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International Rankings

International Rankings

Ranked
1st

University Rankings can be useful in seeing how the University compares with other Universities nationally and internationally. As there is no single ‘gold standard’, there are significant differences in the methodologies used by ranking agencies that can give rise to variation in results for the same University in different rankings.

Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE WUR)

The University of Crete is included in the global Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE WUR). In the 2026 edition, it is placed within the 601–800 band among 2,191 universities worldwide (99 more than in 2025) that were evaluated. At the national level, the University ranks 2nd among 20 Greek universities participating in the assessment.

In the “Research Environment” pillar, the University of Crete ranks 1st in Greece among the 20 Greek institutions evaluated, demonstrating its strong research reputation, high research output through publications, and significant research income.

For over 20 years, THE WUR has focused on research-intensive universities, rather than the broader universe of more than 20,000 higher education institutions worldwide. The rankings are based on 17 performance indicators, grouped into five key pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

Ranked
201 - 300th

Times Higher Education Impact Ranking
(THE Impact)

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings assess universities’ performance in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assessment is based on calibrated indicators across four key areas: education, research, societal engagement, and stewardship. In 2025, the University of Crete participates in 9 out of the 17 SDGs, alongside 2,092 universities from 115 countries. The University is ranked in the 601–800 band globally, maintaining its 2nd position in Greece (jointly with Harokopio University) among the 18 Greek universities included in the ranking.
The University of Crete achieves notable distinctions in the SDGs “Good Health and Well-being,” “Reduced Inequalities,” “Sustainable Cities and Communities,” and “Climate Action,” ranking in the 201–300 band globally. These results highlight the University’s strong impact on social well-being, sustainable development, and the reduction of inequalities, through its initiatives.
For more information, click https://sdgs.uoc.gr/, and to access the University of Crete’s SDG Report, click https://sdgs.uoc.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Report-2024_V4.pdf.

Ranked
301 - 400th

It is also ranked in the 301–400 band worldwide in the fields of “Education” and “Clinical and Health.” At the national level, it holds the 1st position in Greece, jointly with the University of Patras in “Education,” and with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in “Clinical and Health.” In addition, the University is ranked in the 401–500 band in “Psychology” (2nd in Greece), 501–600 in “Social Sciences,” 601–800 in “Engineering” (2nd in Greece, jointly with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the University of Patras), and 801–1000 in “Physical Sciences.”

Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE WUR) by Subject

The University of Crete achieves significant distinctions in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE WUR) by Subject 2025, across a wide range of academic disciplines. The University ranks 1st in Greece and Cyprus in the fields of “Computer Science” and “Life Sciences,” while also being placed within the 301–400 band globally in both areas.

Ranked
275th

Quacquarelli Symonds - World University Rankings (QS WUR)

The University of Crete is included in the QS World University Rankings (QS WUR) 2026, where it is ranked 628th globally among 1,501 universities worldwide. It also ranks 275th in Europe and 4th among Greek universities. Notably, the University maintains a strong position in the “Citations per Faculty” indicator, ranking 219th globally, despite increasing competition. This places it within the top 25% worldwide, reflecting the significant impact of its research output. The QS evaluation framework is based on nine indicators, grouped into five key performance pillars: research, employability, international engagement, learning experience, and sustainability. In total, 8,467 universities from 106 countries were evaluated—more than in any previous edition.

Ranked
667th

US News Best Global Universities Rankings – Clarivate Analytics

The US News 2025–2026 Best Global Universities Rankings include more than 2,000 universities from over 100 countries worldwide, evaluated based on their academic and research performance, as well as their global and regional reputation. The University of Crete is ranked 667th globally, 250th in Europe, and 4th in Greece among the 16 Greek institutions included in the ranking. Notably, in the quality indicator “Regional Research Reputation,” the University of Crete ranks 286th globally, highlighting its strong standing within the international research community.

Ranked
801 - 900th

Nature Index

University of Crete ranks 222nd among 1,015 European academic institutions and 2nd in Greece, for the period 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025, according to the Nature Index. In the fields of “Biological Sciences,” “Chemistry,” and “Physical Sciences,” the University ranks 1st in Greece, confirming its consistent contribution to high-quality research with international impact. The Nature Index is a global indicator that tracks and evaluates high-quality research outputs in the natural sciences and related fields.

ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), the University of Crete is ranked in the 801–900 band globally, for 2025. Its strongest performance is recorded in the field of “Human Biological Sciences,” where it ranks in the 151–200 band worldwide and 1st in Greece. In addition, the University is ranked in the 201–300 band in the fields of “Clinical Medicine” and “Public Health,” and in the 301–400 band in “Atmospheric Science.” The ShanghaiRanking Consultancy is the independent international organization that developed the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). The ranking is based on a set of widely recognized indicators, including the number of alumni and staff awarded Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, the number of Highly Cited Researchers™ (as identified by Clarivate™), and the number of publications in leading journals such as Nature and Science. It also considers the volume of publications indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded™ (SCIE) and the Social Sciences Citation Index™ (SSCI) of the Web of Science.