On March 12, 2025, the global education organization Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released the results of its QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. This edition ranks 1,747 higher education institutions across 55 subjects within five broad subject areas, covering approximately 21,000 academic programs.
In this year’s QS WUR by Subject 2025, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) had 2 subject groups and 12 individual subjects ranked—10 of which are within the world’s top 500. Among these 12 ranked subjects, five were listed for the first time, and five improved their rankings compared to the previous cycle.
Highlights:
VNU had 4 subjects or subject groups ranked in the 400s and 7 in the 500s globally.
Engineering & Technology:
This subject group returned to the 451–500 bracket, showing overall stability with one newly ranked subject and two showing improved positions.
- Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing: Ranked in the top 401–450 globally with a score increase from 51.5 to 55.3. This is the sixth consecutive year this subject has been ranked since 2019.
- Engineering – Electrical & Electronic: Advanced into the 401–450 bracket, maintaining its score of 54.3 from the previous cycle.
- Engineering – Chemical: Newly ranked for the first time, placed in the top 401–450 globally.
- Computer Science & Information Systems: Continues to be ranked in the 551–600 range, maintaining its presence for seven consecutive years since 2019.
Natural Sciences:
This group saw growth in both quantity and ranking, with one newly ranked subject, one re-entering the rankings, and one improving its position.
- Mathematics: Entered the top 301–350 for the first time. This subject has been steadily rising over six ranking cycles.
- Physics & Astronomy: Returned to the rankings in the 601–675 bracket with an improved score. It has been consistently ranked across six cycles.
- Environmental Sciences: Ranked for the first time in the 451–500 bracket, achieving a strong citation score of 80 despite being new to the rankings.
Social Sciences & Management:
This subject group made significant strides, ranked in the 501–550 range overall. Five subjects in this group were ranked within the top 500 globally, including three in the top 400. Three were newly ranked, and two saw improved positions. The group achieved a high citation score of 84.7.
- Business & Management Studies: Moved up to the 451–500 bracket.
- Economics & Econometrics: Continued to rise in rank, now positioned in the 401–450 group after first being ranked in the previous cycle.
- Sociology: Ranked for the first time in the 301–375 range. VNU is the only institution in Vietnam to be ranked in this subject.
- Accounting & Finance: Newly ranked in the 301–375 bracket, with a high citation score of 86.2.
- Law & Legal Studies: First-time entry in the 351–400 bracket. VNU is the only Vietnamese institution ranked in this field.
QS Ranking Methodology:
The QS WUR by Subject 2025 is based on five criteria, with weightings customized per subject area:
- Academic Reputation
- Employer Reputation
- Citations per Paper
- H-index (research productivity and impact)
- International Research Network
The QS rankings emphasize the societal impact and academic quality of subject areas, based on feedback from academics and employers, scholarly contributions (via citations and H-index), and research internationalization (through global research networks).
Sustainability Ranking:
On December 10, 2024, QS also announced its 2025 World University Rankings for Sustainability, in which VNU made a remarkable leap, ranking 325th globally—up 456 positions from the previous year. VNU was also ranked 51st in Asia and first in Vietnam. In the same ranking, VNU placed:
- 204th for University Governance
- 364th for Environmental Impact
- 399th for Social Impact
Earlier, on June 5, 2024, in the QS World University Rankings, VNU was placed in the 851–900 range globally, ranked 161st in Asia and 40th in Southeast Asia. VNU continued to earn high employer recognition, with:
- Graduate employment outcomes ranked 202nd globally
- Employer reputation ranked 472nd globally
Additionally, in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which assess universities’ performance in achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), VNU was ranked in the 401–600 range—underscoring its commitment to connecting higher education with the community and fostering a friendly, advanced academic environment. This philosophy is also key to VNU’s development of its future urban campus in Hoa Lac.
(Source: VNU)