Library of Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (ELTE)
The latest edition of one of the world’s most prestigious university rankings has been released. Based on the analysis, the strengths of Hungarian universities are increasingly being overshadowed by global competition, while Asian rivals are catching up. Nevertheless, Hungary’s top universities continue to rank alongside renowned European institutions, as reported by Index.
The British company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has published the 23rd edition of its global university rankings for 2027, which includes 10 Hungarian higher education institutions. QS is a London-based higher education analytics firm that compares universities worldwide year after year.
The QS World University Rankings 2027 are now live!
Whether you’re building your university shortlist, exploring study destinations, or simply curious to see who made the top spots, now is the time to dive in: https://t.co/82RnW4EhB6#QSWUR #UniversityRankings #StudyAbroad pic.twitter.com/TRvn3OISjP
— QS Top Universities (@TopUnis) June 18, 2026
The current results for Hungary are mixed: Of the ten universities evaluated, six have fallen in the rankings, three have maintained their positions, and one has moved up. Nevertheless, the majority of the evaluated Hungarian universities remain in the European mid-range.
One of the most significant developments in this year’s list is that Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) was named Hungary’s best university according to the QS ranking, even though it itself dropped 11 places, from 584th last year to 595th.
The previous leader, the University of Debrecen, saw an even steeper decline, falling from 563rd to 600th place. The University of Szeged once again takes third place on the imaginary Hungarian podium this year, having fallen from 597th to 633rd place.
Nevertheless, all three institutions remained among the top 700 universities in the world, which—given that 1,500 universities were ranked and several thousand were evaluated—is no small feat in itself.
The remaining institutions in the field present a mixed picture: The Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) slipped from the 711–720 range to the 751–760 range, while the University of Pécs lost about 50 places and slipped into the 791–800 range. The Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences (MATE), Széchenyi István University in Győr, and Óbuda University were able to consolidate their positions and remained in the 1,001–1,200 category.
The University of Miskolc, on the other hand, has fallen out of the top 1,400. A clear bright spot in this rather gloomy overall picture is the University of Pannonia in Veszprém, the only Hungarian institution that managed to move up a rank: it rose from the previous 1,201–1,400 category to the 1,001–1,200 category.
After QS published its analysis of the Hungarian results and examined the reasons for the decline of the top universities, the analysts unanimously pointed to intensifying international competition.
Looking, for example, at the institutions surrounding the Hungarian universities on the list reveals a more nuanced picture. The University of Debrecen shares this position with Manchester Metropolitan University and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), one of Estonia’s leading and rapidly developing universities. ELTE, in turn, ranks roughly on par with the University of Iceland, which has consistently ranked among the top 600 for years, or the Brno University of Technology.
In other rankings, the picture looks even more favorable:
In the Shanghai Ranking (Academic Ranking of World Universities), ELTE has ranked in the 501–600 range for years and is considered the best Hungarian university in three indicators, which shows that Hungary’s top universities have not fallen behind the international field.
These developments are not a purely national phenomenon: In Europe, more universities have fallen in the rankings than have risen in 22 of the 35 countries surveyed, meaning that the entire continent is feeling the pressure from institutions in Asia and the Middle East. Furthermore, on the current list, 65% of American institutions and 40% of British universities have fallen in the rankings, while 61% of Chinese universities have moved up. The decline in Hungary is thus part of a broader, global realignment and not an isolated phenomenon.
Via Index; Featured image: commons.wikimedia.org/Thaler
