Top 20 foreign universities you can opt for

Wondering which foreign universities to apply to for higher studies? QS World University Rankings, which feature 1,029 of the most prestigious universities in the world, has ranked universities based on a methodology which assesses each institution on six metrics, including its reputation amongst academics and employers. Take a look at the top universities in the world today.

<p><strong>Massachusetts Institute of Technology<br />Cambridge, Massachusetts</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "'Mind and Hand' is the thought-provoking motto of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known also as MIT. This motto enigmatically encapsulates this famous institution’s mission to advance knowledge in science, technology and areas of scholarship that can help to make the world a better place." &nbsp;</p>

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts

QS World University Rankings: "'Mind and Hand' is the thought-provoking motto of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, known also as MIT. This motto enigmatically encapsulates this famous institution’s mission to advance knowledge in science, technology and areas of scholarship that can help to make the world a better place."  

<p><strong>Stanford University<br />California</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Stanford University is in the heart of Northern California's dynamic Silicon Valley, home to Yahoo, Google, Hewlett-Packard, and many other cutting-edge tech companies that were founded by and continue to be led by Stanford alumni and faculty. Nicknamed the 'billionaire factory', it is said that if Stanford graduates formed their own country it would boast one of the world’s largest ten economies."&nbsp;</p>

Stanford University
California

QS World University Rankings: "Stanford University is in the heart of Northern California's dynamic Silicon Valley, home to Yahoo, Google, Hewlett-Packard, and many other cutting-edge tech companies that were founded by and continue to be led by Stanford alumni and faculty. Nicknamed the 'billionaire factory', it is said that if Stanford graduates formed their own country it would boast one of the world’s largest ten economies." 

<p>Harvard<br />Cambridge, Massachusetts</p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest higher education institution in the United States, and is widely regarded in terms of its influence, reputation, and academic pedigree as a leading university in not just the US but also the world. Harvard’s 209-acre campus houses 10 degree-granting schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, two theaters, and five museums. It is also home to the largest academic library system in the world"<br />&nbsp;</p>

Harvard
Cambridge, Massachusetts

QS World University Rankings: "Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest higher education institution in the United States, and is widely regarded in terms of its influence, reputation, and academic pedigree as a leading university in not just the US but also the world. Harvard’s 209-acre campus houses 10 degree-granting schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, two theaters, and five museums. It is also home to the largest academic library system in the world"

<p><strong>California Institute of Technology<br />California</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution. Caltech has a high research output as well as many high-quality facilities such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (owned by NASA), the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, and the International Observatory Network. It’s among a small group of institutes of technology in the United States primarily devoted to teaching technical arts and applied science."</p>

California Institute of Technology
California

QS World University Rankings: "The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution. Caltech has a high research output as well as many high-quality facilities such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (owned by NASA), the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, and the International Observatory Network. It’s among a small group of institutes of technology in the United States primarily devoted to teaching technical arts and applied science."

<p><strong>Oxford<br />United Kingdom</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and is actually so ancient that its founding date is unknown – though it is thought that teaching took place there as early as the 11th century."</p>

Oxford
United Kingdom

QS World University Rankings: "The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and is actually so ancient that its founding date is unknown – though it is thought that teaching took place there as early as the 11th century."

<p><strong>Swiss Federal Institute of Technology<br />Zurich, Switzerland</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities in science and technology and is known for its cutting-edge research and innovation. It was established in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School, and a century and a half later the university can count 21 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists, 2 Pritzker Prize winners, and 1 Turing Award winner as alumni, including the great Albert Einstein himself."</p>

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Zurich, Switzerland

QS World University Rankings: "ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities in science and technology and is known for its cutting-edge research and innovation. It was established in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School, and a century and a half later the university can count 21 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists, 2 Pritzker Prize winners, and 1 Turing Award winner as alumni, including the great Albert Einstein himself."

<p>Cambridge<br />United Kingdom</p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "The university consists of numerous listed buildings and is divided into 31 autonomous colleges, with many of the older ones situated on the famous river Cam. Six academic schools – Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology – are spread across the university’s colleges, housing roughly 150 faculties and other institutions."</p>

Cambridge
United Kingdom

QS World University Rankings: "The university consists of numerous listed buildings and is divided into 31 autonomous colleges, with many of the older ones situated on the famous river Cam. Six academic schools – Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology – are spread across the university’s colleges, housing roughly 150 faculties and other institutions."

