The Politecnico di Milano has once again been recognised among the world's leading universities in the 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, ranking 6th globally in Architecture and the Built Environment, 7th in Design and 20th in Engineering and Technology. In an edition that analysed 6,277 universities, up from 1,543 in 2022, and ranked 1,912 of them, the University consolidated its position in its distinctive fields. Also noteworthy are the 14th-place rankings in Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, and in Civil and Structural Engineering.
"The QS Rankings remain an important indicator: they not only measure our reputation and standing, but also influence people’s choices. This year’s edition confirms the soundness of a strategy developed over time: strengthening our international dimension, innovating teaching methodologies, consolidating our relationship with industry, and integrating basic and applied research. In a geopolitical and economic context where technology is a key factor, being among the top twenty universities in the world means we can measure ourselves against the major global players on increasingly complex challenges - challenges that require an interdisciplinary approach, which the Politecnico di Milano has chosen to promote with conviction."
Donatella Sciuto, Rector of Politecnico di Milano
Overall, the Politecnico di Milano features in 26 specialist fields out of the 55 considered by the ranking, with 4 disciplines in the top 1% worldwide, 12 in the top 5%, and 19 in the top 10% globally. The breadth of subjects provides concrete confirmation of the University’s interdisciplinary focus, combining its traditional strength in more specialised sectors with a growing ability to cover adjacent and cross-cutting fields.
The Employer Reputation indicator also confirms the high regard in which Politecnico di Milano graduates are held by employers, while the Academic Reputation, H-index, and citations per publication reflect the strength of its academic and scientific standing.
The figures:
- 6th in the world for Architecture and the Built Environment
- 7th in the world for Design
- 20th in the world for Engineering and Technology
- 26 subjects ranked out of 55
- 2 disciplines in the world’s top ten: Architecture and the Built Environment; Design
- 10 disciplines in the world’s top fifty: Engineering and Technology; Data Science & AI; Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering; Materials Engineering; Mathematics
- 6,277 universities analysed (+16% compared to last year)
- 1,912 universities ranked (+10% compared to last year)
See the rankings: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 | TopUniversities