The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) has secured its position among the world’s elite academic institutions, ranking as the top university in Greece by a significant margin.
According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, NKUA is placed in the 401–500 band globally, maintaining a steady upward trajectory in recent years.
Athens University subject performance
NKUA’s performance is even more robust in specific academic fields such as:
- Medical Sciences: Ranked in the 301–400 band
- Arts & Humanities, Law, and Psychology: Also secured placements in the 301–400 range
Other Greek successes
Four other Greek universities achieved notable positions in the global rankings, specifically:
- University of Crete and Harokopio University: Ranked in the 601–800 band
- National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh): Placed in the 801–1000 band
The THE rankings evaluate institutions across eleven subject areas using eighteen performance indicators that measure teaching, research environment, research quality, industry knowledge transfer, and international outlook.
Key global highlights
The United States continues to dominate, topping eight out of eleven subject categories. MIT leads in three sectors, namely in Arts & Humanities, Business & Economics, and Social Sciences.
The United Kingdom holds the top spot in three fields. Notably, the University of Cambridge returned to the #1 position for Psychology for the first time since 2022. China has shown significant growth, entering the Top 10 for Computer Science and Physical Sciences. It now holds seven Top 10 spots across all categories, up from four last year.
Continental Europe remains competitive, with ETH Zurich ranking 3rd in Computer Science and 9th in Physical Sciences. Australia saw the University of Melbourne return to the global Top 10 for Law, securing 8th place.
Related: Athens University Lands First Dual Medical Degree With UK’s University of Exeter
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