China Leads QS Asia 2026 Rankings, India Sees Mixed Results
China now has the most universities in the QS Asia 2026 rankings, surpassing India. Seven Indian institutions are in the top 100, but their rankings dropped compared to last year. India leads in research output, with many universities excelling in papers per faculty and staff with PhDs. The top 10 universities are dominated by Hong Kong, Singapore, and China.
China has overtaken India as the most-represented country in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, with 394 universities compared to India's 294. While India added 132 institutions, China added 259, bringing its total to a record high. Seven Indian universities feature in the top 100, led by IIT Delhi at 59, but most saw their rankings decline from the previous year. China has 25 universities in the top 100, Japan 15, and South Korea 12. India leads in research output, with five universities in Asia's top 10 for papers per faculty and 28 in the top 50. The rankings are based on 11 indicators tailored to Asia, including research, employer reputation, and faculty-student ratios. The top 10 universities are dominated by Hong Kong, Singapore, and China. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the record increase in Indian universities in the rankings and the government's commitment to quality education and research. QS noted that Asian destinations are becoming more popular for international students, while India remains a prominent source market and is working to attract more international students.
