Six Philippine universities were included in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027

Ateneo leads 6 Philippine universities in Times Higher Education 2027 global rankings

Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Manila Bulletin
Sep 30, 2026

Six Philippine universities were included in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, led by the Ateneo de Manila University, which retained the country’s top spot for the fifth consecutive year.

The London-based THE released the 2027 rankings on Wednesday, Sept. 30, placing Ateneo in the 1,001-1,200 band globally, followed by the University of the Philippines in the 1,201-1,400 band and the University of Santo Tomas in the 1,601-1,800 band.

De La Salle University and Mapua University were both placed in the 1,801-2,000 band, while Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology landed in the 2,001+ category.

The six Philippine institutions were among 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories included in this year’s rankings.

“The THE World University Rankings measure what matters most to sector leaders, strategists and policymakers: research excellence and impact; the teaching environment; global academic standing; links with industry beyond the ivory towers; and international talent attraction, reach and influence,” THE Chief Global Affairs Officer Phil Baty said.

The five criteria used by THE are Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook, and Industry, which are further divided into 18 performance indicators.

Globally, the University of Oxford retained the top position in the 2027 rankings.

The THE World University Rankings have been published since 2004 and assess research-intensive universities using institutional data, research publications and academic reputation survey responses.

Adamson and Mapua universities secured spot in World University Ranking 2026

Adamson, Mapua make debut in 2026 QS World University Rankings

SHERYLIN UNTALAN

GMA Integrated News

19 June 2025

Six Philippine universities have secured spots in the latest Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026 as two more educational institutions made a debut. 

Adamson University and Mapúa University entered the global rankings for the first time.

Adamson landed in the 1,001–1,200 bracket while Mapúa was listed in the 1,401+ —joining the ranks of leading institutions worldwide and expanding the country’s academic presence on the global stage.

“This remarkable achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to quality education, global standards, and Vincentian excellence—ensuring accessible, transformative learning for all,” Adamson University said in a statement.

“Together, let’s continue to strive with purpose, serve with heart, and soar even higher as we shine brighter on the world stage.”

Mapúa University also celebrated the milestone in a Facebook post.

"Mapúa University makes a historic debut in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, securing a spot among the world’s top institutions… This milestone is a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to global excellence in education,” it said.

While new entrants made headlines, the country’s “Big Four” universities continued to lead the national standings.

The University of the Philippines remained the country’s highest-ranked university, placing 362nd globally despite slipping from 336th last year.

Ateneo de Manila University recorded the only upward movement among Philippine schools, rising slightly to 511th from 516th worldwide.

“This latest performance in the QS World Rankings is a testament to the dedication and excellence of the entire Ateneo community,” said Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ in a statement.

“It affirms that Ateneo can stand alongside the world’s leading institutions—not just in academic reputation, but in making a meaningful impact through teaching, research, and service.”

De La Salle University (DLSU) placed third among Philippine schools at 654th, a slight drop from its previous placement in the 641–650 bracket.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) held firm in the 851–900 bracket, maintaining its status as the fourth highest-ranked Philippine university. UST also posted an improved overall score of 19.9, with gains across all ten QS performance indicators.

The QS World University Rankings assesses institutions across a range of criteria, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research impact measured through citations per faculty, and internationalization through faculty and student diversity. Additional metrics now also consider sustainability and institutional impact.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

UST students develop apps to detect colorectal cancer

AI To Detect Cancer? Filipino Students Develop AI-Powered App for Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment

Medical students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application that helps doctors assess a person’s risk for colorectal cancer through a simple blood test.

Srishti Mukherjee
NewsX (India)
February 18, 2025 

Medical students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered application that helps doctors assess a person’s risk for colorectal cancer through a simple blood test. This breakthrough provides a less invasive alternative to traditional colonoscopy, which many patients often avoid due to discomfort and fear.

A Non-Invasive Approach to Cancer Detection

The initiative is led by UST medical students Aamer Sultan and Austin De Asa, who aim to make early detection of colorectal cancer more accessible and less intimidating.

“Many patients fear undergoing colonoscopy. Our app aims to predict the probability of colorectal cancer based on molecular results,” said Dr. Pia Albano, the project leader from the UST College of Science.

The innovative AI-based solution was highlighted on Game Changer, a segment aired on Manila-based GMA Network’s 24 Oras.

Understanding Colorectal Cancer

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. In 2022, more than 1.9 million cases were diagnosed globally. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, resulting in over 900,000 deaths per year.

In the Philippines, colorectal cancer ranked fourth among cancer-related deaths in 2022, emphasizing the need for better diagnostic tools and early detection methods.

Using MicroRNA as Cancer Biomarkers

The study focuses on six specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that have been identified as potential biomarkers for colorectal cancer in Filipino patients.

