National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Ranks 61st Globally and 15th in Europe, Topping All Greek and Cypriot Universities in the AD Scientific Index World Top Universities Ranking 2026

The latest results of the AD Scientific Index World Top Universities Ranking confirm the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens as one of the world’s top 100 universities for research performance, marking another significant international distinction for the institution.

Over the past five years, the University has risen by 22 places, reaching 61^st globally among 19,592 universities, research institutions and organisations from 221 countries featured in the ranking, based on the Total H-index of its researchers. It also ranks 15^th in Europe and first among Greek and Cypriot universities in the 2026 edition.

Next is the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (173^rd globally), followed by the University of Patras (299^th), the University of Crete (384^th), the National Technical University of Athens (385^th), the University of Thessaly (414^th), the University of Ioannina (503^rd), the Democritus University of Thrace (679^th), and the Technical University of Crete (859^th). Rounding out the top ten Greek universities and research institutions within the ranking is the Agricultural University of Athens, placed 873^rd worldwide.

Table 1: Ranking of Greek universities in the AD Scientific Index World Top Universities Ranking 2026

Source: https://adscientificindex.com/university-ranking/?ft_country=gr&page=1

Among Cypriot institutions, the highest-ranked are the University of Cyprus (607^th globally), the Cyprus University of Technology (937^th) and the European University Cyprus (1,839^th).

What makes the results particularly significant is the methodology used by the AD Scientific Index, which relies exclusively on objective indicators of research output and impact, including Total H-index, Total i10-index and total citations, drawn from researchers’ publicly available Google Scholar profiles. No reputation surveys, employer assessments or other subjective measures are included, ensuring that the ranking reflects measurable scientific performance rather than perception-based assessments.

The University also excels across a broad range of fields. It ranks 4^th globally in Medical and Health Sciences, highlighting its international standing in the discipline. It is placed 110^th in History, Philosophy and Theology, 132^nd in Natural Sciences, 212^th in Education, 342^nd in Engineering and Technology, and 453^rd in Economics and Econometrics worldwide.

Source: AD Scientific Index Website

Commenting on the results, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said:

‘The latest achievements of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in the AD Scientific Index reflect the Institution’s steady progress as one of the world’s top 100 research universities. This ranking, which is based exclusively on objective bibliometric indicators and the scientific impact of researchers’ work, highlights the consistency, quality and international reach of the research produced at the University.

The University’s leading position among Greek and Cypriot institutions, as well as its strong international presence across key academic fields, is the result of the long-term efforts of its faculty members, researchers and early-career scholars, whose work advances scientific knowledge and helps address some of today’s most pressing societal issues.

My congratulations go to all members of our academic community for their dedication, scientific creativity and tireless efforts. This achievement demonstrates that Greece’s oldest and largest University continues to invest in excellence, innovation, international outreach and high-impact research, further strengthening its position on the global academic map’.