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CWTS Leiden 2026: Not Boğaziçi or METU — University of Health Sciences is Turkey's number one
In the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2026, the University of Health Sciences placed 225th, the highest among the 22 Turkish universities that made the list; Koç fell to 975th and METU to 814th.
According to the results of the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2026 and the Shanghai Ranking 2026, Turkey's number one in international academic rankings was the University of Health Sciences (SBÜ), which left long-established foundation and state universities behind on indicators of scientific publication output and research quality. The institution, headed by SBÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Kemalettin Aydın, placed 225th in the Leiden 2026 list while entering the 601-700 band in Shanghai 2026.
A total of 22 universities from Turkey were among the world's 1,000 most successful institutions. According to the Leiden 2026 ranking, the top three were as follows: 1. University of Health Sciences (225), 2. Hacettepe University — Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran — (375), 3. Istanbul Technical University — Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal — (551).
The institutions widely regarded by the public as Turkey's academic summit lagged behind on the list: Middle East Technical University placed 814th in Leiden, and Koç University 975th. In the Shanghai list, Koç University was in the 701-800 band while METU entered the 901-1,000 range. Boğaziçi University also remained outside the top 10.
Other notable rankings: Gazi University 573rd in Leiden (Shanghai 801-900), Ankara University 589th (Shanghai 701-800), Istanbul University 669th (Shanghai 601-700), Marmara University 853rd (Shanghai 801-900).
The assessment was based on scientific publication counts, research quality and international success indicators.
Sources — how we know this
- PrimarySözcü Gazetesi