Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore has achieved a remarkable milestone by securing the top position in Singapore and fifth place globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026. This ranking, released on November 20, 2025, in association with Schmidt Science Fellows, highlights NTU's prowess in fostering collaboration across scientific disciplines to tackle complex global challenges.

The rankings evaluate 911 universities from 94 countries, focusing on how institutions integrate knowledge from fields like computer science, engineering, life sciences, physical sciences, and even non-STEM areas such as social sciences and health. NTU's climb from ninth place last year underscores its strategic investments in interdisciplinary infrastructure and talent.

Global Leaders and NTU's Place Among Them 🏆

The top spots are dominated by U.S. institutions, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retaining first place for the second consecutive year, followed by Stanford University in second, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in third, and University of California, Berkeley in fourth. NTU's fifth position marks it as Asia's highest-ranked university and the only non-U.S. institution in the top five.

Further down, Duke University holds sixth, Georgia Institute of Technology seventh, and notably, Singapore's National University of Singapore (NUS) eighth, down from third last year. This strong Singaporean presence— with both NTU and NUS in the top 10— reflects the city-state's commitment to research excellence through public funding and collaborative platforms.

Understanding the Rankings Methodology

THE's Interdisciplinary Science Rankings assess universities across three pillars: Inputs (19% weight), Process (16%), and Outputs (65%). Inputs measure funding, including the proportion dedicated to interdisciplinary science and industry contributions normalized by staff numbers.

The Process pillar evaluates institutional support through evidence-based metrics: success measures, physical facilities, administrative backing, and promotion/tenure policies that reward interdisciplinary work. Outputs dominate, covering publication volume and proportion (15% combined), citation utility across disciplines, research quality (field-weighted citation impact), and reputation from a 2025 survey of scientists.

Data draws from Elsevier's Scopus (174.9 million citations, 2020-2024 publications), institutional submissions tied to World University Rankings 2026, and PPP-adjusted financials. This year's expansion to non-STEM integration boosted Asian and Eastern European scores, slightly softening U.S. averages.

NTU's Keys to Success in Interdisciplinary Research

NTU earned a perfect score in measures of interdisciplinary success and excelled in publication volume. Over 100 faculty hold joint appointments across schools, enabling seamless collaboration. The university boasts numerous institutes and centres tackling societal issues like climate change and health via multidisciplinary approaches.

In Clarivate's Highly Cited Researchers 2025, half of NTU's 33 listed scientists worked in interdisciplinary fields spanning computer science to biochemistry. Educationally, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme allows PhD students to blend two or more disciplines, while undergraduates take compulsory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core modules for early exposure.

NTU Deputy President and Provost Professor Christian Wolfrum emphasized: “Being interdisciplinary is at the heart of this university as we break down walls between disciplines, not just in research but also in education.”

Singapore's Higher Education Landscape: NTU vs. NUS

Singapore's duo of NTU and NUS exemplifies national strategy. NTU leads domestically, leapfrogging NUS which dropped to eighth globally. Both benefit from government-backed schemes promoting cross-institutional work, as noted by Peking University's Yi Bu: “These systems couple targeted public investment with formal processes... converting resources into measurable outputs.”

In broader THE World University Rankings 2026, NUS ranks 17th overall, NTU higher in research quality (95.2 score). This rivalry drives innovation, attracting global talent to Singapore's universities. For aspiring academics, explore higher education jobs in Singapore via platforms like AcademicJobs.com.

Implications for Singapore's Research Ecosystem

NTU's triumph bolsters Singapore's ambition to be a global R&D hub. Interdisciplinary approaches address real-world problems, from AI-driven healthcare to sustainable engineering. The rankings signal to policymakers the value of sustained funding—Singapore invests heavily in shared facilities and competitive grants.

Stakeholders, including industry partners, gain from high-impact outputs. University of Michigan's Daniel Romero highlights Asian universities' investments in “joint appointments, cross-departmental research centres.” This positions Singapore universities as magnets for international collaborations and funding.

For students and faculty, it means more opportunities in cutting-edge fields. Check university jobs for lecturer and professor roles at NTU or NUS.

Case Studies: NTU's Flagship Interdisciplinary Projects

• AI and Health Integration: NTU's efforts in combining computer science with clinical medicine, contributing to highly cited papers.
• Sustainable Materials: Joint work in materials science, engineering, and environmental studies for green technologies.
• Urban Solutions: Collaborations blending engineering, social sciences, and policy for smart city initiatives in Singapore.

These examples illustrate step-by-step processes: ideation across disciplines, joint funding bids, shared labs, co-authored publications, and real-world applications. Such models inspire other Singapore colleges.

Career Opportunities in Singapore's Top Universities

The rankings elevate demand for interdisciplinary experts. Roles in research assistance, postdocs, and faculty positions are booming. NTU's joint appointments model offers flexible career paths.

• Benefits: Diverse projects, industry links, global networks.
• Risks: Need for broad skills; mitigated by NTU's training programs.

Aspiring professionals can leverage higher ed career advice and apply via faculty jobs or postdoc positions. Singapore's higher education scene promises competitive salaries and innovation hubs.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite successes, challenges persist: balancing depth vs. breadth, funding competition, measuring non-STEM integration. Experts predict Asian universities will close the U.S. gap through policy incentives.

By 2030, Singapore aims for more top-10 spots, with NTU leading via expanded PhD programs. Actionable insights: Universities should prioritize admin support and tenure reforms; researchers, seek joint roles.

For balanced views, U.S. strengths in reputation endure, but Asia's rise is evident—49 Asian unis in top 100 vs. 26 North American.

Photo by j . on Unsplash

Stakeholder Perspectives and Broader Impacts

Industry views rankings as talent pipelines; governments as innovation boosters. Students benefit from enriched curricula, preparing for hybrid careers.

In Singapore, this reinforces the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan, extending to 2030. Explore professor jobs or rate your professors for insights into campus culture.