UM climbs to highest-ever position of 56th in QS World University Rankings

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya (UM) has reached its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings, rising two places from 58th to 56th.

The achievement reinforces UM’s position as Malaysia’s top-ranked university and places it among the top 3.7% of universities worldwide.

Among Malaysian institutions, UM ranked first in academic reputation, employer reputation, employment outcomes, and sustainability. Globally, UM ranked 56th, 61st, 184th, and 166th respectively in these key indicators.

The university also achieved strong global positions in international research networks (125th) and international students (153rd).

UM vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman described the achievement as a landmark moment of institutional pride and national significance.

“It is the outcome of a university that has chosen discipline over complacency, execution over rhetoric, and collective purpose over mere conventional normalcy,” he said.

He said the success also reflected the strength of a mission-led and values-driven institution, powered by the hard work and commitment of its academics, researchers, students, staff, and leadership teams.

“It affirms that when strategic vision is matched with clarity, cohesion, courage, and sustained action, UM will not merely participate in the global higher education landscape – we are there to define it,” he said.

UM’s overall score for the 2027 edition stands at 81.2 across the key QS performance lenses of research and discovery, employability, and outcomes, sustainability, learning experience, and global engagement.

The university recorded scores of 92.8 for academic reputation and 93.1 for employer reputation.

It scored 93.4 for international research network, 93.1 for international students, and 83.7 for international faculty.

The QS World University Rankings 2027 evaluated 8,808 institutions worldwide, including 32 from Malaysia. Only 1,504 institutions were published in the final rankings across 106 locations.