INTERNATIONAL outlook remained UST’s strongest criterion in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR), the only pillar in which the University placed within the global top 1,000 at 672nd.
UST placed in the 1,601-1,800 band worldwide with an overall score of 24.2-27.1. THE assessed universities based on five pillars:
- teaching (29.5%);
- research environment (29%);
- research quality (30%);
- industry (4%); and
- international outlook (7.5%).
UST scored 59.4 in international outlook, its highest among the five pillars.
“UST’s primary strength remains its International Outlook, driven by strong international co-authorship proportions and international staff presence,” Asst. Prof. Nestor Ong, director of the UST Office of QS/THE Rankings, told the Varsitarian.
UST’s international outlook score has been on a downward trend, however, from 67 in the 2024 rankings to 64.4 in 2025, 59.5 in 2026 and 59.4 in 2027.
Research environment remained UST’s lowest-scoring pillar at 11.7, although its score has steadily improved in the past four rankings.
UST scored 9.5, 9.7 and 10.2 in research environment in 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Ong described research environment as a “major area for improvement” and said the University was working to strengthen its performance in the criterion.
“To sustain and elevate our performance amid aggressive global competition, we need substantial improvements in our Research Environment and in our Industry Partnerships—specifically through joint research collaborations, commercialized patents, and research funding,” he said.
UST’s teaching score has likewise steadily improved, reaching 24.6 this year from 19.6 in 2024, 19.8 in 2025 and 23 in 2026.
Its scores in the industry and research quality pillars, meanwhile, showed no consistent trend.
In industry, UST scored 20.7, 20.4, 21.1 and 20.7 from 2024 to 2027, respectively. Its research quality scores over the same period were 25.8, 33.6, 32.1 and 31.6.
Ong said the University uses a “continuous improvement process” (CIP) to assess its performance after each rankings cycle.
“Through structured metric-by-metric analyses following every ranking cycle, we evaluate institutional data quality, optimize academic reporting, aligned research documentation with international standards, and refined baseline data reporting across all academic and administrative units,” he said.
UST emerged as the third-highest-ranked Philippine university in the 2027 THE WUR, ahead of De La Salle University and Mapúa University, which both landed in the 1,801-2,000 band.
READ: UST emerges as sole No. 3 PH school in 2027 Times Higher Ed world ranking
Ateneo de Manila University remained the highest-ranked Philippine university in the 1,001-1,200 band, followed by the University of the Philippines in the 1,201-1,400 bracket.
A THE spokesperson told the Varsitarian that the five ranked Philippine universities “have remained relatively stable, but the changes to the bandings in the bottom part of the table make it seem like they have declined.”
“Between WUR 2026 and WUR 2027, the Philippines has improved in the research quality and research environment pillars in comparison with the World, but has dropped in the international outlook, industry and teaching pillars,” THE said.
Ong described global rankings such as THE WUR as an “essential benchmark” that could increase universities’ international visibility and opportunities for research collaborations, student exchanges and partnerships.
“Today, institutions worldwide are rapidly advancing their strategic positioning through active visibility at international academic conferences. To fulfill our mission, UST must match—and surpass—this level of proactivity and global presence,” he said.