“When a person has cancer, certain miRNA levels increase while others decrease,” Sultan explained.

“Fortunately, previous research has already collected substantial clinical trial data. Our role was to integrate and train the AI model,” added De Asa.

Recognition and Future Plans

The project won the BPI Innovation Awards in 2022, recognizing its potential in revolutionizing cancer diagnostics. Moving forward, the research team plans to expand testing across multiple regions to further enhance the app’s accuracy and reliability.

UST has a history of innovation in cancer research. In 2016, UST researchers won the International Innovation Grant by the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for their mobile-based cancer monitoring app, iComPass (Internet-based Computerized Patient Assessment System), designed for iOS and Android devices.

How the AI-Based App Works

The AI-powered application utilizes a blood test that undergoes a qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) analysis to measure the levels of the six miRNAs associated with colorectal cancer.

Once the test results are processed, the AI model provides an instant risk assessment at the click of a button labeled “Predict.” The app also offers an option for users to request additional data analysis for a more in-depth evaluation.

A Step Toward More Accessible Cancer Screening

This AI-powered application represents a significant step forward in colorectal cancer detection, offering a non-invasive, accurate, and user-friendly alternative to traditional screening methods. As research and testing expand, this innovation could potentially save lives by encouraging early detection and timely medical intervention.

6 Philippine universities in world rankings

6 Philippine universities in world rankings

Neil Jayson Servallos 
The Philippine Star 
January 24, 2025

MANILA, Philippines — Six Philippine universities earned spots in Times Higher Education (THE)’s World University Rankings by Subject, missing only one out of 11 disciplines rated this year.

The University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University (DLSU), University of Santo Tomas, Mapua University and Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) earned spots in all subjects except Law.

Under Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, only UP and DLSU earned rankings and shared spots for each subject at the 601+ and 801+ brackets, respectively.

Both universities were also the only institutions that earned rankings in the Medicine and Health subject, with UP emerging at the top locally at the 501-600 spot.

UP was the lone school to be ranked within the Life Sciences at the 801-1000 bracket.

Mapua emerged as the top Philippine school in Computer Science and Engineering, ranking within the 801-1000 and 1001-1250 brackets, respectively. Under the same subjects, UP and DLSU shared the No. 2 spot.

DLSU was the top Philippine university in Education studies at the 401-500 spot, followed by UP and UST at the 501-600 bracket. DLSU also topped the ranking among local universities in Psychology at the 401-500 spot, followed by Ateneo at 501-600.

Under Physical Sciences, only UST did not receive a ranking. Mapua and MSU-IIT earned rankings within the 801-1000 bracket, followed by UP, Ateneo and DLSU at the 1001+ bracket.

UP, Ateneo and DLSU landed on the same spots globally in Social Sciences at the 801-1000 bracket.

The rankings were based on key indicators submitted by each university during the academic year 2022, THE said.

Key indicators included research quality, industry, international outlook, research environment and teaching.

‘UP Best performing’

Most Filipinos perceive the University of the Philippines as the “best university” in the country, a survey conducted by the OCTA Research group showed.

The survey, conducted from Nov. 10 to 16, found that 71 percent of the respondents perceiving UP as the best university in the Philippines.

Some 15 percent selected DLSU, while 14 percent chose Ateneo de Manila.

The respondents were asked to select among the three universities or provide a different answer.

Less than one percent chose “others,” the survey results showed.

Based on the poll, UP was perceived as the “best performing” university in the country across all geographic areas and socio-economic indicators.

OCTA, whose founders include several UP professors, said it released the survey results to UP as a public service.

The survey was non-commissioned and had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent. – Janvic Mateo

UP is Philippines’ top university in 2025 QS world rankings

UP is Philippines’ top university in 2025 QS world rankings

Adrian Parungao
Inquirer.net
05 June 2024

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) was named the Philippines’ top-performing university in the 2025 edition of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

In the results posted on Tuesday, UP ranked 336th among more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

Previously, UP ranked 404th in the 2024 edition.

Meanwhile, UP was followed by the Ateneo de Manila University at 516th, while the De La Salle University placed at the 641-650 bracket.

The University of Santo Tomas was included in the rankings at the 851-900 bracket, and the University of San Carlos ranked 1401+.

In Asia, the National University of Singapore was the top-performing university, followed by Peking University, and Nanyang Technological University.

Listed below are the top ten universities worldwide:

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2. Imperial College London
3. University of Oxford
4. Harvard University
5. University of Cambridge
6. Stanford University
7. ETH Zurich
8. National University of Singapore
9. University College London
10. California Institute of Technology

According to QS, some of the metrics that it uses into its rankings are the sustainability, employment outcomes, and the international research network of the university.

QS is an international higher education network analyst based in London, United Kingdom.