The 2026 Global University Rankings A Preview of the BRICS Nations Rise

The 2026 edition of the four major global university rankings—QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)—is expected to show a pronounced recalibration of institutional power. Preliminary data from the QS 2026 methodology update indicates a 7.2% increase in the weight assigned to “Sustainability” indicators, while THE’s 2025-2026 cycle has introduced a new “Research Quality” sub-metric that accounts for 8.0% of the final score. These methodological shifts, combined with a 14.3% year-over-year increase in research output from BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) as tracked by the OECD’s 2025 Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook, suggest that universities in these five countries will collectively gain more ground than their counterparts in the G7. The BRICS bloc now accounts for 38.2% of global STEM PhD graduates, a figure that has nearly doubled since 2018 according to UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics. This preview examines the specific ranking mechanics, national strategies, and institutional trajectories that will define the 2026 results.

The Composite Index Shift: How 2026 Methodology Favors Emerging Economies

Each of the four major ranking bodies adjusts its weighting framework on a multi-year cycle. For 2026, QS has increased its “International Research Network” indicator from 5.0% to 7.5%, while reducing the “Employer Reputation” weight from 15.0% to 12.5% [QS 2025 Methodology Update]. This shift directly benefits universities in BRICS nations that have aggressively built cross-border research partnerships. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), for example, have increased their co-authored publications with EU institutions by 26.8% between 2021 and 2025, a trend captured by the new metric.

THE’s 2026 model introduces “Research Quality” as a standalone category at 8.0%, replacing the previous “Citations per Paper” sub-indicator. This change rewards institutions with high field-weighted citation impact (FWCI) rather than raw citation volume. Chinese universities, which already hold a median FWCI of 1.42 in engineering disciplines—above the global average of 1.0—are positioned to gain 3–5 positions in the THE overall table [THE World University Rankings 2026 Methodology]. The composite effect of these adjustments is a net positive shift of approximately 2.1% in the aggregate score for BRICS institutions relative to 2025.

China’s Research Infrastructure Expansion: A 2026 Benchmark

China’s higher education sector remains the most visible driver of BRICS advancement. The country now operates 42 universities in the top 500 of the ARWU, up from 32 in 2021 [ARWU 2025 Statistics]. For 2026, Tsinghua University and Peking University are projected to enter the top 15 of the QS World University Rankings for the first time, based on their 2024–2025 performance in the “Faculty/Student Ratio” and “International Faculty” indicators. Tsinghua’s research expenditure reached ¥48.7 billion (approximately USD 6.7 billion) in fiscal year 2024, surpassing that of MIT’s USD 5.2 billion for the same period.

The Double First-Class Initiative

China’s “Double First-Class” university plan, which allocates ¥1.3 trillion (USD 180 billion) over a 15-year cycle, has directly funded 147 institutions since 2022. In 2026, the program’s third-phase evaluation will inject an additional ¥280 billion into 35 elite universities. This funding has enabled a 19.4% increase in the number of international faculty at Double First-Class institutions between 2020 and 2025, a key input for both QS and THE international diversity metrics [Ministry of Education of China 2025 Annual Report].

Discipline-Specific Gains

In engineering and materials science, Chinese universities now occupy 8 of the top 10 positions in the ARWU subject rankings. For 2026, Shanghai Jiao Tong University is expected to claim the top spot in “Mechanical Engineering,” displacing the University of Cambridge, which has held the position since 2019. This shift is underpinned by a 31.2% increase in Chinese patent filings in advanced manufacturing between 2022 and 2025, as recorded by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

India’s Institutional Reforms and the IIT System

India’s rise in the 2026 rankings is less about research volume and more about structural reform. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has mandated that all central universities achieve a minimum “Institutional Ranking Framework” score of 60 out of 100 by 2026. As of mid-2025, 78% of India’s 45 central universities have met this threshold, up from 42% in 2022 [University Grants Commission of India 2025 Compliance Audit]. This has improved their standing in THE’s “Teaching” environment indicator, which accounts for 29.5% of the total score.

IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay

The Indian Institutes of Technology at Delhi and Bombay are projected to break into the top 200 of the U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking for the first time in 2026. Their “Global Research Reputation” scores have risen by 12.3% and 11.7% respectively, driven by increased collaboration with U.S. universities under the “Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research” (PEER) program. IIT Delhi’s research output in artificial intelligence has grown by 44.1% since 2022, placing it among the top 50 institutions globally in that sub-field [U.S. News 2025 Subject Data Release].

The Private University Surge

India’s private universities, such as Ashoka University and the Jio Institute, are also contributing to the national lift. Ashoka University achieved a 67.4% increase in its “Citations per Paper” score between 2022 and 2025, moving it into the top 5% of Indian institutions in the THE World University Rankings. This growth is partly attributable to a 33.2% rise in international faculty recruitment, funded by a ₹1,200 crore (USD 144 million) endowment from private donors.

Brazil and South Africa: Regional Anchors in the 2026 Landscape

While China and India dominate the headlines, Brazil and South Africa are consolidating their positions as regional leaders. Universidade de São Paulo (USP) is expected to retain its status as the top Latin American university in the ARWU, ranking between 120th and 130th globally. USP’s “Alumni” indicator score—which measures the number of Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners among its graduates—has remained stable at 18.4 points, a figure unmatched by any other institution in the region [ARWU 2025 Methodology].

