University of Birjand Makes First Appearance in Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Sciences Ranking

Birjand, Iran — In a notable achievement, the University of Birjand has entered the Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Sciences Ranking for the first time in 2026. The university secured the 21st position among 28 Iranian universities and ranked in the 601–800 band among 1,267 top universities worldwide.

According to the University of Birjand’s Public Relations and Information Office, this ranking evaluates universities based on their contribution to interdisciplinary science production — the integration of knowledge and approaches from different academic fields.

Only 28 Iranian universities and 1,267 institutions globally qualified for inclusion in this prestigious international ranking.

About the Ranking

The Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Sciences Ranking is one of the most respected global university assessment systems. It currently covers four main areas: Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences. Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts are expected to be added in future editions.

Key evaluation indicators include:

• Research funding allocated to interdisciplinary projects
• Availability of appropriate research infrastructure and equipment for cross-disciplinary work
• Number of joint and interdisciplinary publications
• Citation impact of these articles in Scopus

University officials expressed hope that by strengthening research infrastructure and increasing scientific collaborations, faculty members will contribute more significantly to interdisciplinary research, leading to improved rankings in the future.

This debut in the Times ranking highlights the University of Birjand’s growing engagement in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and reinforces its standing in Iran’s higher education landscape.