QS Asia Rankings 2025: QS Quacquarelli Symonds has published the 16th edition of the QS World University Rankings: Asia, featuring 984 universities across 25 higher education systems. Among the top-ranked universities, India has made a strong impression, being the most represented country with 193 ranked institutions. This is a significant achievement, placing India ahead of Mainland China, which has 135 universities, and Japan, which has 115.
Peking University continues to hold the prestigious top spot, followed by The University of Hong Kong and the National University of Singapore. Indian institutes, especially the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), have shown notable performance in research productivity and employability metrics.
Top 10 Indian Institutes in QS Asia rankings 2025
2025 vs 2024: Comparative analysis of top five Indian institutes at QS Asia Rankings
Let’s compare the performance of the top five Indian institutes from last year to this year. This analysis will highlight where these institutions have excelled or faced challenges across crucial metrics like research impact and academic reputation.
IIT Delhi Surges Forward with Enhanced Reputation: Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) climbed to 44th position in the 2025 rankings, improving from 46th in 2024. The overall score for IIT Delhi increased from 64 to 75.4. This remarkable improvement can be attributed to significant advancements in both research and employability parameters. The score for Citations per Paper jumped from 14.2 to 26.9, while Papers per Faculty increased from 83.3 to 95.2, reflecting a stronger research output. Academic Reputation also witnessed a substantial rise, from 79.4 to 95, which shows increased recognition among academic peers. On the employability front, Employer Reputation improved from 93.1 to 99, highlighting the growing appeal of IIT Delhi graduates in the job market.
IIT Bombay Faces a Setback Despite Research Growth: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) dropped from 40th to equal 48th in the 2025 rankings. The overall score did see an increase from 67.2 to 73.1, but the decline in rank indicates stronger competition among Asian universities. Citations per Paper experienced a substantial improvement, rising from 9.3 to 16.9, demonstrating increased research impact. Papers per Faculty also saw a slight uptick from 95.7 to 96.2. However, despite these research gains, the fall in rank could be linked to less significant growth in Employer Reputation, which only improved from 96 to 99.5. While the academic prestige score surged from 83.5 to 96.6, the competition was fierce, impacting IIT Bombay’s relative position.
IIT Madras Gains Ground with Stellar Research Metrics: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) ascended to 56th in 2025 from 53rd in 2024. The overall score leapt from 56.8 to 69.6, reflecting significant progress. The most notable advancement was in Citations per Paper, which nearly doubled from 8.8 to 16.5, indicating a higher impact of research publications. Papers per Faculty improved significantly from 82 to 98.1, underlining an enhanced research culture. Academic Reputation increased from 68.7 to 88.7, while Employer Reputation also rose from 79.5 to 95, making IIT Madras a more desirable institution for employers.
IIT Kharagpur and IISc Show Mixed Trends: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) showed a mixed performance, slipping one spot from 59th to 60th in the 2025 rankings, despite its overall score increasing from 54.5 to 68.8. The jump in Citations per Paper from 20.9 to 36.1 and in Academic Reputation from 57.9 to 80.3 was impressive. However, this improvement was not sufficient to prevent a minor decline in rank, possibly due to better performance by competing institutions. Employer Reputation rose from 66.6 to 89.5, indicating enhanced employer perception.
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), ranked 62nd in 2025, dropped from 58th in 2024 despite an overall score improvement from 54.8 to 68.4. Citations per Paper increased from 24.6 to 28.6, and Academic Reputation jumped from 72.4 to 92.7, showing stronger research and academic recognition. However, a relatively low Employer Reputation score of 68.6 compared to 37.8 in 2024 suggests more work is needed to boost the perception of IISc graduates among employers.
Strengthening India’s Global Academic Footprint
India’s higher education institutes are making significant strides in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025. The rise in scores for key research and employability metrics reflects a concerted effort to boost academic and research output. IIT Delhi’s leap in research impact and employer reputation, IIT Madras’ gains in research productivity, and IISc’s substantial improvements in academic reputation highlight India’s growing influence. However, to maintain momentum, Indian institutions must continue focusing on enhancing global employer perceptions and staying ahead in a fiercely competitive academic landscape. With ongoing progress, India is well on its way to solidifying its place among Asia’s top educational powerhouses.
