27/03/2026
IIUM STRENGTHENS GLOBAL REPUTATION IN THEOLOGY, DIVINITY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Gombak, 26 March – The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has achieved a significant milestone by being ranked among the top 25 universities in the world for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings (WUR) by Subject 2026.
This recognition places IIUM among 14 Malaysian universities that have successfully entered the top 25 globally across various disciplines, reflecting the growing competitiveness and excellence of Malaysia’s higher education sector on the international stage.
IIUM Rector, Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar, expressed his pride in this achievement, noting that it reinforces the university’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, particularly in Islamic studies and the integration of knowledge, in line with IIUM’s aspiration to be a leading value-based educational institution.
“This recognition is a testament to IIUM’s continuous commitment to achieving academic excellence, particularly in the fields of Islamic studies and the humanities. It reflects the dedication of our scholars, researchers, and students in advancing relevant knowledge with global impact,” he said.
The university’s placement among the world’s top 25 further underscores Malaysia’s strengthening position in the global higher education landscape, especially within specialised academic fields.
“IIUM will continue to strengthen its position as a global university rooted in Islamic values, while fostering international collaboration and intellectual contributions. This achievement aligns with IIUM’s direction in reinforcing the campus community’s commitment to the tawhidic epistemological framework,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIRKHS), Prof. Dr. Hafiz Zakariya, highlighted that this recognition serves as a strong motivation to further enhance curriculum quality, research excellence, and global engagement.
“Being ranked among the top 25 in the world for Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies is a highly commendable achievement for AHAS KIRKHS. It reflects the strength of our academic programmes, research outputs, and the global relevance of education grounded in revealed knowledge, Islamic heritage, and the human sciences,” he said.
For 2026, the QS World University Rankings by Subject evaluated more than 21,000 academic programmes from approximately 1,900 institutions worldwide, making this recognition highly competitive and prestigious.
