King's College London ranks fifth globally in 2026 dental school rankings
UK dental educators should note King's College London's top-five performance in research impact and teaching quality benchmarks.
King's College London achieved fifth place in the QS World University Rankings by subject for dentistry in 2026, with an overall score of 90.1 out of 100. The institution scored particularly highly for H-index citations at 97.3 out of 100, reflecting the productivity and impact of its research output.
UK dental school performance
Within the United Kingdom, King's College London was the highest-ranked institution. Queen Mary University of London followed in 12th place globally, with the University of Birmingham at 19th and the University of Sheffield at 35th. Michael Escudier, executive dean at the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at King's College London, stated the ranking reflects the institution's excellence, international reach and impact in research and education alongside its commitment to improving oral health through innovation and patient-centred care.
Global top 10 leaders
Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden topped the global rankings with a score of 92.7 out of 100, earning a perfect 100 for academic reputation. The top 10 also included The University of Hong Kong in second place, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam in the Netherlands in third, and the University of Michigan at fourth. Sichuan University in China achieved tenth place, marking the first time the institution has entered the global top 10 and the highest placement ever achieved by a Chinese mainland university.
| Rank | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karolinska Institutet | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2 | The University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| 3 | Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 4 | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, USA |
| 5 | King's College London | London, UK |
| 6 | University of California, San Francisco | San Francisco, USA |
| 7 | University of Zurich | Zurich, Switzerland |
| 8 | University of Bern | Bern, Switzerland |
| 9 | Institute of Science Tokyo | Tokyo, Japan |
| 10 | Sichuan University | Chengdu, China |
Frequently asked questions
Where did King's College London rank in the 2026 QS dental school rankings?
King's College London achieved fifth place globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by subject for dentistry, with an overall score of 90.1 out of 100.
Which UK dental schools ranked in the global top 20?
King's College London ranked fifth, Queen Mary University of London ranked 12th, and the University of Birmingham ranked 19th in the 2026 global dental school rankings.
What was King's College London's score for research citations?
King's College London scored 97.3 out of 100 for H-index citations, which measures the productivity and impact of the institution's research output.
Which dental school topped the 2026 global rankings?
Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden ranked first with an overall score of 92.7 out of 100 and received a perfect 100 for academic reputation.
Did any Chinese university enter the top 10 for the first time?
Yes, Sichuan University achieved tenth place globally in 2026, marking its first entry into the top 10 and the highest placement ever achieved by a Chinese mainland university in these rankings.
