ShanghaiRanking, a leading higher-education evaluation institution, has recently released the 2026 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). According to the ranking results, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences has jumped from 609th globally in 2025 to 468th, successfully breaking into the world’s top 500 universities. Its ranking among mainland Chinese universities has risen from 128th to 107th, placing it 10th among independent medical universities nationwide.
Since its first entry into the global top 1000 in 2021, the University & Academy has climbed 486 positions in the global rankings and 42 positions in domestic rankings. This remarkable progress bears witness to its outstanding achievements in disciplinary development, scientific-research innovation and talent cultivation, as well as the steady growth of its overall strength and international influence.
ShanghaiRanking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), launched in 2003, is the world’s first comprehensive global university ranking and has been published consecutively for 22 years. It assesses universities across six indicators: alumni awards, staff awards, highly-cited researchers, Nature & Science publications, international papers, and per-capita academic performance. This year’s ranking covers 1,000 leading research-oriented universities worldwide.
In recent years, rooted in national strategies and regional development priorities, the University & Academy has advanced the integration of science and education, medicine and teaching, as well as industry and academia. Centering on disciplinary frontiers and key national strategic needs, it coordinates the integrated development of education, science-technology and talent work, which has steadily boosted its international academic standing and core competitiveness.
Moving forward, the University & Academy will further consolidate its disciplinary strengths, foster innovation potential, and unlock talent vitality. These efforts will lay a solid foundation for building a world-class university and achieving high-quality leap-forward development.
Contributor: Office of Discipline Construction and Development Planning
Correspondent: Fangfang Wu
Editor-in-Charge: Shan Jiang Reviewed by: Yanjun Liu
