The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026 has been released, highlighting subject-specific global academic performance of universities. In the computer science category, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru retained its position as India’s highest-ranked institution, securing the 96th spot globally and showcasing a robust industry score of 99.7
IISc Leads India in THE Subject Rankings 2026
Only one Indian university — IISc — made it into the global top 100 across all subject categories, highlighting its strong research and industry engagement in computer science. The Times Higher Education subject rankings cover key academic disciplines and assess institutions on teaching excellence, research quality, industry collaboration, and international outlook, among other indicators.
Indian Universities in Computer Science Rankings
Alongside IISc’s notable achievement, several Indian universities were featured within the top 500 bands for computer science:
- 96: Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
- 251–300: Amity University, Noida
- 301–400: Jamia Millia Islamia, Symbiosis International University, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
- 401–500: Aligarh Muslim University, IIT Indore, IIIT Hyderabad, KIIT University, Lovely Professional University, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, VIT University
- 501–600: Bharathiar University, BITS Pilani, Chitkara University, Graphic Era University, IIT Patna, Panjab University, Savitribai Phule Pune University, UPES
- 601–800: Banaras Hindu University, Birla Institute of Technology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Delhi Technological University, Galgotias University
Performance in Other Subjects
The rankings also revealed Indian presence in other fields, but no institution matched IISc’s global top-100 standing outside computer science. Universities such as the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) appeared in the 401–500 and 501–600 bands in subjects like arts and humanities.
Global Context: Asia’s Performance and Western Dominance
The THE Subject Rankings 2026 indicated that Asian universities continue to make strong gains, often outpacing their counterparts in Europe and North America in key STEM areas. Meanwhile, global leaders like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and University of Oxford featured prominently across multiple subject rankings.
What It Means for Indian Higher Education?
The limited representation of Indian universities in the top 100 highlights ongoing challenges in global research competitiveness, international collaboration, and academic visibility. However, IISc’s performance underscores India’s potential in specialised disciplines, particularly in technology-driven fields.