<p><strong>Imperial College<br />London, UK</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Imperial College London is a one-of-a-kind institution in the UK, focusing solely on science, engineering, medicine and business. Imperial offers an education that is research-led, exposing you to real world challenges with no easy answers, teaching that opens everything up to question and opportunities to work across multi-cultural, multi-national teams."<br />&nbsp;</p>

Imperial College
London, UK

QS World University Rankings: "Imperial College London is a one-of-a-kind institution in the UK, focusing solely on science, engineering, medicine and business. Imperial offers an education that is research-led, exposing you to real world challenges with no easy answers, teaching that opens everything up to question and opportunities to work across multi-cultural, multi-national teams."

<p><strong>University of Chicago<br />Chicago, US</strong></p><p><br />Established in 1856, the University of Chicago is a private research university based in the urban center of Chicago, the third most populous city in the United States. Outside of the Ivy League, Chicago is one of America’s top universities, and holds top-ten positions in various national and international rankings. Beyond the arts and sciences, Chicago has a glowing reputation for its professional schools, including the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business, and the Harris School of Public Policy Studies."<br />&nbsp;</p>

University of Chicago
Chicago, US

Established in 1856, the University of Chicago is a private research university based in the urban center of Chicago, the third most populous city in the United States. Outside of the Ivy League, Chicago is one of America’s top universities, and holds top-ten positions in various national and international rankings. Beyond the arts and sciences, Chicago has a glowing reputation for its professional schools, including the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business, and the Harris School of Public Policy Studies."

<p><strong>University College London<br />London, UK</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "There has been 29 Nobel laureates among its former staff and students; a winner in every decade since the Prize started. It offers over 675 postgraduate, research and initial teacher education programmes across a wide range of disciplines, and encourage our community to work across traditional subject boundaries."<br />&nbsp;</p>

University College London
London, UK

QS World University Rankings: "There has been 29 Nobel laureates among its former staff and students; a winner in every decade since the Prize started. It offers over 675 postgraduate, research and initial teacher education programmes across a wide range of disciplines, and encourage our community to work across traditional subject boundaries."

<p><strong>National University of Singapore<br />Singapore</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Singapore’s flagship university offers a global approach to education and research, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. NUS has 17 faculties and schools across three campuses. Its transformative education includes a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment. Over 38,000 students from 100 countries enrich the community with their diverse social and cultural perspectives."</p>

National University of Singapore
Singapore

QS World University Rankings: "Singapore’s flagship university offers a global approach to education and research, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. NUS has 17 faculties and schools across three campuses. Its transformative education includes a broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment. Over 38,000 students from 100 countries enrich the community with their diverse social and cultural perspectives."

<p><strong>Princeton University<br />New Jersey, United States</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Princeton is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. Princeton is renowned for the spectacular greenery of its campus and for the architectural splendor of some of its landmark buildings, such as its Lewis Library, which was designed by Frank Gehry. Its student body is relatively small, with fewer than 10,000 enrolled in total, and international students make up 12 per cent of undergraduates."&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;</p>

Princeton University
New Jersey, United States

QS World University Rankings: "Princeton is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. Princeton is renowned for the spectacular greenery of its campus and for the architectural splendor of some of its landmark buildings, such as its Lewis Library, which was designed by Frank Gehry. Its student body is relatively small, with fewer than 10,000 enrolled in total, and international students make up 12 per cent of undergraduates." 

<p><strong>Nanyang Technological University<br />Singapore</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: Home to 33,000 students, NTU offers engineering, science, business, humanities, arts, social sciences, and education, and has a joint medical school with Imperial College London. Ranked the top university in the world for citations in artificial intelligence (Nikkei and Elsevier 2017) for the period 2012-2016, NTU is embracing digital technologies for better learning and living as part of its Smart Campus vision. It has partnerships with the world’s leading technology companies such as Alibaba, Rolls-Royce, BMW and Volvo."<br />&nbsp;</p>

Nanyang Technological University
Singapore

QS World University Rankings: Home to 33,000 students, NTU offers engineering, science, business, humanities, arts, social sciences, and education, and has a joint medical school with Imperial College London. Ranked the top university in the world for citations in artificial intelligence (Nikkei and Elsevier 2017) for the period 2012-2016, NTU is embracing digital technologies for better learning and living as part of its Smart Campus vision. It has partnerships with the world’s leading technology companies such as Alibaba, Rolls-Royce, BMW and Volvo."

<p><strong>Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne&nbsp;<br />Lausanne, Switzerland</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "EPFL specializes in the natural sciences and engineering. Its roots can be traced back to the foundation of a private school in 1853, which to start with only had 11 students. Those days are long gone though, with the modern day EPFL one of two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and student numbers in Lausanne now totaling over 10,000. EPFL is one of the only universities to run a nuclear reactor, a fusion reactor, a Gene/Q Supercomputer, and have P3 bio-hazard facilities."<br />&nbsp;</p>

Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne 
Lausanne, Switzerland

QS World University Rankings: "EPFL specializes in the natural sciences and engineering. Its roots can be traced back to the foundation of a private school in 1853, which to start with only had 11 students. Those days are long gone though, with the modern day EPFL one of two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and student numbers in Lausanne now totaling over 10,000. EPFL is one of the only universities to run a nuclear reactor, a fusion reactor, a Gene/Q Supercomputer, and have P3 bio-hazard facilities."

