Times Higher Education introduced its Interdisciplinary Science Rankings last year to highlight universities that excel in cutting-edge, cross-field research. In the newly published 2026 edition, the University of Szeged once again demonstrates its research excellence: SZTE ranks among the world’s top 301–350 institutions and stands as Hungary’s leading university in the rapidly developing domain of interdisciplinary research.
Times Higher Education, in collaboration with the Schmidt Science Fellows, launched a unique global interdisciplinary ranking last year, with the latest results released on November 20, 2025. The Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 are based on the evaluation of universities’ commitment to – and excellence in – research that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries.
According to the latest Times Higher Education listing, the University of Szeged has reinforced its strong performance in interdisciplinary sciences, retaining its position as Hungary’s highest-ranked institution. In the 2026 edition, the number of Hungarian universities included in the ranking increased from seven to ten, and six of the ten secured a placement. In the global comparison, SZTE is positioned in the 301–350 bracket.
“The University of Szeged places strong emphasis on fostering impactful cross-disciplinary collaborations across a wide range of fields. To support this ambition, we operate the Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development, and Innovation (IKIKK), which integrates outstanding researchers, diverse research activities, and major strategic projects. The Center provides state-of-the-art infrastructure, high-value instrumentation platforms, and a supportive environment that enables cutting-edge scientific work,” says Prof. Dr. Zoltán Kónya, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs and Innovation and professional lead of the Center.
Prof. Dr. Ildikó Csóka, Director-General for Strategy and Development at the University of Szeged and operational director of IKIKK, underscores the impact of collaboration:
“At SZTE, interdisciplinarity generates genuine synergy. When different scientific fields intersect, complex questions can be explored from multiple perspectives, leading to faster and more effective solutions. This convergence fuels innovation and opens new research pathways, resulting in outstanding achievements both nationally and internationally.”
The Times Higher Education ranking framework outlines an assessment system built around 11 performance indicators that span the full lifecycle of a research project – from inputs to processes and outputs. The evaluation examines interdisciplinary research activity and industry funding (19%), the availability of infrastructure and support services (16%), and, most significantly, the quality and international recognition of interdisciplinary research outcomes (65%).
The top positions in the Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026 are held by three U.S. universities: MIT, Stanford University, and the California Institute of Technology.
The full global ranking list is available here: Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026.
