THE 2027 World University Rankings announced: 4 universities from Turkey in the top 500
According to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), METU, Koç, Sabancı, and Boğaziçi universities entered the top 500 in the THE 2027 rankings; 13 universities from Turkey were placed in the top 1000.
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Four universities from Turkey have been placed in the top 500 of the Times Higher Education (THE) 2027 World University Rankings. According to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Turkey has moved up in the number of institutions included in the list, which evaluated 2,297 higher education institutions from 118 countries.
Middle East Technical University (METU) and Koç University achieved the highest rankings from Turkey. Both universities were placed in the 326-350 band in the world rankings. Sabancı University was placed in the 376-400 band, and Boğaziçi University in the 401-450 band, making them among the Turkish universities that entered the top 500.
It was stated that a total of 13 universities from Turkey were included in the top 1000 in the rankings. YÖK President Erol Özvar stated that their goal is to be among the top 100 universities in the world with at least two public and two foundation universities.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2027 LIST
It was notable that Koç University and METU shared the same band in the THE 2027 table. While Sabancı University remained in the top 400 band, Boğaziçi University was placed within the top 500. Bilkent University was shown in the 651-700 band.
In the 2026 list published the previous year, Koç University was in the 301-350 band. METU and Sabancı University were in the 351-400 band, and Boğaziçi University was in the 401-500 band. Thus, four universities from Turkey had also entered the top 500 in 2026.
In the 2025 list, Koç University, METU, and Sabancı University were in the 351-400 band. Istanbul Technical University was shown in the 501-600 band, and Bilkent University in the 601-800 band.
In the 2024 rankings, there were three Turkish universities in the top 500: Koç University, METU, and Sabancı University. In the same list, Istanbul Technical University was in the 501-600 band, and Bilkent University was in the 601-800 band.
THE TABLE IN THE 2010S
The position of universities in Turkey in previous years also offers a remarkable comparison. In the list announced for 2015, METU had entered the top 100, and Boğaziçi University, Istanbul Technical University, and Sabancı University were also in the top 200.
In 2011, Bilkent University and METU were among the Turkish universities in the top 200. Bilkent University was shown at 112th place, and METU at 183rd place.
Times Higher Education is known as a UK-based higher education publication and rating organization. The World University Rankings list, which the organization has published since 2004, evaluates research-focused universities based on various indicators.
Global academic rankings allow for comparisons in areas such as universities' research performance, teaching environment, international visibility, and industry relations. For this reason, the lists are closely followed both to monitor the international standing of institutions and to track goals in higher education policies.