Hungarian universities climb global rankings in 2025 CWUR list
Hungary’s higher education sector has reached another significant milestone, as several national universities improved their positions in the 2025 CWUR (Centre for World University Rankings), one of the world’s most comprehensive university rankings.
Global elite: Who tops the rankings?
The CWUR evaluates more than 20,000 higher education institutions worldwide each year, publishing a list of the top 2,000 universities. The rankings are based on objective metrics such as education quality, research performance, publication output and citations, and alumni employment outcomes.
This year’s CWUR rankings continue to be dominated by U.S. institutions, though top European universities maintain strong positions at the summit. The world’s top ten universities in 2025 are:
1. Harvard University
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
3. Stanford University
4. University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
5. University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
6. Princeton University
7. University of Pennsylvania
8. Columbia University
9. Yale University
10. University of Chicago
Hungarian universities in the CWUR rankings
Hungary made a strong showing this year with three noteworthy placements. Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) made an impressive leap of 36 spots, reaching 508th place globally—a prestigious achievement for both the university and the entire Hungarian higher education system.
In 2025, ELTE advanced 36 places compared to the previous year, ranking 508th in the world and 196th in Europe. This placed it ahead of institutions such as the University of Potsdam (Germany), the University of Verona (Italy), and École normale supérieure de Lyon (France). With this result, ELTE ranks among the top 2.4% of universities worldwide and has maintained its leading position in Hungary according to CWUR rankings since 2014.
The University of Szeged (SZTE) also made significant gains, jumping from 705th to 590th place. Although Semmelweis University (SE) slipped a few spots to 670th, it still remains close to the international forefront.
The Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) also saw a positive shift, moving up nearly 100 places to currently sit at 1,837th on the list.
Hungarian university rankings on the CWUR 2025 list
Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) – 508
University of Szeged (SZTE) – 590
Semmelweis University (SE) – 670
University of Debrecen (DE) – 812
Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) – 1003
University of Pécs (PTE) – 1218
Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) – 1837
As we wrote yesterday, MOL is expanding its influence with the acquisition of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics – BME operator, details HERE
Regional comparison: How are Hungary’s neighbours doing?
Several universities from neighbouring countries also made the rankings. Charles University in Prague remains the region’s leader, ranking around 248th and placing in the top 1.2% globally. Austria’s Medical University of Vienna is not far behind at 285th, also a standout result.
Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár, Romania) ranked 962nd, while no university from Bucharest made the top 1,000. The Technical University of Bucharest came in at 1002. Slovenia’s University of Ljubljana ranked 440th, while Slovakia’s Comenius University in Bratislava (Pozsony) landed at 739. Ukraine’s top performer was the Institute of Mathematics of the National Academy of Sciences, ranked 1262. Croatia’s top university, the University of Zagreb, secured a stable mid-tier position in the 513th place.
Read more news about higher education in Hungary
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