Shiraz, Iran medical universities achieve higher national and global rankings in QS 2026

Iranian medical universities continue to strengthen their global academic standing, with both Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Iran University of Medical Sciences achieving notable positions in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

Shiraz University of Medical Sciences announced significant progress across several key academic fields in the newly released QS Subject Rankings 2026, securing improved positions both globally and nationally.

Hamid Mohammadi, the university’s vice chancellor for research and technology, said the university achieved “remarkable rankings at both the global and national levels” in the fields of pharmacy, life sciences and medicine.

According to Mohammadi, the university recorded its most notable advancement in pharmacy, where it climbed from the global ranking range of 351–360 in 2025 to 251–300 in 2026, earning the third national rank in the field.

He added that Shiraz University of Medical Sciences also secured the second national rank in life sciences and medicine, placing within the global 451–500 bracket, while ranking fourth nationally in medicine with a global position of 601–650.

Mohammadi praised the efforts of the university’s faculty members and researchers, noting that the QS ranking system is considered one of the world’s most reputable university evaluation systems and assesses institutions based on five key indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, H-index, and international research collaboration.

“Continued support for research infrastructure and expansion of international scientific cooperation would help the university maintain and improve its standing in major global ranking systems in the coming years,” he noted.

Moreover, Iran University of Medical Sciences also reported strong performances in the QS Subject Rankings 2026, particularly in medicine, life sciences and biology.

Majid Safa, vice chancellor for research and technology at the university, said Iran University of Medical Sciences ranked fifth nationally in medicine, achieving a global ranking of 701–850.

“In the field of life sciences and medicine, the university succeeded in securing the second national rank and a global position within the 451–500 range,” Safa stated.

He added that the university also ranked second nationally in biology, placing within the global 651–700 bracket, which he described as “a reflection of the university’s scientific capacity in basic and interdisciplinary sciences.”

Safa emphasized that international ranking systems such as QS not only reflect the scientific capabilities of universities but also help identify pathways for future improvement.

“At Iran University of Medical Sciences, we continue to pursue targeted programs aimed at enhancing research quality, expanding international scientific cooperation, and increasing the impact of scientific output through the efforts of faculty members, researchers, and students,” he said.

QS World University Rankings, published annually by the British company Quacquarelli Symonds, is regarded as one of the world’s leading university ranking systems.

In addition to overall global university rankings, QS also publishes subject-based rankings in collaboration with Elsevier’s Scopus database.

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