Tsinghua University Overtakes Oxford and Cambridge in Global Business and Economics Rankings
Tsinghua University has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing both Oxford and Cambridge in the global business and economics rankings. According to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject for 2026, Tsinghua University now occupies the third position worldwide, with Oxford and Cambridge ranked fourth and sixth, respectively. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University remain in the top two spots.
Overview of the 2026 Rankings
The 2026 Business and Economics rankings assessed a total of 1,067 universities across 91 countries and territories. The evaluation utilized 18 performance indicators, focusing on aspects such as teaching quality, research strength, citation counts, industry connections, and international outlook. Tsinghua’s rise from sixth to third place highlights a notable achievement in the competitive landscape of higher education, as it has advanced beyond its UK counterparts. Conversely, Oxford has dropped from second to fourth, while Cambridge has fallen from fifth to sixth.
Factors Contributing to Tsinghua’s Success
Times Higher Education outlined that Tsinghua’s successful progression can be attributed to its high score in research environment. The subject rankings weigh research strength and academic reputation heavily, particularly in the disciplines of business and economics. Research reputation accounts for 22.8% of the total score, while teaching reputation and citation impact contribute 21.1% and 13%, respectively. The remaining score components include research income, productivity, industry engagement, and international collaboration.
Investment in Research and Development
The ranking underscores Tsinghua’s significant investments in the fields of economics, management, and policy research, fostering an ecosystem that competes with long-established Western institutions in terms of research scale, output, and visibility.
The Rise of Asian Universities
Additionally, THE noted that Asian universities are advancing more rapidly than their European and North American counterparts within the business and economics sectors. In this context, Peking University ranks seventh, while the National University of Singapore shares the tenth position with the University of Pennsylvania.
Investment Trends in Higher Education
The upward trajectory of Asian universities is largely attributed to ongoing investments in research-intensive higher education, particularly in regions such as China and Singapore, where both governments and institutions are focused on enhancing doctoral training, research output, and international collaboration.
Original source: VnExpress.
