Near East University Rises to Top 401–500 in THE WUR 2026
In the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Near East University has advanced two bands to place within the 401–500 global range, marking a significant progression compared to last year’s 601–800 position. This notable improvement reflects the university’s continued dedication to strengthening its research ecosystem, enhancing academic quality, and expanding international engagement.
A particularly strong performance was observed in the Research Quality category, where Near East University ranked within the global top 400. This result underscores the impact and visibility of the university’s scholarly outputs, supported by increasing citation rates and the growing influence of its research on regional and international scientific communities.
The university also continued to demonstrate stability and progress across other ranking dimensions, including Teaching, Research Environment, Industry Engagement, and International Outlook. Its commitment to knowledge transfer and collaboration with industry partners highlights an ongoing focus on transforming academic expertise into real-world solutions.
Near East University's rise in the 2026 rankings reaffirms its position as an evolving and forward-looking institution. By continuously investing in academic excellence, impactful research, and global cooperation, the university strengthens its visibility on the world stage and enhances its attractiveness to prospective students, researchers, and international partners.
Highlights from the Press Conference
To mark this historic success, Near East University hosted a press conference at the Atatürk Culture and Congress Center, which was attended by Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Near East University Founding Rector Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel, Chairman of the Near East Enterprises Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, academic leaders, faculty deans, students, and members of the press.
The programme began with a presentation by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Umut Aksoy, who explained the WUR methodology and outlined the university’s rise in global rankings, highlighting the scientific efforts that propelled Near East University into the top 500.
At the podium, Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu congratulated the university, emphasising that this achievement not only elevates Near East University’s global profile but also serves as a source of pride for Northern Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots. He expressed confidence that this success would inspire further academic excellence and international achievements. In his address, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel described the ranking as a turning point not only for the university but also in the modern history of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, highlighting Near East University’s commitment to education, research, and societal development. Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ reaffirmed that the ranking reflects years of vision, disciplined work, scientific productivity, and collaborative effort. He emphasised that the university’s fundamental principles of delivering quality education and generating impactful research continue to guide its mission towards future achievements.
At the end of the press conference, the Minister of National Education, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Rector, and the Vice Rectors answered questions from members of the press.
This achievement not only reflects past efforts but also motivates further strategic advancement, reinforcing Near East University’s role as a leading contributor to education, research, and innovation in the region. In his closing remarks, Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ emphasized this forward-looking vision, stating: “Today, we stand among the top 500 universities; tomorrow, we will rise even higher. Because we are not only building the present — we are shaping the future. We are a community that grows through science, technology, art, and societal contribution, always striving for excellence with every step we take.”
