In the 2026 edition, NABA has been recognised by the QS World University Rankings® by Subject as the top Italian Fine Arts Academy among the world's 50 best universities in the Art & Design sector.
This year, moreover, NABA has broken into the global top 50, achieving 41st place in the ranking — a significant step forward compared with previous years, marking a new milestone in NABA's growth.
This outstanding result, achieved for the sixth consecutive year, reaffirms the excellence that defines NABA's educational philosophy: a philosophy rooted in a deep commitment to research and a constant dialogue with the artistic and professional world.
The World's Leading University Rankings: The Value and Criteria of the QS World University Rankings® by Subject
The QS World University Rankings® by Subject is one of the most authoritative international rankings for evaluating universities worldwide, as it compares the quality of institutions across specific subject areas.
For the 2026 edition, QS analysed more than 6,277 institutions across 166 countries, selecting those with the most outstanding performance for inclusion in the final ranking, spanning 55 academic disciplines and 5 broad thematic areas.
Within this highly selective context, NABA's 41st-place finish in the Art & Design ranking carries even greater significance: it not only consolidates the Academy's presence in the ranking, but also marks its entry into the global top 50 — reflecting tangible progress compared to previous years and confirming NABA as the highest-ranked Italian Fine Arts Academy in the ranking.
In the Art & Design sector, the QS World University Rankings® by Subject assessment methodology is based primarily on two indicators that measure both the academic quality of the institution and its recognition in the professional world.
The two main parameters are as follows:
- Academic Reputation: The most significant indicator, this measures the institution's academic standing on a global scale. It is based on one of the largest international surveys in the field of education, gathering the views of academics and researchers from around the world. This indicator evaluates the quality of research, innovation, academic collaborations, and the institution's cultural impact.
- Employer Reputation: This parameter measures the Academy's recognition within the world of work. It is compiled by analysing the opinions of international recruiters and employers, and assesses the institution's ability to train graduates who are ready to enter the professional market, equipped with practical, real-world skills.
Together, these indicators produce a structured, globally comparable assessment — one in which NABA's position is becoming ever more competitive.
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