UBC among best in the world for medicine and health, rising into top 30 globally

UBC is among the best universities in the world for Medical and Health disciplines, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject, rising into 28^th position globally and second in Canada.

The 2025 rankings are a significant milestone as UBC breaks into the global top 30 for the first time, after consistently being among the top 40 for more than a decade, including 34^th in 2024. UBC also rose among Canadian institutions, coming in second within the Medical and Health category.

“This achievement reflects UBC’s commitment and dedication to building a healthier world through world-class medical and health education, groundbreaking research and impactful partnerships,” said Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon, UBC President and Vice-Chancellor. “It reflects the transformative and collaborative work taking place across health disciplines and faculties at UBC.”

In recent years, UBC has made major contributions to lifesaving new medicines, such as mRNA vaccines, while expanding medical and health educations programs and advancing biomedical innovation to translate discoveries into health solutions for patients and communities across Canada and globally.

UBC’s strengths in areas such as brain health, biomedical engineering, cancer and Indigenous health, combined with its interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art facilities, have positioned the university as a world leader for impactful education, training and discoveries.

The rankings also highlight the importance of UBC’s partnerships with health authorities, governments, community organizations and industry leaders.

For Dr. Dermot Kelleher, UBC’s Vice-President, Health, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, the rankings are a testament to the scientists, educators, learners, staff and partners working across disciplines to advance health care and improve lives worldwide.

“This recognition underscores UBC’s impact as a global leader in medicine and health,” says Dr. Kelleher. “From groundbreaking research that drives biomedical innovation to collaborative partnerships that address urgent health challenges, the UBC community is shaping the future of health locally, nationally and globally. I want to thank all of our faculty, staff and learners for their contributions to making this happen.”

The Times Higher Education rankings are among the most prestigious in higher education and trusted worldwide by students, academics, governments and industry. The Medical and Health subject area evaluates universities across programs in medicine, dentistry, nursing and other healthcare disciplines.

This year’s ranking assessed 1,150 institutions from 102 countries and territories across five core pillars of evaluation including teaching, research environment, research quality, industry and international outlook.