AUB Withdraws from Times Higher Education Rankings over Credibility Concerns

Main Links
- About AUB
  About AUB
  
  Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut is a teaching-centered research university based on the American liberal arts model of higher education. AUB has over 8,000 students and 800 faculty members. The University encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to graduate men and women committed to creative and critical thinking, lifelong learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.
- Academics
  Academics
  
  AUB is accredited in the US by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and includes six faculties: Arts and Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Architecture, Agricultural and Food Sciences, Health Sciences, and Business. AUB offers more than 130 programs leading to bachelor's, master's, MD, and PhD degrees. The main language of instruction is English.
- Admissions
  Admissions
  
  Learn more about how you can join the American University of Beirut. AUB seeks applicants with a proven record of academic excellence, intellectual vitality, and civic responsibility. In accordance with its founding mission and its equal opportunity policy, the University admits students regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or nationality.
- Research
  Research
  
  The vibrant and dynamic research environment at AUB enhances the educational experience for all and serves the wider communities—local and global—by advancing knowledge in a wide range of disciplines.
- Outreach
  Outreach
  
  Recognizing and honoring our responsibility for others has been an integral part of AUB’s mission since the earliest days. Today, AUB is at the forefront of addressing the most pressing concerns of this country, this region, and its people.
- Boldly Campaign
  BOLDLY Campaign
  
  To ensure the University can continue to inspire current and future generations of smart and able students who can rise to this challenge, we are embarking on a transformative capital campaign, BOLDLY AUB: The Campaign to Lead, Innovate, and Serve.
AUB Community
- A - Z
- Find People
- Libraries
- Alumni
Public
- Telehealth
- AUBMC
- Give
Useful Tools
- E-learning
- AUBSIS
- Webmail
- Title IX Online Training

AUB Withdraws from Times Higher Education Rankings over Credibility Concerns

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Office of Communications, [email protected]

Standing alongside other reputable institutions that have taken a principled stance in recent years, the American University of Beirut (AUB) has formally announced its immediate withdrawal from participation in the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings. This decision will remain in effect until THE demonstrates a stronger commitment to addressing the concerns AUB has raised since 2023—particularly through the implementation of stricter safeguards against ranking manipulation and the enforcement of meaningful consequences for such practices.

AUB has engaged with Times Higher Education for over a year about widespread manipulative practices among certain universities that artificially inflate their rankings through questionable publication strategies, reciprocal voting syndicates, and research metric gaming. Despite repeated efforts, necessary reforms have not been implemented yet, undermining the credibility of the ranking outcomes.

AUB hopes that this decision will serve as a call to action for ranking agencies worldwide to take stronger measures against higher education institutions that manipulate their way up the rankings.

For nearly 160 years, AUB has been a leader in higher education, upholding the values of excellence, integrity, and accountability. This decision reaffirms AUB's commitment to these principles.

Contact Us

For various questions, please try contacting us via social media first!
read more

Privacy Statement

We take data privacy seriously and adhere to all applicable data privacy laws and regulations.
read more

Copyright and Disclaimer

Written permission is needed to copy or disseminate all or part of the materials on the AUB website.
read more

Title IX, Non-Discrimination, and Anti-Discriminatory Harassment

AUB is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment to all members of its community.
read more