On 18 June, Times Higher Education (THE) published the results of the University Impact Rankings 2025, the seventh edition of this ranking, which assesses the impact of the activity of university institutions based on their progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and which includes a total of 2,526 universities in 130 countries.

The overall ranking, placing UPF within the 301-400 range (consistent with the previous edition) and scoring 77.6 out of 100, was determined by evaluating the universities' performance across the seventeen SDGs. Among these, the University scores in a total of seven (the seven SDGs it has applied), the same as last year.

Great result for UPF in SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 13 (Climate action)

In the sectoral classifications for each of the SDGs, the University's performance in Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16) is particularly notable. UPF ranks 13th globally (and 1st in Spain), out of a total of 1,265 institutions, significantly improving on its previous ranking in the 101-200 range.

In this SDG, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the ease of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, the university achieved an overall score of 86.4 out of 100.

In SDG 16, UPF stands out in Research (92.3), University Governance Measures (86.9), and in Proportion of Graduates in Law and Civil Enforcement (88.4). In the final indicator, Joint Work with the Administration, it scores 77.

Regarding SDG 13 on Climate Action, UPF is in 92nd place (out of 1,089 institutions), and third in Spain, while last year it was in the 201-300 range. This indicator assesses how the institution integrates climate change into its policies, strategies, and planning, enhancing its ability to address related challenges and fostering education and awareness on the issue.

In SDG 13, UPF achieves an overall score of 67.8, highlighting Research (87.1) and Low Carbon Energy Use (86.9). Turning to the other indicators, it scored 52.5 in Commitment to Carbon Neutrality, and 46.6% in Environmental Education Measures.

In the SDGs on Gender Equality (SDG 5), Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), the University is in the 201-300 range. In SDGs 5 and 10, UPF again stands out in research, with 86.1 and 81.9, respectively, and in SDG 10, it also obtains a high score in Measures Against Discrimination (with 82.1). In SDG 17, it scored 96.1 in Publishing SDG Reports and 91.7 in Education for the SDGs.

Finally, the two remaining SDGs in which UPF appears are those of Quality of Education (band 301-400) and Health and Wellbeing (401-600).

Measuring the commitment of institutions to the achievement of the SDGs

In terms of methodology, the ranking uses carefully calibrated indicators to provide comprehensive and balanced comparisons regarding sustainability in four broad areas: research, governance, outreach, and teaching.

The overall score is generated from the score for SDG 17 (22% of the overall score), plus the three best scores of the other SDGs for which the universities have provided data (each with a value of 26% of the total score).

The 2025 THE Impact Rankings overall classification is topped by Western Sydney University (Australia), the University of Manchester (United Kingdom), and Kyungpook National University (South Korea).

UPF remains in position 265 in the QS world ranking

Coinciding with the publication of Times Higher Education's 2025 Impact Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has published the 2026 edition of its global ranking, the QS World University Rankings.

In this ranking, the University remains in 265th place, exactly the same as last year (in which it made a remarkable rise of 46 positions), and is the sixth ranked university in Spain. UPF gets an overall score of 49, up from 38.8 last year.

It continues to stand out in the citation indicators for international professors, and the indicator in which it gains the most places is that of Sustainability (it rises 91 positions). In the remaining indicators (international research network, academic reputation, reputation of employers, ratio of international students, employment outcomes, and student-to-professor ratio) it obtains similar results.