The University of Alberta remains one of the top institutions in the world to study an array of disciplines, according to the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject. This year’s ranking lists five subjects in the Top 100: Medical and Health, Education Studies, Computer Science, Engineering and Life Sciences.
“The University of Alberta’s strength in these subjects reflects the outstanding educational opportunities we offer to help today’s learners become tomorrow’s leaders — and the global impact of our established and emerging excellence in areas such as energy and the environment, health and well-being, and agriculture and food, among others,” says U of A president and vice-chancellor Bill Flanagan.
“Increasing our impact in Alberta, across Canada and worldwide is integral to the university’s strategic plan, Shape, and I am pleased to see our continued progress toward achieving that goal.”
A jump from 89th in the world to 80th reflects the institution’s long-standing prowess in Computer Science, with contributions in fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics. From analyzing health data to better predict and diagnose ADHD in youngsters to creating smart prosthetics capable of learning with their users, researchers in this area are transforming innovations into solutions.
The university has also steadily improved its performance in the Engineering category, climbing from 101-125th in 2023 to 90th in 2024, and moving up to 88th in the latest ranking. United in their dedication to building a better future, engineering students are bolstered by world-renowned instructors, co-op opportunities, and hands-on lab and field experiences.
“These rankings reflect the hard work and dedication of our community of scientists and students who are shaping the future on our campuses every day,” says Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell, college dean and vice-provost of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. “Together, we are a national and international hub of discovery, innovation and commercialization — and the rise we see in the 2025 THE rankings demonstrates the ways in which this strength in STEM continues to grow.”
A 74th-place ranking in the Medical and Health category, formerly known as Clinical and Health, highlights the U of A’s excellence in medicine, dentistry and other health-related disciplines.
Researchers within those disciplines are creating new drug delivery systems for promising genetic medicines, working toward solving the mysteries of long COVID, discovering potential new cancer treatments and more.
“These rankings speak to the impact of our faculty, staff and learners who are deeply committed to solving the most pressing issues facing health care today through innovative research and teaching,” says Brenda Hemmelgarn, dean and vice-provost of the College of Health Sciences.
“The college’s interdisciplinary approach ensures U of A researchers and learners are well versed in a broad range of areas to build a health-care system that prioritizes equitable and compassionate care for all. We collaborate and learn from each other while spearheading important provincial, national and international initiatives such as the Northern Alberta Medical Program, the PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness and the Climate Change and Health Hub.”
In the Education Studies category, where the U of A was tied for 76th in the world, the faculty shapes the next generation by preparing students to improve society through transformative teaching and high-impact research.
“It’s wonderful to see the Faculty of Education maintain its position among the Top 100 in the Times Higher Education rankings, reflecting its continued excellence,” says Marvin Washington, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. “These numbers are a true testament to our outstanding faculty’s calibre and their commitment to advancing our students’ success — and in turn, shaping a promising future.”
The U of A also broke into the Top 100 in the Life Sciences category, which includes the disciplines of agriculture, biological sciences and sport science. The boost in this area shines a light on the exciting research coming out of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, and the Department of Biological Sciences.
Researchers in these areas are solving major global challenges with their inventive discoveries, from finding a way to produce a valuable fatty acid by genetically engineering yeast to creating digital reconstructions of bones that allow students to more effectively study anatomy and biomechanics.
Psychology, an area of study offered jointly by the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science, also made a leap, moving from the 176th-200th tier last year to the 126th-150th group.
Rankings for the THE Subject rankings are based on five key metrics: teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income.