2025 Shanghai Ranking: TheUM . solidifies its position in the top 200
The University of Montpellier has solidified its position among the world’s top 200 universities in the Shanghai General Ranking published on August 15, 2025, by Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China). Already recognized for the past nine years as one of the world’s leaders in ecology, the university demonstrates through these strong results its ability to make an impact on the global stage and meet international standards of excellence in research and education.
Eagerly anticipated each year, theShanghai Ranking(also known asthe Academic Ranking of World Universities) has been a global ranking of higher education institutions since 2003. An essential reference in the academic world, it ranks the best universities globally (from among 1,800 institutions) based on a single index calculated using six quantitative criteria, including the number of publications in prestigious scientific journals, the number of citations of researchers, the number of Nobel Prize winners in science and Fields Medalists, and the prominence of alumni and faculty, among others. The Shanghai Ranking thus lists the top 100 universities; beyond that, it ranks institutions in “bands” of 50 up to the 200th position, then in bands of 100 up to the 500th, which concludes the list.
The University of Montpellier: A Very Positive Overall Trend Since 2016!
The 2025 edition of the Shanghai Ranking once again demonstrates the very positive overall momentum of theUM , which has been ranked among the top 151–200 universities in the world for the sixth consecutive year. Having shown steady improvement since 2016, when theUM was ranked among the top 400, these strong results demonstrate that the University of Montpellier—thanks in particular to its I-SITE excellence program—has become a major player in higher education, research, and innovation both in France and internationally.
“Once again this year, I am delighted to see the University of Montpellier ranked among the world’s best universities. The excellent results achieved in the Shanghai Ranking, as well as in other international rankings, are a testament to the ambitious strategy of excellence we have been pursuing for several years. This recognition is above all the result of the talent and dedication of our researchers, faculty members, and research-teaching faculty Professors, whom I would like to warmly commend, along with our technical and administrative staff. It is also supported by the exceptional resources mobilized through the I-SITE program, carried out in partnership with all our academic and scientific stakeholders. “These achievements underscore the strength of our research ecosystem and our ability to tackle major contemporary challenges: better feeding, caring for, and protecting people and the environment. Finally, they contribute to the international influence ofFrenchresearch,” said Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier.
The University of Montpellier also ranks highly in various international rankings
TheUM is also ranked in the Shanghai Ranking, which covers several subject areas, placing it among the top 200 universities in the world, as well as in the THE Impact Ranking, which measures higher education institutions’ commitment to and performance in sustainable development. In its 6th edition, theUM maintains its top ranking among French institutions and is listed in the overall ranking among the world’s 101–200 best institutions, thanks to its long-standing commitment to sustainable development. This year, it ranks in the global top 50 for two goals related to the institution’s core themes: feeding, healing, and protecting. In fact, theUM stands out in the “Good Health and Well-being” Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), ranking 30th globally and first in France. Furthermore, theUM has made significant progress on the “life below water” SDG, ranking 30th globally and once again taking first place nationally, demonstrating once more theUM ’s excellence in the field of ecology.
Finally, the University of Montpellier has maintained its standing in the CWTS Leiden Ranking. This ranking, which provides important insights into the scientific performance of more than 1,500 leading universities worldwide, is based on scientific publications and their citations. In the 2024 Leiden World Ranking, the University of Montpellier once again confirms its scientific influence both nationally and internationally, ranking 4th nationally (the top university outside Paris) and 203rd globally.
According to the Reuters ranking of the most innovative universities, the University of Montpellier ranks second among French universities and 17th in Europe.
The Shanghai Ranking:hanghairanking.com