TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — National Taiwan University climbed three spots to 23rd place in the Quacquarelli Symonds Asia University Rankings 2026, remaining Taiwan’s top-ranked institution as the UK-based higher education firm released its latest results on Tuesday.

Seven other Taiwanese universities were ranked among Asia’s top 100, including National Tsing Hua University (37), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (41), National Cheng Kung University (43), and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (46), per CNA. National Sun Yat-sen University tied for 72nd with China’s Xiamen University, while National Taiwan Normal University ranked 80th, and National Taipei University of Technology placed 88th.

This year’s ranking is QS’s largest to date, featuring 1,529 universities from 25 countries and regions. Fifty-seven Taiwanese universities were included in the list.

Compared with last year, 17 universities improved, 29 declined, and three remained unchanged. Eight Taiwanese universities made their QS Asia rankings debut.

The rankings are based on 11 indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, international research network, citations per paper, papers per faculty, staff with a PhD, international faculty, international students, inbound exchange students, and outbound exchange students.

The University of Tokyo topped academic and employer reputation, while City University of Hong Kong led in international faculty, inbound exchange students, and outbound exchange students. In Taiwan, National Chiayi University ranked first for staff with a PhD.

Among Taiwanese institutions, NTU led in academic reputation, employer reputation, and international students. Regionally, it placed 8th in Asia for academic reputation and 16th for employer reputation.

Taipei Medical University led Taiwan in faculty-to-student ratio as well as inbound and outbound exchange indicators. China Medical University topped papers per faculty and international research network, while Asia University and National Chengchi University ranked first in Taiwan for citations per paper and international faculty, respectively.

QS added that only two Taiwanese universities made it into the top 100 in Asia for citations per paper, and just one for international faculty. The firm recommended that Taiwan focus on improving performance in these areas.