QS World University Rankings 2026: Release Summary

Summary

Occasionally errors are reported after the analysis is complete and after institutions have received their rank and scores. In such cases, QS first rectifies the issue and where necessary updates the institution with a corrected set of results. If a rank change occurs we place the corrected institution in its correct position but leave all other institutions unaffected. This can result in two institutions in the same rank position with slightly different scores. In the case of an institution being removed from the rankings, again no other institutions will be affected but a gap may appear in the ranks.

Summary of Changes

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Pre Publication

KAIST does not appear in the 2026 QS World University Rankings following a breach of QS rankings guidelines. A single department at the university (out of 38 departments) launched a promotional campaign offering incentives to encourage participation in QS surveys—an action that contravenes QS’ strict anti-canvassing policy. This was not a university-wide initiative, and QS acknowledges the leadership of KAIST for its swift and transparent handling of the situation, including withdrawing the campaign, cooperating fully with the investigation, and strengthening internal compliance. As a result, KAIST has been excluded from the 2026 rankings cycle. Survey responses linked to the breach were never included or activated, as the incident was identified prior to the data analysis phase. KAIST is set to rejoin the QS rankings in June 2026, with the release of the 2027 QS World University Rankings edition.

Testimonials

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Abhinav Singh BhalChinese University of Hong Kong graduate

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Alex PittQS scholarship recipient

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"An MBA at EAHM is superior due to  the nature of the Academy’s academic and  industry strength. The subject  matter, the curriculum structure and the  access to opportunities within the hospitality industry is remarkable."

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Sharihan Al MasharyEmirates Academy of Hospitality Management graduate