Wroclaw Medical University has confirmed its position as a leader of Polish higher education, maintaining the highest national ranking in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
In this year’s edition, the university was placed in the 501–600 band among over 2,100 assessed institutions, positioning it among the top 2–3% of universities worldwide and as the highest-ranked university in Poland, jointly with Jagiellonian University.
THE World University Rankings – One of the Most Prestigious Global Assessments
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE WUR) is one of the most prestigious global evaluations of research universities.
This year, data from over two thousand institutions were analyzed, with assessments based on 18 performance indicators grouped into five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry engagement.
High Research Quality – A Strong Pillar of UMW
One of the strongest areas for Wroclaw Medical University in this year’s ranking is Research Quality, where the institution was ranked among the world’s top 500 universities.
This indicator encompasses citation impact, research strength and excellence, as well as the international significance of research outputs.
“This is an objective confirmation that our consistent focus on research quality brings measurable results,” emphasizes Prof. Piotr Ponikowski, Rector of Wroclaw Medical University.
“It’s not the number of publications that matters most, but their quality. For several years, we have been systematically building a system that rewards high-quality research — as a result, our visibility and position in global science continue to grow.”
Teaching – The Foundation of Development
Another strong pillar of the university remains Teaching, reflecting WMU’s commitment to educating medical professionals and researchers.
The university continues to develop practice-oriented programs, innovative teaching methods, and advanced simulation tools that prepare students for both clinical and research careers.
“There is no university without teaching — it is our core mission, especially for an institution that educates healthcare professionals. We feel this responsibility deeply,” says Prof. Piotr Ponikowski.
“To prepare our graduates well, we must equip them not only with knowledge and practical skills — increasingly based on advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence — but also with the ability to work in interprofessional teams. Above all, we teach that every patient deserves respect and empathy — values essential to every doctor, nurse, and paramedic.
This year, we are also expanding the Young Science program, supporting students, PhD candidates, and young researchers at the start of their careers through mentoring and seed grants. We are introducing new fields of study, such as Medical Biology and Electroradiology, responding to the evolving needs of modern medicine and the labor market. Our goal is for every WMU graduate to leave the university not only with a diploma but with real competencies that will allow them to shape the future of medicine.”
The Next Challenge – Internationalization
WMU currently sees its greatest development potential in the area of International Outlook.
This component considers the proportion of international students and staff, as well as the number of publications resulting from international collaboration.
“WMU is becoming increasingly recognized in the scientific community, but we are aware that bibliometric achievements are only the foundation,” says Prof. Piotr Ponikowski.
“Our next strategic step is to intensify participation in international research and educational projects — not only as a partner but also as a leader. We want to ensure that our researchers have the tools and institutional support to successfully compete for European and global grants and join multinational research consortia.”
A Strategy That Delivers Results
The result in the THE World University Rankings 2026 is not just a measure of standing — it is proof that a strategy based on quality, innovation, and collaboration produces tangible outcomes.
For Wroclaw Medical University, it marks another step toward a lasting presence among the world’s institutions that shape the future of higher education and medicine.
Because here beats the heart of medicine.