Top universities for tackling gender equality 2025
These are the universities conducting research and creating initiatives towards creating gender equality in society. Explore the top 100 universities for gender equality based on data collected for the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings
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Gender equality is one of the key challenges facing society today. It covers many aspects, including pay, employment opportunities and access to education.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) look to tackle some of today’s biggest global issues, and SDG 5 addresses the issue of gender equality.
As part of the 2025 Impact Rankings, Times Higher Education has ranked universities according to how they are contributing to gender equality. Some of the measures looked at are research on gender, policies on gender equality, commitment to recruiting and promoting women, the proportion of first-generation female students and student access measures. You can read more about the methodology here.
Top five universities for gender equality
1. Walailak University
Walailak University is a new entry to this year’s table for SDG 5 and takes first place.
In the past year the university released a policy that promotes gender equality and anti-harassment. This policy includes accepting that staff and students can dress according to their gender identity (including uniforms and graduation gowns) and that the university supports the formation of advocacy and support groups for women and the LGBTQ community.
The university has also seen an increase in female staff in leadership positions since 2016.
2. Bahçeşehir University
Bahçeşehir University has climbed 24 places in the table for SDG 5 since last year.
Bahçeşehir University has created a Gender Equality Action Plan to ensure fair representation at the institution.
The plan covers a wide range of initiatives including updating the curriculum to include gender equality, organising workshops and seminars for staff and students on gender equity and promoting research projects on gender equality.
3. University of Bucharest
Founded in 1864, the University of Bucharest (UB) was formed out of the former Saint Sava Academy, which itself was established in 1694. It is a modern public research university and the second oldest in Romania.
It is the highest-ranked university in Europe in this year's table for SDG 5.
In the past couple of years the university has created a gender equality plan, which includes a range of measures such as promoting leadership for gender equality, organising a summer school for gender studies, and improving work-life balance for staff.
4. Universitas Airlangga
Universitas Airlangga in Indonesia has taken steps to improve outreach and encourage more female students to enrol. In 2022, 72 per cent of new applicants to the university were female.
Universitas Airlangga has established campus support units to help female students and provide a safe space for them to report incidents, seek guidance and receive support.
=5. Flinders University
Flinders University has climbed three places to take the joint fifth position this year.
The institution has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for its efforts towards achieving gender equality and diversity and inclusion.
=5. Thammasat University
Thammasat University is the second university from Thailand to feature in the top five for gender equality.
In collaboration with UN Women, Thammasat University launched an initiative that addresses sexual harassment to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone at the university.
The university has also set up initiatives to encourage applications from women in subjects where they are under-represented, including IT and STEM.
