Those who plan to enter a university would benefit from finding out the international ratings of the universities that they are considering. A diploma of a good university will give access to more jobs and higher salaries. The best universities in the world are found in the USA, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Singapore. In 2023 (as well as in previous years), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops the list of the best higher education institutions. Yale is the most expensive university and Oxford is the largest one with more than 26,000 students.
Top 10 higher education institutions according to QS World University Rankings
Quacquarelli Symonds agency ranks world universities and publishes in the rankings in yearly reviews. The agency uses to following criteria to rate the universities:
- The academic reputation of the university;
- The interaction between instructors and students;
- The reputation of the university with local and foreign employers;
- The extent of scientific research;
- Job opportunities for graduates;
- Participation in the International Research Network (IRN);
- Sustainable development of the university;
- The number of foreign students and instructors.
Below we provide the list of top 10 universities in the world. You can find the full list of world universities by visiting the Quacquarelli Symonds official website. You can also find out from International Wealth what universities turn out the largest numbers of millionaires.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), located in the United States, occupies the first place in the world ranking. Students can choose from 30 different departments. The main areas of research at MIT are mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, and arts. The average tuition fee in 2023-2024 is 82,730 USD plus you have to add the cost of board and lodging. Payments are due once a month. The language of instruction is English in the Institute thus a foreign student has to bring an English language certificate showing that his/ her level of English is C1-C2.
Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge located in Great Britain ranks second in the international rankings. The University consists of 31 colleges, 6 schools, and over 150 departments. Cambridge is especially well-known for its achievements in applied mathematics, electrical engineering, information engineering, and other technical areas. Besides, arts and humanities are taught at a high level at the University. The tuition fee is higher for a foreign student than it is for a citizen of the UK. Besides, the tuition depends on the chosen college and department. A bachelor program can cost between 31,655 USD and 82,655 USD per year. The language of instruction is English.
Oxford University
The University of Oxford, also located in Great Britain ranks third in the international rankings. The tuition fee will depend on the chosen educational program and it can vary between 40,635 USD and 59 778 USD per year. English is the only language of instruction. Oxford offers high-quality education in such areas as humanities, math, biology, physics, medicine, and social studies.
Harvard University
Harvard University located in the United States ranks fourth in the international rankings. The students can choose one of the following languages of instruction: English, German, Spanish, French, or Italian. However, they have to demonstrate the knowledge of the language of their choice first. The University has many departments including dentistry, design, natural sciences, arts, and so on. Harvard is especially famous for its law department. The cost of education was 74,450 USD in 2023 including board and lodging as well as medical insurance.
Stanford University
Stanford University, also located in the USA ranks fifth in the international rankings. The language of instruction is English there. The most outstanding departments include business, education, engineering (space technologies in particular), natural sciences, arts, psychology, music, law, and medicine. The tuition fee was 20,577 USD per quarter in 2023.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London located in Great Britain ranks sixth in the international rankings. The College turns out engineers, medical doctors, scientists, and business managers. The tuition fee depends on the department and it can vary between 45,120 USD and 61 970 USD. The only language of instruction is English.
Zurich Technical High School
The Zurich Technical High School located in Switzerland ranks seventh in the international rankings. Students can attend classes in architecture, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and so on. The tuition fee is comparatively low: in 2023, it was around 890 USD per semester. However, the cost of living is high in Switzerland and a student needs between 17,750 USD and 28,800 USD per year more to cover his/ her board and lodging. The primary language of instruction is German but some courses are taught in English or French.
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore ranks eighth in the international rankings. Students can attend classes in arts, social studies, business management, healthcare, law, and many other academic areas. The tuition fee depends on the area of study and it can vary significantly between 22,400 USD and 124,375 USD. The language of instruction is English in Singapore.
University College London, UCL
University College London located in Great Britain ranks ninth in the international rankings. Students can choose from 11 departments including architecture, law, engineering, and others. The tuition fee for a foreign student was around 43,000 USD in 2023. The language of instruction is English.
University of California Berkeley
University of California Berkeley located in the United States ranks tenth in the international rankings. The University consists of 88 departments. UCB is especially famous for its software engineering and other IT-related programs. However, there are other departments too including applied mathematics, humanities, psychology, design, and so on. A bachelor program cost 32,574 USD in 2023 but that was only the tuition fee – board and lodging not included. Depending on the area of specialization, the language of instruction can be different: English, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, English, French, or Russian.
If you would like to enter one of the best universities in the world, you have to apply for enrollment while attaching all the required documents to your application. Please note that you may have to pass an entrance exam in some universities. Besides, you may have to take a language test if you come from a foreign country. The tuition fees normally have to be paid in advance.