Okayama University of Science Ranked in the “THE World University Rankings 2026” for the Second Consecutive Year

Okayama University of Science (OUS) has once again earned a place in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, released on October 9 by the UK-based higher education magazine Times Higher Education.
 
OUS was ranked in the 1501+ band out of 2,191 universities worldwide, marking its second consecutive appearance in the rankings. Among 115 Japanese universities included this year—four fewer than last year—OUS rose from a tie for 63rd to a tie for 52nd.
 
The THE World University Rankings evaluate universities worldwide across five key areas: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry, and International Outlook, using 18 performance indicators.
 
OUS received particularly strong evaluation in the Industry category, reflecting the university’s robust partnerships with companies and local communities, as well as its diverse and applied research initiatives. This emphasis on collaboration is seen as a major factor behind OUS’s continued success in the global rankings.
 
OUS is the only private university in the Chugoku–Shikoku region to be included in this year’s ranking.
 
In western Japan (west of the Kinki region), OUS tied for 6th place among private universities and ranked 17th nationwide among private institutions.