<p><strong>Tsinghua University<br />Beijing, China</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Most university rankings place Tsinghua among the best universities in China, and famous alumni include President Xi Jinping himself, who graduated with a degree in chemical engineering in 1979. Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, and Bill Clinton are among the distinguished guests who have spoken at Tsinghua. The university is academically organized into 20 schools and 57 departments covering a broad range of subjects, including science, engineering, arts and literature, social sciences, medicine."</p>

Tsinghua University
Beijing, China

QS World University Rankings: "Most university rankings place Tsinghua among the best universities in China, and famous alumni include President Xi Jinping himself, who graduated with a degree in chemical engineering in 1979. Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, and Bill Clinton are among the distinguished guests who have spoken at Tsinghua. The university is academically organized into 20 schools and 57 departments covering a broad range of subjects, including science, engineering, arts and literature, social sciences, medicine."

<p><strong>University of Pennsylvania<br />Philadelphia,US</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "This private Ivy League research university has a strong focus on interdisciplinary learning and research, offering double degree programs, unique majors and academic flexibility. Student life at Penn serves up opportunities to discover new interests and passions galore, through a wide diversity of social, political, religious, and cultural activities."<br />&nbsp;</p>

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia,US

QS World University Rankings: "This private Ivy League research university has a strong focus on interdisciplinary learning and research, offering double degree programs, unique majors and academic flexibility. Student life at Penn serves up opportunities to discover new interests and passions galore, through a wide diversity of social, political, religious, and cultural activities."

<p><strong>Yale University<br />New Haven, United States</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Yale University is a private research university and a member of the prestigious Ivy League, a group of America’s most celebrated higher education institutions. The university is organized into 14 schools: the original undergraduate college, the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and 12 professional schools."<br />&nbsp;</p>

Yale University
New Haven, United States

QS World University Rankings: "Yale University is a private research university and a member of the prestigious Ivy League, a group of America’s most celebrated higher education institutions. The university is organized into 14 schools: the original undergraduate college, the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and 12 professional schools."

<p><strong>Cornell University<br />Ithaca, United States</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "Cornell has been a co-educational, non-sectarian institution where admission has not been restricted by religion or race. These are liberal traditions that Cornell holds dear: a recent article in the Cornell Chronicle heralded the first all-female class admitted to its famous Farrier program in veterinary science. Cornell was also the first university to offer degrees in journalism and the first to teach modern Far Eastern languages."<br />&nbsp;</p>

Cornell University
Ithaca, United States

QS World University Rankings: "Cornell has been a co-educational, non-sectarian institution where admission has not been restricted by religion or race. These are liberal traditions that Cornell holds dear: a recent article in the Cornell Chronicle heralded the first all-female class admitted to its famous Farrier program in veterinary science. Cornell was also the first university to offer degrees in journalism and the first to teach modern Far Eastern languages."

<p><strong>Columbia University<br />New York, United States</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "With an undergraduate acceptance rate of 5.8 percent, Columbia is currently the third most selective college in the United States and the second most selective in the Ivy League after Harvard. The university is organized into 20 schools, including undergraduate schools such as Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies, as well as graduate schools such as Columbia Law School, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Journalism School and Columbia Business School. It also had global research outposts across the world."<br />&nbsp;</p>

Columbia University
New York, United States

QS World University Rankings: "With an undergraduate acceptance rate of 5.8 percent, Columbia is currently the third most selective college in the United States and the second most selective in the Ivy League after Harvard. The university is organized into 20 schools, including undergraduate schools such as Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies, as well as graduate schools such as Columbia Law School, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Journalism School and Columbia Business School. It also had global research outposts across the world."

<p><strong>University of Edinburgh<br />Edinburgh, United Kingdom</strong></p><p><br />QS World University Rankings: "The University of Edinburgh offers a range of ways to study, from on-campus taught programmes to online part-time study. It is the largest provider of online distance learning in the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities, and offer more than 70 online programmes. It offers more than 300 taught masters courses and 180 research areas across our three Colleges."</p>

University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

QS World University Rankings: "The University of Edinburgh offers a range of ways to study, from on-campus taught programmes to online part-time study. It is the largest provider of online distance learning in the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities, and offer more than 70 online programmes. It offers more than 300 taught masters courses and 180 research areas across our three Colleges."