Universities across the globe can now submit data for Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026.

The second year of the pioneering Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, in association with Schmidt Science Fellows, opened today for universities to begin making their submissions.

The 2026 Interdisciplinary Science Rankings (ISR 2026) will feature an expanded scope, allowing universities to submit data that includes cross-disciplinary collaborations combining one or more scientific disciplines with one or more social science disciplines, in addition to submitting data that includes only the combination multiple scientific disciplines.

The inclusion of social science disciplines as an option this year is a response to engagement with and feedback from universities.

The Interdisciplinary Science Rankings were published for the very first time in November 2024 and will accelerate global progress in interdisciplinary research by championing best practice wherever it is found and by highlighting the trends that are driving success.

Some 749 institutions across more than 90 countries participated in ISR 2025, making it the most successful debut Rankings in Times Higher Education’s (THE) history.

Schmidt Science Fellows Executive Director Dr Megan Kenna said: “The overwhelming response to the 2025 Interdisciplinary Science Rankings demonstrated a global drive to advance—and measure—interdisciplinary research excellence. Universities are committed to uncovering the drivers of progress and harnessing collaboration across disciplines to tackle the world’s most complex challenges.

Dr Megan Kenna at the launch of ISR 2025 at the the Interdisciplinary Science Forum in Washington DC.
Dr Megan Kenna at the launch of ISR 2025 at the Interdisciplinary Science Forum in Washington DC.

“The 2026 Rankings build on this momentum, incorporating the social sciences alongside scientific disciplines. Guided by feedback from the sector, this evolution ensures the ISR better captures real-world innovation and impact, solidifying its place as the definitive benchmark for interdisciplinary excellence in universities.”

In the 2025 Rankings, established centers of research excellence in the US dominated with four institutions in the Top Five. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was ranked number one.

At number three, the National University of Singapore was the highest-ranked Asian institution and Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands was ranked 7th in the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.

But strong performance and participation from across the world demonstrated the growing importance of interdisciplinary approaches to institutional success and the Rankings show a strong trend of interdisciplinary output in emerging research regions.

Institutions that would like to participate in the ISR 2026 must submit data for the World University Rankings, as well as extra data on their interdisciplinary science using the same portal, as was the case last year.

There are no fees to participate, but only institutions that submit data through the portal will be included in the tables.

If you would like to register your institution to take part in the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026, email interdisciplinary@timeshighereducation.com.