USM RANKS #1 IN MALAYSIA IN ARWU 2026

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has recorded a significant achievement by emerging as the number one university in Malaysia in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2026, further strengthening its position among globally competitive research universities.

USM is now ranked #581 globally, rising 149 places from #730 in 2025. At the national level, USM has also advanced from #3 to #1 in Malaysia.

This achievement is particularly significant because ARWU does not merely measure the reputation or perception of a university. Also known as the ShanghaiRanking, ARWU uses highly competitive indicators based on academic achievement and research performance.

Among the measures used by ARWU are alumni and staff who have won Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, the number of Highly Cited Researchers (HiCi) recognised by Clarivate, papers published in Nature and Science, publications indexed in the Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), as well as the per capita academic performance of an institution.

In fact, 30 per cent of the overall ARWU assessment is linked to Nobel Prize and Fields Medal laureates, while another 20 per cent is allocated to Highly Cited Researchers. This means that half of the ARWU assessment is directly associated with world-class academic achievement and researchers whose work has exceptionally high citation influence.

It is within this context that USM's #581 global ranking is more than just a number. It places USM in competition with universities that have long-established research traditions, globally influential scientists and scholars, and research ecosystems developed over many decades.

More than 2,500 universities worldwide are evaluated by ARWU each year, with only the top 1,000 universities published in the ranking. USM's ability to climb 149 positions within just one year is therefore a highly significant achievement.

USM'S RESEARCH STRENGTH CONTINUES TO GROW

In ARWU 2026, USM's Publication (PUB) performance is ranked #424 globally, demonstrating the University's strength in producing research publications recognised in major international databases.

Even more significant is USM's improvement in the Highly Cited Researchers (HiCi) indicator, reaching #503 globally.

HiCi does not simply measure the number of publications produced by a researcher. This indicator takes into account researchers identified by Clarivate as Highly Cited Researchers – a select group whose work demonstrates exceptional citation influence within their respective fields.

Therefore, improvement in HiCi carries greater significance than an increase in publication volume alone. It signals that research produced by USM scholars is increasingly being cited, used and recognised as influential in advancing knowledge internationally.

This is one of the important distinctions of ARWU: it is not only about how much a university publishes, but also the extent to which it has researchers and research outputs capable of standing among the most influential in the world.

FROM #730 TO #581 GLOBALLY

USM's rise from #730 to #581 globally, and from #3 to #1 in Malaysia, reflects the strengthening of the University's research ecosystem as a whole.

This achievement also demonstrates that efforts to strengthen high-quality publications, enhance research impact and citations, develop high-performing researchers and improve academic productivity are being translated into stronger performance in one of the world's most demanding research-oriented university rankings.

For USM, the #581 position is not the final destination. Rather, it demonstrates the University's capacity to continue advancing in an increasingly competitive global research landscape.

As an APEX University, USM will continue to strengthen research excellence, nurture world-class researchers and generate knowledge that is not only published, but also cited, recognised and capable of creating impact globally.