |
Source: THE World University Rankings tables for 2025 , 2026 and 2027 ; weights from the THE 2027 methodology page .
What moved, 2026 to 2027: the largest score gains were in Teaching (78.6 to 80.9) and Research Environment (93.1 to 95.3). Research Quality (95.1 to 95.4), International Outlook (92.8 to 93.3) and Industry (99.9 to 100.0) rose by smaller amounts. In pillar rank, Research Quality improved from 41th to 29th, Industry from 44th to 20th and International Outlook from 82th to 68th. The NUS release itself says the rise “was driven largely by stronger scores in teaching and research.”
Reading the pillar ranks
International Outlook is NUS's lowest pillar rank (68th) while its score on that pillar is 93.3. Research Environment is its highest (15th).
NUS in context: Singapore and Asia on THE's 2027 table
THE's results article says NUS moving up two places to 15th means “there are three Asian universities in the top 15 for the first time.” On the 2027 table the Asian universities at or above 28th are: Tsinghua University (11), Peking University (13), National University of Singapore (15), The University of Tokyo (27), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (28). For the full regional picture see our THE Asia University Rankings post, which covers a different THE table.
Why a log scale: ranks in the hundreds and ranks in the teens share this chart, and a log axis gives each doubling the same height, so the recent gap between the two stays readable.
NUS student statistics in THE's profile
THE publishes a few student figures alongside each ranking. In the 2027 edition NUS shows 36,652 students, 21.5 students per staff member, 35% international students and a 49 F : 51 M gender split. International share was 26% in 2025 and 31% in 2026. THE did not publish these fields in our extracted data before the 2015-16 edition.
| 2015-16 | 31,592 | 15.5 | 34% | 49 : 51 |
| 2016-17 | 31,111 | 16.7 | 32% | 50 : 50 |
| 2018 | 30,602 | 17.0 | 30% | 51 : 49 |
| 2019 | 30,727 | 17.4 | 28% | 50 : 50 |
| 2020 | 30,869 | 17.9 | 28% | 51 : 49 |
| 2021 | 30,943 | 18.0 | 26% | 50 : 50 |
| 2022 | 31,819 | 18.8 | 25% | 50 : 50 |
| 2023 | 32,337 | 19.8 | 25% | 51 : 49 |
| 2024 | 33,334 | 20.0 | 24% | 49 : 51 |
| 2025 | 34,388 | 21.0 | 26% | 49 : 51 |
| 2026 | 35,558 | 21.0 | 31% | 49 : 51 |
| 2027 | 36,652 | 21.5 | 35% | 49 F : 51 M |
Source: THE edition tables and the THE NUS profile . Figures are as reported by THE and may be defined differently from NUS's own enrolment numbers.
What NUS and THE said about the 2027 result
NUS has risen to 15th place globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, its highest-ever position since the rankings were established. The University remains at 3rd in Asia and 1st in Singapore.
Source: NUS News release, 30 Sep 2026 .
“NUS performs exceptionally well on every one of [the rankings’] core pillars, so there is real strength-in-depth,”
“We embedded interdisciplinary thinking into how our students learn, and built AI fluency into how they work. This is not a one-off result. It reflects intentional, sustained effort over many years,”
“NUS’ rise to 15th this year was driven largely by stronger scores in teaching and research.”
“THE assessed universities across 17 calibrated performance indicators this year, spanning teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.”
What the THE result means for a Singapore student
A league-table position does not change how you get into NUS. Admission is still decided by your results and the course-specific entry requirements, not by where THE places the university. Use the A-Level university admission calculator and the Singapore universities hub for that.
What the THE table can tell you is where NUS is strong on the measures THE uses; the pillar section above shows pillar by pillar where that is. THE ranks research-intensive universities, so it says little about a specific course, a small class or campus life. If you are choosing between Singapore universities, our NUS vs NTU vs SMU: which fits you guide looks at course fit and admission rather than league tables.
Frequently asked questions
Is NUS top 10 in the world in the THE World University Rankings 2027?
No. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, NUS is ranked 15th, up two places from 17th in the previous edition. THE says the 2027 top 10 is still exclusively US and UK universities, and that NUS joins Tsinghua and Peking to give three Asian universities in the top 15 for the first time.
Why is NUS so highly ranked by Times Higher Education?
THE scores universities on five pillars. On the 2027 table NUS scores 95.3 for Research Environment, 95.4 for Research Quality, 100.0 for Industry, 93.3 for International Outlook and 80.9 for Teaching, for an overall 91.1. THE's Phil Baty, quoted in the NUS release, said: "NUS performs exceptionally well on every one of [the rankings’] core pillars, so there is real strength-in-depth," We do not claim a cause beyond what THE and NUS have published.
Is NTU ranked higher than NUS in THE 2027?
No. In THE World University Rankings 2027, NUS is 15th and NTU is 28th (overall scores 91.1 and 84.0). The numbers are on the same THE table, so they can be compared directly.
What is the best-ever THE rank for NUS?
15th is NUS’s highest position in the THE World University Rankings since the current tables began in 2010-11 (THE’s tables do not cover the earlier THE-QS era). Its previous best was 17th, in the 2025 and 2026 editions.
Which Singapore universities are in the THE World University Rankings 2027?
Three institutions in Singapore appear in the 2027 table: NUS (15th), NTU (28th) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design, which is shown in the 301–325 band. SMU, SIT and SUSS do not appear in THE's World University Rankings tables for 2025, 2026 or 2027.
Related reading
NTU Times Higher Education ranking history
NTU rose from joint 31st to 28th. Full 2010-11 to 2027 history, pillars and stats.
THE World University Rankings 2027: Top 50 and where Singapore stands
The full global top 50 with movement vs 2026 and 2025, and where Singapore sits.
THE Asia University Rankings
A different THE table: the regional Asia ranking for 2026.
QS World University Rankings 2027 results for NUS and NTU
Further reading: a separate ranking system with its own method.
The bottom line
NUS is 15th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, its highest position on THE's tables, with an overall score of 91.1 against 89.7 a year earlier. Treat it as one measure of research-heavy strength, and make the actual decision on course fit and entry requirements.
Sources
- 1.THE World University Rankings 2027, full table (released 30 Sep 2026). timeshighereducation.com
- 2.THE results article, "World University Rankings 2027: results announced". timeshighereducation.com
- 3.THE World University Rankings 2027 methodology. timeshighereducation.com
- 4.THE profile: National University of Singapore. timeshighereducation.com
- 5.NUS News, "NUS reaches highest-ever position at 15th in the World University Rankings 2027", 30 Sep 2026. news.nus.edu.sg