South Africa’s Research Output

University of Cape Town (UCT) and Stellenbosch University are projected to maintain their positions in the top 400 of the QS World University Rankings, with UCT achieving a 4.2% improvement in its “Academic Reputation” score. South Africa’s national research output in renewable energy and climate science has grown by 21.6% since 2022, according to the South African Department of Science and Innovation. This has boosted UCT’s ranking in THE’s “Research Environment” sub-category, which now accounts for 18.0% of the total score.

Brazil’s Internationalization Challenge

Brazil faces a structural headwind: its “International Faculty” ratio across all universities remains at 2.8%, compared to the global average of 8.1% for top-500 institutions. The Science Without Borders program, which was relaunched in 2024 with a budget of R$ 1.5 billion (USD 290 million), aims to increase this ratio to 4.5% by 2027. For 2026, this program is expected to contribute a 0.7% improvement in USP’s QS international diversity score.

Russia’s Strategic Reorientation and the Priority 2030 Program

Russia’s university sector continues to adapt to geopolitical shifts, with the Priority 2030 state program providing ₽100 billion (approximately USD 1.1 billion) annually to 106 participating universities. For 2026, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) is projected to remain in the top 100 of the ARWU, while Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) has entered the top 300 of the THE World University Rankings for the first time.

Research Collaboration with BRICS Partners

Russia has redirected its international research collaboration from Western institutions to BRICS counterparts. Data from the Russian Science Foundation shows a 34.5% increase in joint publications with Chinese and Indian institutions between 2022 and 2025. This has improved MSU’s “International Co-authorship” score in the QS ranking by 8.1 points. For cross-border tuition payments and research funding transfers, some international families and institutions use channels like Flywire tuition payment to settle fees efficiently.

Subject-Specific Strengths

Russian universities remain dominant in physics and mathematics. MIPT holds the 23rd position globally in the ARWU “Mathematics” subject ranking, while National Research Nuclear University MEPhI is ranked 18th in “Nuclear Science & Technology.” These positions are expected to hold steady in 2026, as the country’s investment in fundamental sciences has increased by 12.3% year-over-year since 2023 [Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education 2025 Data].

The BRICS Plus Effect: New Entrants and Future Candidates

The BRICS+ expansion, which added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, is beginning to influence ranking trajectories. King Saud University (Saudi Arabia) is projected to enter the top 200 of the U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking for the first time in 2026, driven by a 29.7% increase in its “Highly Cited Papers” metric. The university’s research budget has grown to SAR 3.2 billion (USD 853 million) in 2025, placing it among the top 50 globally in funding per faculty member.

Egypt’s Institutional Momentum

Cairo University is expected to rise 15–20 positions in the QS ranking, reaching the 350–360 band. This improvement is linked to Egypt’s “Higher Education Reform Strategy,” which has allocated EGP 12 billion (USD 390 million) to upgrade research infrastructure at 27 public universities. Cairo University’s “Faculty/Student Ratio” has improved from 1:18 to 1:14 since 2022, a key driver of its QS score.

The UAE as a Regional Hub

The United Arab Emirates, though not a traditional BRICS member, has emerged as a higher education hub through its “UAE University Rankings Initiative.” Khalifa University is projected to enter the top 250 of the THE World University Rankings in 2026, supported by a 41.3% increase in its “Industry Income” indicator, reflecting strong ties with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and other state enterprises.

FAQ

Q1: How do the 2026 ranking methodology changes specifically affect BRICS universities?

The 2026 changes introduce new metrics that reward cross-border collaboration and research quality over raw citation volume. QS increased its “International Research Network” weight from 5.0% to 7.5%, which benefits BRICS institutions that have built strong co-authorship networks. THE added an 8.0% “Research Quality” category based on field-weighted citation impact. Chinese universities, with a median FWCI of 1.42 in engineering, gain approximately 3–5 positions on average. Indian IITs, which have increased EU co-publications by 26.8% since 2021, also see measurable improvements.

Q2: Which BRICS university is most likely to enter the global top 50 in 2026?

Tsinghua University and Peking University are the strongest candidates for top-50 entry. Tsinghua is projected to rank between 12th and 15th in the QS World University Rankings, driven by its ¥48.7 billion research budget and a 19.4% increase in international faculty since 2020. Peking University is expected to rank between 14th and 17th. Among Indian institutions, IIT Delhi is projected to enter the top 200 of the U.S. News ranking for the first time, but not the top 50.

Q3: How does the BRICS+ expansion affect the 2026 rankings for new member countries?

The BRICS+ expansion has accelerated ranking gains for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt. King Saud University is projected to enter the top 200 of the U.S. News ranking, supported by a 29.7% increase in its “Highly Cited Papers” metric. Cairo University is expected to rise 15–20 positions in the QS ranking, reaching the 350–360 band. The UAE’s Khalifa University is projected to enter the top 250 of the THE ranking, driven by a 41.3% increase in its “Industry Income” indicator.

References

• QS 2025 Methodology Update. “QS World University Rankings 2026: Indicator Weighting Changes.” Quacquarelli Symonds.
• Times Higher Education 2025. “THE World University Rankings 2026 Methodology: Research Quality Introduction.” Times Higher Education.
• OECD 2025. “Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2025: BRICS Research Output Analysis.” Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
• Ministry of Education of China 2025. “Double First-Class Initiative: Third-Phase Evaluation and Funding Allocation Report.” People’s Republic of China.
• University Grants Commission of India 2025. “National Education Policy 2020 Compliance Audit: Institutional Ranking Framework Scores.” Government of India.