The Times Higher Education (THE) published the eighth edition of its Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 on June 24, 2026, evaluating 1,646 universities from 116 countries against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The University of Manchester in the United Kingdom secured the top overall position, ending Western Sydney University’s four-year reign at number one. India emerged as the second most-represented country with 110 universities in the rankings, and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) achieved the global number one rank for SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
What Are the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings?
The Sustainability Impact Ratings, previously known as the THE Impact Rankings, are the only global performance tables that assess universities against all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. THE, a UK-based higher education data and rankings organization that has been providing university performance assessments since 2004, rebranded the rankings in 2026 to better reflect their focus on sustainability and launched an accompanying membership network called the Sustainability Impact Network.
The ratings evaluate universities across four core pillars: research (creating knowledge relevant to SDGs), stewardship (how institutions manage their resources and people), outreach (work with local and international communities), and teaching (producing skilled practitioners and embedding sustainability in education). A university’s overall score is calculated by combining its score in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which carries a 22% weighting, with its best three results from the remaining 16 SDGs, each carrying a 26% weighting. The final overall score is an average of the last two years’ total scores.
The 2026 edition saw a significant drop in participation compared to 2,526 universities from 130 countries in 2025. This decline is linked to the transition to a fee-based membership model, which may have deterred some institutions from submitting data. Nevertheless, the ratings remain the most comprehensive global measure of how universities contribute to sustainable development.
Global Leaders in Sustainability
The University of Manchester climbed from second place in 2025 to claim the top overall spot in 2026, a position it previously held in 2021. It is the only university to have featured in the top 10 every year since the rankings began in 2019. Western Sydney University, which had led the rankings for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025, slipped to third place. Griffith University of Australia rose one spot to secure second position.
Australia, Malaysia, and Canada each placed two universities in the top 10, reflecting strong national-level commitment to sustainability in higher education. Five Asian universities feature among the global top 10, underscoring the region’s growing emphasis on sustainable development. Four countries made their debut in the rankings this year: Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, and Tajikistan.
The top 11 universities in the overall Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 are:
| Rank | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Manchester | United Kingdom |
| 2 | Griffith University | Australia |
| 3 | Western Sydney University | Australia |
| 4 | Queen’s University | Canada |
| 5 | Universiti Sains Malaysia | Malaysia |
| 6 | Hanyang University | South Korea |
| =7 | Hokkaido University | Japan |
| =7 | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia | Malaysia |
| 9 | Institut Agro | France |
| =10 | National Taiwan University (NTU) | Taiwan |
| =10 | University of Alberta | Canada |
Institut Agro of France is the sole representative from continental Europe in the top 10. The strong performance of Malaysian universities is particularly notable, as they are the only institutions in the top 10 from countries classified as upper-middle income by the World Bank.
India’s Strong Presence in the Rankings
India is the second most-represented country in the 2026 ratings with 110 universities, trailing only the Philippines which has 160 institutions. Out of the 1,646 universities ranked globally, 962 are from Asia, making the region the largest contributor to the ratings. This demonstrates the growing focus on sustainability among Asian higher education institutions.
Among Indian universities, Lovely Professional University (LPU) achieved the highest overall rank at 23rd position globally with an overall score of 95.2. Other top-performing Indian institutions include Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham at joint 37th, and JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research at joint 74th. Several other Indian universities, including B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology, were placed in the 101-200 band.
| Indian University | Global Rank | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|
| Lovely Professional University | 23 | 95.2 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | =37 | 93.4 |
| JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research | =74 | 90.7 |
| B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science & Technology | 101-200 | 82.3-89.9 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | 101-200 | 82.3-89.9 |
MAHE’s Landmark Achievement in Gender Equality
The standout performance from India in the 2026 ratings came from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence deemed to be university located in Manipal, Karnataka. MAHE achieved the global number one rank in SDG 5 (Gender Equality), making a spectacular leap from 11th position in the previous edition.
MAHE’s ascent to the top reflects its comprehensive approach to gender equality, including policies on equal access, women’s representation in leadership, research on gender issues, and support for women students and staff. The university scored highest among 1,095 institutions evaluated for SDG 5 from 110 countries.
Beyond gender equality, MAHE posted exceptional results across multiple SDGs. It secured 5th rank globally in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), jumping from 74th in 2025, and 23rd in SDG 4 (Quality Education), up from 43rd. In SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), MAHE climbed from the 601-800 band to 93rd position globally.
MAHE, founded in 1953 by Dr. T. M. A. Pai, started as India’s first private medical school, the Kasturba Medical College. It was granted deemed university status in 1993 and designated an Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Education in 2020. The university has a student population of over 30,000 and maintains campuses in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, Dubai, and Malaysia. Its Vice Chancellor is Dr. Sharath K. Rao.
Indian Leadership Across Multiple SDGs
Indian universities demonstrated leadership beyond gender equality by topping or featuring prominently in several other SDG categories. Lovely Professional University secured the global number one rank in SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), highlighting India’s contributions to renewable energy research and clean energy education.
The strong performance of Indian institutions across multiple SDG tables reinforces India’s growing emphasis on sustainability in higher education. With 110 universities in the rankings, India now ranks second globally in terms of representation, a significant indicator of the scale and quality of sustainability-focused work being undertaken across the country’s higher education sector.
The Philippines led all countries with 160 universities, followed by India with 110, reflecting the strong engagement of Asian higher education systems with the SDG framework. The rankings were released at the Global Sustainable Development Congress held in Jakarta, Indonesia, underscoring the event’s Asia-centric positioning.
Key Takeaways
- The Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 is the eighth edition, assessing 1,646 universities from 116 countries on their progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- The University of Manchester (UK) ranked first overall, ending Western Sydney University’s four-year streak at the top.
- India is the second most-represented country with 110 universities, behind the Philippines (160).
- MAHE (Manipal Academy of Higher Education) secured the global number one rank in SDG 5 (Gender Equality), rising from 11th in 2025.
- Lovely Professional University ranked 23rd overall and topped SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) globally.
- The rankings were rebranded from THE Impact Rankings to Sustainability Impact Ratings and released at the Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta.
