Damascus – SANA Damascus University has been included in the 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings, becoming the only Syrian university to appear in this globally recognized listing, which is published midyear.
Dr. Marwan al-Ra’i, Director of the Ranking Office at Damascus University, stated to SANA that the university was placed among the top 1,250 institutions worldwide in the latest international edition of the ranking, based on its performance against established criteria.
Dr. al-Ra’i explained that the international QS ranking applies a range of rigorous criteria, including the university’s academic reputation, international collaboration, quality of education, quality of scientific research, employer satisfaction with graduates, the presence of Arab and foreign faculty members, and the university’s ability to attract international students—as well as the success of its alumni.
He noted that in the 2026 edition, Damascus University made significant progress in the areas of international outlook and alumni performance, highlighting their global impact across various fields.
Dr. al-Ra’i also pointed to the introduction of a new criterion in this year’s edition: “diversity and inclusion,” which assesses the diversity of Arab and international students enrolled at the university. Damascus University received a strong rating in this category.
According to Dr. al-Ra’i, the QS World University Rankings are considered one of the two most important global educational and research benchmarks. Syria’s presence in this ranking reinforces the university’s fulfillment of critical requirements for international recognition of its academic qualifications by numerous education ministries worldwide.
As a result of meeting these standards, Damascus University graduates are now considered among the top 6% globally, according to the ranking.
It is worth noting that Damascus University currently appears in 19 global rankings, up from just 4 rankings at the end of 2023.
Reem Abdulhameed / Manar Salameh
