2 min read
Chinese universities have surpassed Harvard University in the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2025, marking a major shift in global scientific leadership. Zhejiang University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University secured the top two positions, pushing Harvard to third place as China dominates the upper tier of the prestigious science-focused ranking.
According to the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) at Leiden University, Chinese institutions now occupy most of the top nine positions in the Science category. The ranking evaluates over 1,500 universities worldwide based on data from the Web of Science database, focusing strictly on research output and scientific impact.
A CWTS spokesperson noted, “The latest rankings reflect long-term investment and rapid growth in China’s research ecosystem, particularly in science and technology fields.”
Historically, U.S. universities dominated the Leiden Ranking. During the 2006–2009 period, Harvard held the top position, followed by the University of Toronto and the University of Michigan. However, the landscape has changed significantly.
Several prominent U.S. institutions including Stanford, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and the University of Michigan have now fallen out of the top fifteen, highlighting a gradual shift in global academic influence.
Harvard University maintained the number one position for over a decade until 2018–2021. It was first overtaken by Zhejiang University in the 2019–2022 rankings and slipped further in subsequent editions, reflecting intensified global competition in scientific research.
Unlike reputation-based rankings, the Leiden Ranking focuses purely on scientific performance, making it a key indicator of research strength and global knowledge production trends.
