In the newly released edition of the Times Higher Education World University Ranking published Thursday, the University of Vienna has, for the first time, entered the top 100. Austria’s largest university ranked 95th, continuing its upward trend of recent years. Other Austrian universities also improved their positions, with the Medical University of Vienna moving into the top 200.
For several years, Austria’s research strategy has aimed to place two domestic universities among the top 100 by 2030. Eight years ago, the University of Vienna ranked 165th. After some fluctuation, it has continuously climbed since 2021. Initially, this improvement was driven mainly by research indicators, but the university has recently also achieved better results in teaching (due to improved student-to-staff ratios and more PhD completions) and in industry cooperation (thanks to higher revenues from applied research).
“This sensational placement is the result of a long-term strategic orientation to position the University of Vienna as an international top university,” said Rector Sebastian Schütze in a statement. “The ranking reflects our excellence in teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences as well as in the natural and life sciences.”
Other Austrian Universities Also Rise
Not only the University of Vienna gained ground: the Medical University of Vienna ranked 181st (previously 201–250, with only grouped rankings beyond 201). The Medical University of Innsbruck improved from 251–300 to 201–250, while the Medical University of Graz remained in the 201–250 range.
The Central European University (CEU), now relocated to Vienna, is also counted as an Austrian institution in the new ranking. After several years of absence, it re-entered in the 251–300 group. Most other Austrian universities maintained their previous rankings: the University of Innsbruck (301–350), Linz (401–500), Graz (501–600), TU Graz and the University of Salzburg (601–800), and the Montanuniversität Leoben (801–1000). Only the University of Klagenfurt fell from 501–600 to 601–800.
Government And Universities Celebrate
“Austria is a safe haven for free research and an excellent place for science,” said Science Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) in a statement. “This result is a strong signal for students, researchers, and teachers in Austria and beyond.” Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) called the University of Vienna’s result a “significant milestone” for the institution and for Austria’s academic and research landscape.
Brigitte Hütter, president of the Universities Conference (uniko), congratulated the University of Vienna on a “great leap forward in an increasingly competitive global environment,” and described the Medical University of Vienna’s position among the top 200 as “remarkable.” Overall, she said, the results “demonstrate the excellent international competitiveness” of Austria’s universities.
Heinz Faßmann, president of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and former science minister and vice rector of the University of Vienna, called the result proof that Vienna had become more attractive as a research location. He warned, however, that “we must not leave the path upward.”
Eighteen Indicators Used
The University of Oxford (UK) topped the Times ranking for the tenth consecutive year, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in second place, and Princeton University (USA) and the University of Cambridge (UK) tied for third. The best continental European and German-speaking university remains ETH Zurich (Switzerland) in 11th place, and the top German university is TU Munich at 27th.
The ranking draws on 18 indicators across five areas: teaching (mainly reputation surveys and staff-to-student ratios; 29.5%), research environment (reputation surveys; 29%), research quality (citations; 30%), international outlook (foreign students and staff, collaborations; 7.5%), and industry income (third-party funding, patents; 4%).
