Turkish universities rise in THE Impact Rankings 2026

Times Higher Education’s 2026 Impact Rankings show a broad improvement among Turkish higher‑education institutions. Bahçeşehir University topped the national list and placed 59th worldwide, recording world‑ranked positions in Gender Equality (2nd) and Quality Education (6th). Istanbul Gelişim University entered the global top‑100 in several Sustainable Development Goal categories and ranked among the world’s top three in three SDG areas. Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University made a dramatic jump from the 1500+ band to the 601‑800 band, reaching 691st globally. Malatya Turgut Özal University moved from the 1500+ range into the 601‑800 band, achieving notable placements across multiple SDG metrics, including a 301‑400 world band for Life Below Water. Fırat University attained a world‑ranking of 10th in Quality Education and entered the top‑100 in eight SDG categories. Yakın Doğu University, based in North Cyprus, was placed 39th globally overall and led the world in the Partnerships for the Goals category. The results highlight Turkish universities’ growing visibility and impact on sustainability goals worldwide.