Ranking and Karolinska Institutet

What is university ranking?

A variety of organisations rank the world's universities in fields such as research, education and student influence, based mostly on the prominence of their research. Some prospective students choose to consult these tables when considering where to study.

No ranking table can give the full picture of the quality of a university. The relevance of the information varies greatly between different tables, especially in regards to parameter choices. This page presents three international ranking tables often referred to in international media. They have been in the public eye for many years, and have a relatively high methodological transparency, as well as a high level of control of their data.

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)

This table (also referred to as the 'Shanghai ranking') is now compiled by the organization ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.

For 2024, ARWU ranks Karolinska Institutet at number 43 in the world and number 11 in Europe.

In the field ”Nursing” KI is the eight in the world. In the field of ”Public Health”, KI ranks number 28 in the world and 8th in Europe. Within the field "Clinical Medicine", KI is ranked 33 in the world and 10 in Europe and in the field "Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences" 33 in the world and 14 in Europe.

Visit the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) website

Times Higher Education

This ranking is compiled by Times Higher Education, based in the United Kingdom.

In the latest THE ranking (2024/2025), Karolinska Institutet is ranked 49th in the world (up from 50th in 2023/2024), 14th in Europe, and 6th in the EU. According to the latest subject-specific rankings, Karolinska Institutet ranks 13th in the world, 6th in Europe, and 1st in the EU in the “Medical and Health” field, 31st in the world, 8th in Europe, and 2nd in the EU in "Life Sciences"; and 29th in the world, 8th in Europe, and 4th in the EU in “Psychology”.

Visit the Times Higher Education website

QS World Ranking of Universities

In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, KI is number 10 in the world and number 5 in Europe in the broad subject area of Life Sciences and Medicine.

In the subject of Medicine, KI is number 9 in the world and number 5 in Europe. In Pharmacy and Pharmacology, KI is the 14th best institution in the world and 5th in Europe. In the subject of Dentistry, KI holds the 7th place in the world and 3rd in Europe. In Nursing, KI is on 23rd place in the world and 5th in Europe.

QS does not feature Karolinska Institutet in its overall university ranking, which only includes multi-faculty universities.

For more information about the QS rankings, visit the Top Universities website.

Best Global Universities Rankings (U.S. News & World Report)

In the latest ranking (2024/2025), Karolinska Institutet is ranked 51st in the world overall and 14th in Europe. In subject areas such as “Cell Biology”, "Immunology", "Pharmacology and Toxicology", "Psychiatry / Psychology", "Endocrinology and Metabolism", and "Public, Environmental and Occupational Health", KI is among the top 20 universities in the world and the top 10 in Europe.

More information about Best Global Universities Rankings.

More than ranking

While Karolinska Institutet consistently rank very well, which makes us proud and happy, we recognize that varying ranking methodologies may mean that results thereof may be inconsistent and should be valued as one factor among many others when choosing which university to attend.

Our greatest assets are our staff, students and alumni – who represent a slice of life at Karolinska Institutet in a way that statistical analysis never can. Read more about what our current students have to say, or read more on why you should choose Karolinska Institutet as your place of study.