NOVA University Lisbon holds a leading national and competitive international position in the QS Sustainability Rankings 2026, placing 141st globally out of 2,002 institutions and securing 1st place in Portugal among 14 ranked universities. Within Europe, NOVA ranks 72nd among 621 institutions, and in Southern Europe it stands 5th out of 150. These results highlight NOVA’s consolidated commitment to sustainability across environmental, social, and governance dimensions.
Environmental Impact
This dimension evaluates how universities contribute to environmental sustainability through education, namely the strength of their environmental curricula, the impact of research linked to key SDGs, and institutional practices.
NOVA ranks 191st globally in Environmental Impact, ranking 126th globally in Environmental Education. It demonstrates strong curricular provision and reputation in environmental fields. In Environmental Research, aligned with SDGs 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, NOVA ranks 172nd globally. The comparatively lower performance in institutional practices (418th globally) indicates room for improvement in operational sustainability and climate-focused institutional strategies. These are excellent signs for an even stronger performance in the future, as NOVA has recently approved its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. Despite this, NOVA’s Environmental Impact score (78.3/100) remains significantly above the global median of 46.4, placing the university in the quadrant of higher-than-average environmental performance relative to global peers.
Social Impact
Social Impact assesses how universities advance societal wellbeing through employability, equality, health, education and knowledge exchange. It captures both the institution’s internal commitment and its broader contributions to communities, industry, and global development.
NOVA demonstrates exceptional performance in the Social Impact category, ranking 124th globally. It excels particularly in Knowledge Exchange, with a global rank of 51st, reflecting strong international collaboration, partnership networks, and community engagement. NOVA’s Social Impact score (91.7/100) places it well above the global median of 59.4, securing its position among the strongest performers globally.
Governance
Governance measures the strength and transparency of an institution’s leadership, decision-making, and ethical culture. It considers factors such as student participation or financial transparency.
Governance is NOVA’s highest-performing dimension. With a global rank of 78 and a European rank of 52. Its Governance score (97.9/100) places it in the top tier internationally and significantly above the global median (60.3).
Overall Assessment
With an overall score of 87/100, NOVA University Lisbon positions itself as a national leader and an internationally competitive institution in sustainability practices. Its results highlight strengths in social impact, governance, environmental education, and knowledge exchange.