The University of Szeged ranks among the world’s leading institutions for sustainability, according to the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026. Among more than 1,600 universities evaluated worldwide, SZTE placed in the 301–400 band overall and ranked second in Hungary, reaffirming its position among the country’s top-performing universities. Demonstrating its comprehensive commitment to sustainability, the University of Szeged chose to be assessed across all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieved the highest score among Hungarian universities in nine categories.
Sustainability is a guiding principle of the University of Szeged’s institutional activities, educational mission, and research endeavors. Reflecting its commitment to helping build a more livable and sustainable future, the university continues to rank among Hungary’s leading higher education institutions – a position reaffirmed by the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Ratings. Published on June 24, 2026, the assessment evaluated more than 1,600 universities worldwide, including seven from Hungary. Of those seven institutions, only two chose to be assessed across all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of them being the University of Szeged.
The University of Szeged delivers consistently strong results across the full spectrum of sustainability indicators, as reflected in its performance across all categories of the assessment. The university ranked among Hungary’s top three institutions in every area evaluated, earning first place in nine categories, second place in seven, and third place in one.
Its national first-place finishes include Good Health and Well-Being; No Poverty; Affordable and Clean Energy; Gender Equality; Clean Water and Sanitation; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Life Below Water; Life on Land; and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
The university also achieved excellent results internationally, placing in the 301–400 band of the overall global ranking and finishing second among Hungarian institutions. These achievements reflect the breadth of the university’s contribution to sustainable development. Alongside excellence in medical research and patient care, the University of Szeged plays an active role in addressing global challenges through climate and environmental research, water management, biodiversity and natural resource protection, social responsibility initiatives, energy-efficiency developments, and programs that foster sustainability awareness.
This year, Times Higher Education introduced a new framework for assessing universities’ sustainability performance. The former Impact Rankings have been replaced by the Sustainability Impact Ratings, reflecting the assessment’s increasingly specialized focus. While institutions continue to be evaluated against the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), participation is now limited to members of the Sustainability Impact Network. Consequently, the number of participating universities has declined. At the same time, the competition has likely become even more rigorous, as member institutions share a demonstrated commitment to advancing sustainability.
The University of Szeged’s commitment to a sustainable future is reflected not only in its performance in the latest THE Sustainability Impact Ratings, but also in its inclusion in all three major international sustainability rankings: the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings, the QS Sustainability Rankings, and the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. Together, these assessments offer a comprehensive picture of the university’s sustainability efforts and their impact. SZTE remains committed to tracking its progress through internationally recognized, objective indicators and to using the insights gained from these assessments to guide its future developments.
Source: SZTEinfo
