Shanghai Ranking Consultancy: University of Cyprus among top institutions in 8 academic fields for 2024

The Shanghai Ranking Consultancy has announced the results of the Global Rankings of Academic Subjects for 2024, with the University of Cyprus (UCy) ranked among the top academic institutions in eight scientific fields, as presented in the table below.

It is worth noting that in August 2024, according to the global Shanghai Ranking, UCy was the only Cypriot university included in the overall list, ranking among the top 701–800 universities worldwide.

This subject-specific ranking highlights once again the university’s efforts toward recognition in the international arena of research and teaching in higher education, it said announcing the news in its newsletter. “Excellence, high-quality teaching, and impactful research are non-negotiable values for Cyprus’ first public university,” it said. “Its inclusion in prestigious rankings underscores the institution's vast potential for global distinction.”

The university reiterated the importance of legislative changes that would facilitate its development, such as offering undergraduate programmes in foreign languages and establishing and operating university clinics.

Shanghai ranking methodology by academic Subject

The ranking evaluates universities across five scientific categories (natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences, and social sciences) and 55 scientific fields based on their academic discipline.

To qualify for subject-specific ranking, universities must meet a minimum publication threshold during the evaluation period. This threshold varies by field, ranging from 25 publications (e.g., aerospace engineering, communications, public administration) to 200 publications (e.g., physics, biology, chemistry, clinical medicine).

The Global Rankings of Academic Subjects are based on four main factors that assess universities' academic and research performance:

1. Quality and Quantity of Publications: Evaluates the number of publications in top scientific journals and the number of citations those publications receive.
2. International Influence and Recognition: Reflects the quality and global recognition of research through metrics such as international collaborations and researchers' international presence.
3. Awards and Distinctions: Includes the total number of university staff who have received significant awards or distinctions in their field.
4. World-Class Researchers and Research Excellence: Considers the number of researchers with significant scientific recognition and publications with major impact in their field.

The analysis of publications is carried out using a weighted scoring model for each subject and university, enabling the calculation of a weighted average specific to each topic and institution.