Universiti Malaya (UM) stands firm as the nation's premier higher education institution by earning historical achievement, being ranked No. 194th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE WUR) 2027. This glorious achievement put UM as the first university in Malaysia to be ranked within the Top 200 in THE WUR series.
It is a significant achievement especially where the university managed to maintain an upward trend, being ranked in band 351-400 in the 2023 edition to now being ranked 194th in the 2027 edition. Looking at it globally, the University now is being ranked among the Top 8% of the 2,297 ranked universities. Nationally, UM leads the Malaysian league of universities in the ranking.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman said:
“This achievement is more than just a number, it reflects the dedication, resilience, and collective efforts of our entire university community. While rankings are not our driving force, this recognition reaffirms our commitment to creating relevance, shaping future-ready graduates, and delivering impactful contributions to society through education and research, both locally and globally.”
The Vice-Chancellor thanks the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellors and Board of Directors for their strong support towards the achievement of the University’s performance in the THE WUR 2027. He acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Education Malaysia and expresses special appreciation to the whole UM community for their continuous support, monumental contributions, and passion for ensuring UM’s excellence.
As the institution looks to the future, UM remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence. The University will continue to champion the nation's presence on the global higher education stage, driven by the profound aspirations of its Vision: A global university impacting the world.
THE WUR is a research intensive university ranking system which measures university performance across 5 pillars which are Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry, and International Outlook. Among UM’s biggest performers are International Outlook and Research Quality. As International Outlook measures the academic network of the university and attractiveness of the university to international students and staff, this indicates how the university has become a regional hub of education, attracting both local and international talents while maintaining a robust network of academics.
The Research Quality pillar is more direct where it measures the citation impact of publications tied to universities. UM’s achievement under this pillar proves how the University is enriching the cradle of knowledge through systematic and impactful research. These achievements are then supported by excellence in Teaching, Research Environment and Industry pillars, shaping what would be a comprehensive and holistic university.
Last Update: 01/10/2026