The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has secured the top spot among universities in Greece and Cyprus and ranks 216th worldwide, according to the newly released US News Best Global University Rankings 2025–2026. The highly respected American ranking assesses universities across a wide range of performance indicators, including academic reputation, research output, and global collaboration.
Within Europe, NKUA has climbed to 78th place, improving from 82nd last year — a testament to the university’s continued academic growth and international presence.
Following NKUA, the second highest-ranked institution from Greece is Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which holds the 416th position globally.
In addition to its overall performance, NKUA has earned high marks in several specialized fields:
• Cardiology and Cardiovascular Systems: 38th globally
• Infectious Diseases: 65th
• Gastroenterology and Hepatology: 52nd
• Clinical Medicine: 94th
• Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health: 80th
These distinctions reflect the university’s strong research output and academic leadership in critical areas of medicine and health sciences.
Separately, the Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings — which assess universities based on their social and economic contributions in alignment with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals — placed NKUA in the top 201–300 institutions globally, out of 2,536 participating universities from 130 countries.
NKUA also ranks first among the 21 Greek and Cypriot universities included in this global assessment.
This marks the seventh consecutive year of the THE Impact Rankings, with the 2025 edition being the largest yet. The rankings evaluate universities not only for academic excellence but also for their role in promoting sustainability, equality, and global development.
