USM PENANG, 27 March 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continues to enhance its global reputation with remarkable success in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

Out of 6,277 institutions assessed worldwide, only 1,912 universities were listed, and USM stood out by securing positions in 31 specific subjects.

This year’s achievement marks significant progress across all five major fields:

• Arts & Humanities climbed 26 places to rank 181st,
• Engineering & Technology rose 20 places to 157th,
• Life Sciences & Medicine advanced 28 places to 185th,
• Natural Sciences moved up 18 places to 201st, and
• Social Sciences & Management improved 10 places to 166th.

In subject-specific categories, Pharmacy & Pharmacology remains USM’s flagship discipline, ranking 48th globally and reaffirming USM’s status as Malaysia’s top university in this field. Additionally, USM leads nationally in Chemistry and Archaeology.

In line with current technological revolutions, USM also made an impressive debut in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, securing a spot in the 101–200 global band.

Overall, 19 USM subjects are now ranked among the world’s top 200, with 11 subjects showing improvement, including:

• Pharmacy & Pharmacology (48),
• Materials Science (124),
• Chemistry (140),
• Computer Science & Information Systems (160),
• English Language & Literature (101–150),
• Environmental Sciences (151–200),
• Art & Design (151–200),
• Modern Languages (151–200),
• Statistics & Operational Research (151–200),
• Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering (151–200),
• Biological Sciences (201–250).

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, stated: "This success is clearly the result of the high dedication of the entire USM community in driving academic and research excellence at the international level, while delivering tangible impact to society, industry, and the global community, and becoming a source of national pride."

This achievement underscores USM’s stature as a leading Malaysian university and demonstrates its competitiveness on the international stage.

Congratulations to the entire USM community for their unwavering commitment in elevating the university’s name on the world stage.

Original Text: Professor Dr. Saidatulakmal Mohd, Institutional Planning and Strategic Centre (IPSC) USM/Editing: Associate Professor Dr. Shaik Abdul Malik Mohamed Ismail, Senior Editorial Consultant @MPRC USM