THREE Philippine universities have improved their standings in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, while two others have dropped slightly.

The University of the Philippines saw the most significant improvement, rising to 336th from 404th. UP also ranks 18th in Asia, according to the UK-based higher education company.

Ateneo de Manila University also made notable progress, reaching 516th from 563rd. Similarly, De La Salle University advanced to the 641-650 bracket from 681-690.

In contrast, the University of Santo Tomas slipped to the 851-900 range, down from 801-1,000. The University of San Carlos in Cebu, which entered the rankings last year in the 1,201-1,400 bracket, fell to 1401+.

Globally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States maintained its position as the top university for the 13th consecutive year. Imperial College London climbed four spots to second place, followed by the University of Oxford and Harvard University in third and fourth, respectively. The University of Cambridge rounded out the top five.

In Asia, the National University of Singapore retained its leading position and is ranked 8th in the world.

The 2025 QS World University Rankings is the largest ever, featuring over 1,500 universities across 105 higher education systems. This year, QS introduced its largest-ever methodological enhancement, incorporating three new metrics: sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research network.