Iranian universities have shown improvements in global academic rankings in 2024, with several institutions gaining higher positions across multiple international assessments. According to the latest SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) released this year, 197 Iranian institutions were listed among the world’s top academic and research organizations, a slight increase from 194 in 2023.

The SCImago ranking evaluates institutions through a composite indicator encompassing research performance, innovation output, and societal impact, the latter measured through web visibility. In the latest results, Tehran University of Medical Sciences rose to fifth place in West Asia, up from sixth in 2023, and is currently ranked first among Iranian universities. It holds the 452nd position globally, marking an improvement from 486th the previous year. The University of Tehran also maintained a strong presence, ranked tenth in the West Asia region and 827th worldwide.

In specialized fields, Tehran University of Medical Sciences leads in medicine within West Asia, while also ranking second in dentistry and fifth in pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmaceutics. Its dentistry program is notably ranked 34th globally. The University of Tehran tops the country’s business, management, and accounting sector, holding 38th place globally, and ranks prominently in economics and engineering in the region.

Other prominent Iranian universities noted in the rankings include Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, and Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, which hold third to fifth places nationally. These institutions also feature high regional rankings in medicine, dentistry, pharmacology, and energy disciplines.

The rankings rely on data spanning a five-year period ending two years before the current ranking edition, except for web-based metrics, which are updated annually. For 2024, the period considered was 2018-2022.

In addition to SCImago, the 14th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject included 17 Iranian universities across 17 subject categories, an increase from 16 in the previous year. The University of Tehran appeared in several areas, including engineering and technology, natural sciences, and life sciences and medicine, with global rankings generally in the 300–500 range. Sharif University of Technology and Tehran University of Medical Sciences were also among the top Iranian institutions featured in engineering and medical fields.

Webometrics, which ranks institutions based on web presence and visibility, listed 435 Iranian universities among nearly 12,000 globally. Tehran University improved its standing from 305th in 2023 to 285th in 2024, maintaining its position as the top university in the country by this measure. Other institutions such as Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, and Sharif University of Technology followed in national ranking order.

Lastly, the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP) for 2023-2024 included 71 Iranian universities, up from 64 the previous year. Tehran University led nationally at 231st worldwide, followed by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, ranked 277th and 436th globally, respectively. URAP evaluations are based on academic indicators such as publication volume, citations, productivity, research impact, and international collaboration.

Together, these rankings reflect a gradual upward trend in the global positioning of Iranian academic institutions across various disciplines and evaluative frameworks.