This year, Singapore and Korea have emerged as the top universities in Asia

The National University of Singapore (NUS) has achieved the top ranking in Asia for the first time, according to the QS University Rankings: Asia 2014 published on www.topuniversities.com. These rankings indicate a shift in influence within the region as Singapore and Korea surpass Japan and Hong Kong.

Source: QS website.

NUS’ accomplishment is paralleled by Nanyang Technological University (NTU), securing 7th place, its highest position yet. Korea’s KAIST advances from 6th to 2nd, while Seoul National University (4th) and Postech (9th) also feature in the top 10.

Thirteen of the top 20 Chinese institutions have improved their standing this year, driven by a rise in research citations. Peking University drops three spots to 7th, while Tsinghua University holds steady at 14th.

Over the past decade, government funding for research and development in China has increased by an average of 23% annually. This includes a further 8.9% boost to a record US$43.6 billion, as announced in Premier Li Keqiang’s initial budget in March of this year.

“Government investments in scientific research are beginning to yield positive results, as most Chinese institutions have enhanced both the quantity and influence of their research in recent years,” notes QS Head of Research Ben Sowter. “Nevertheless, Peking and Tsinghua are still catching up to institutions like the National University of Singapore and the University of Hong Kong in terms of citations.”

The total number of ranked Indian institutions has grown to 17 from 11 last year, although seven of its top eight institutions experienced a decline in rank. IIT Delhi takes the lead among Indian institutions at 38th.

Last year’s top institution, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, falls to 5th, while the 2011 leader, Hong Kong University, drops one spot to third. This marks the first time in the ranking’s history that a Hong Kong university has not claimed the top position.

This year’s rankings are the first to be affected by the restructuring of undergraduate programs from three to four years. This shift has had a mixed impact on the faculty-student ratios of Hong Kong universities, as they were all mandated to enroll a double cohort of students starting in Fall 2012. Further adjustments are anticipated in the next two years as Hong Kong’s educational system adapts to this change.

“Japan’s University of Tokyo falls to 10th, its lowest ranking to date. While the declines for Japanese universities this year are marginal, they represent a continuing trend observed over the past three to four years,” says Sowter. “The lingering effects of the financial crisis have made it challenging for Japan to match the progress made by Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, and China.”

Since 2007, Japan’s higher education sector has faced a series of funding cuts, including a recent across-the-board decrease in public sector salaries in February 2012. This comes at a time when several other countries in the region have made significant investments in their universities.

“Both NUS and KAIST have reaped the benefits of substantial government investments in research, while operating in English has facilitated new levels of global engagement,” stated Sowter.

NUS and NTU are currently receiving support from a S$16.1 billion government initiative aimed at enhancing their performance in science, technology, and innovation. Meanwhile, Korea now allocates 3.6% of its GDP to research and development, placing it among the highest spenders in the OECD.

Other top performers by country:

Taiwan: National Taiwan University, 21st
Malaysia: Universiti Malaya, 31st
Thailand: Mahidol University, 40th
Philippines: University of the Philippines, 63rd
Indonesia: University of Indonesia, 71st

QS University Rankings: Asia 2014 - Top 10

2014

2013

Institutions

Country/ Territory

RANK

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (NUS)

KAIST - KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (HKU)

SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (SNU)

THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (HKUST)

THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (CUHK)

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (NTU)

PEKING UNIVERSITY

POHANG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POSTECH)

THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

To view the complete ranking - Top 300 Asian universities - visit www.TopUniversities.com. Read more about the methodology here.