A university is an educational institution providing higher education to the students. It is usually associated with undergraduate and postgraduate education. It awards degrees to the students excelling in various disciplines such as humanities, sciences, commerce, professional courses, and engineering.
The emphasis of universities has always been on research-oriented education and academic excellence. The varsities promoting ground-breaking research and out-of-the-way thoughts excel when it comes to the promulgation of innovative ideas.
A university may have thousands of students enrolled in it studying different disciplines wanting to have a bright future ahead. A reputed university is always a much sought after educational hub attracting students from even foreign countries. A world-class university usually has the best in class infrastructure, well-established laboratories, highly educated teachers, and enough funds for the benefit of students.
Top 10 Universities in the world
People always prefer a university that aims at the overall development of its students for their wards. During the past few decades, the craze of the people has increased considerably for foreign colleges and universities famous for providing research-based and job oriented education. As regards to the leading universities in the world, different factors such as academics, extra-curricular activities, research, and long-term goals are usually considered when deciding which university to choose.
A university excelling in the field of education, research, extra-curricular activities, peaceful atmosphere are all viewed as an ideal institution for gaining higher education.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):
Established in the year 1861, MIT has progressed phenomenally with the passage of time so much so that today it is viewed as the best university in the world for advanced studies in science and technology. According to QS world university rankings 2018, MIT is number one in the world. Today it is best known for ground-breaking research in science and technology including biology, genetics, economics, linguistics, and management, etc.
Equipped with world-class laboratories and the best in class infrastructure, MIT is a highly reputed institute catering to all the requirements of the students. This private university has the reputation of producing world-class scientists and academicians with the help of its knowledgeable faculty members and their consistent pursuit for excellence in education.
Not only does it provide some financial aid to its students in the form of scholarships, educational loans, and jobs but it also gives them an unparalleled teaching environment. Its contribution has been enormous in the development of society and economy as it has produced 89 Nobel Laureates, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation winners, and 58 National Medal of Science winners. Here it is worth mentioning that with its whopping $10 billion annual budget, the university excels in research activities such as the publication of over 30 prestigious journals and 220 state-of-the-art books every year.
2. Harvard University:
One of the most prestigious residential institutions, Harvard University is one of the oldest names in the field of higher education in the United States. QS World University Rankings have placed this premier university at number three internationally and Times Higher Education has ranked it number six overall worldwide.
Harvard University has consistently maintained its excellent track record of delivering the best in the fields of advanced research and higher education. With its $36 billion endowment fund, the university stands at the number one position in the world to provide the best in class facilities and amenities to its students.
The university has the reputation of making no compromise when it comes to the allocation of budget for research and scholarships. Best known for excellence in teaching, learning, and research, Harvard University has come to be associated with such names as Barack Obama, Michael Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, and Bill Gates. Apart from giving 48 Nobel Laureates, this premier institute has produced 32 heads of state, 48 Pulitzer Prize winners, several astronauts, scientists, politicians, and businesspeople for America.
More than 55 percent of the students studying here receive scholarships and aids to pursue their desired courses. Its reputation as the world's best university can be understood from the fact that this center of learning serves as a yardstick against which other universities are evaluated and judged.
3. University of Oxford:
Located at Oxford in England, the University of Oxford is the oldest institution in the world right now. There is evidence of teaching being done here as back as the tenth century. With its widely scattered infrastructure, the university is sprawled throughout the city center.
Oxford University has been universally accepted as a symbol of perfection and excellence in the field of education. Its reputation as an ideal center of learning has never waned as it has always been regarded as the world's best place for higher education. The university offers a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs targeting world-class research and lays the top-most priority on preparing the educated leaders of tomorrow who are creative, innovative, and independent thinkers with an international perspective.
Oxford University has always stood the test of time and invariably adjusted itself to the needs and requirements of the students. Even today it is a premier institute in providing high-quality education and best-in-class infrastructure. It has attained the status of the altar of learning and knowledge. The students studying here are regarded as the most intelligent and intellectually privileged ones.
4. Stanford University:
Today Stanford University is best known for the education it provides through most advanced and pragmatic methods. Best known for the higher education in the fields of humanities, sciences, engineering, management, and life sciences, Stanford University has such big names as John Kennedy, Elon Musk, Sergei Brin, Peter Thiel, and Larry Page associated with it.
It is consistent and has an excellent track record of high-quality research and education makes it one of the best institutes to study. It promotes out of the way ideas and ground-breaking research by providing all possible means such as scholarships, financial aids, and has an excellent budget.
According to QS World University Rankings 2018, Stanford University is ranked number two in the world and world's number four by The World University Rankings 2018. With its jaw-dropping research budget of $1.6 billion, it caters to the requirements in the field of research and innovation. Out of the total 9,304 graduate students, 34% are from other countries which reflects how well it is perceived internationally.
5. University of Cambridge:
Founded in the year 1209, the University of Cambridge is one of the oldest institutes of higher education in the world. It has always been a predominant name in imparting world-class education in the disciplines of humanities and sciences. It has such historically important figures associated with it as Erasmus, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, John Milton, Bertrand Russell, Stephen Hawking, etc. who all spent a considerable amount of time here either as a student or teacher.
The university has managed to keep intact its high standards of education and research. Its reputation as the world's best research institute has always been undisputed. Currently, over 19,000 students belonging to more than 135 countries are studying here.
The university has not only produced 80 Nobel Laureates but also contributed extraordinarily to the dissemination of path-breaking scientific theories and ground-breaking research in different disciplines. As per the QS 2017 World University Rankings, Cambridge University ranks number five. A study by The Graduate Market in 2017 shows that Cambridge is one of the three most targeted universities by top employers in the world.
6. California Institute of Technology:
Also known as Caltech, this premier university located in California is best known for higher education in Science and Engineering. The university is making rapid strides in the field of research and quality education on the basis of its pursuit for perfection.
The university has the reputation of setting high targets and challenges which are accomplished by its committed faculty members and devoted students. Caltech has established its reputation as an ideal institute for research opportunities. Only the most talented students get admission here and come empowered with exceptional knowledge and skills.
The university has the best in class facilities including Jet propulsion laboratory, the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, and the International Observatory network. If your goal is to study in the world's best university for sciences and engineering, this university can be the ideal choice for you but getting admission is here, of course, extremely difficult.
7. The Australian National University (ANU)
Australian National University has earned worldwide fame on the basis of path-breaking intensive research and high-quality education. Located in the Australian capital Canberra, ANU is best known for excellence in research and matchless intellectual talent it has provided to the country in the form of policymakers. Not only is it the topmost university in Australia from the viewpoint of academics, research, and innovation but it also deserves to be amongst the best universities in the world due to its consistent excellence in producing internationally recognized theories and principles of academics.
Ranked 22nd in the world by QS World University Rankings 2018, the university has exhibited its dominance among the predominant universities of the world.
The contribution of the university has been incalculable in imparting quality education and conducting extensive research to shape future leaders, budding scientists, and prospective academicians.
As per the QS World University Rankings 2017 and 2018, ANU ranked first in Australia and among the top 20 in the world. Times Higher Education International Outlook Indicator 2017 ranked it first in Australia and seventh in the world for the exceptional progress it has made over the past few years.
It is Australia's number one university in providing employment to the graduates. With its consistent excellence in extensive research, employability, and grants in the form of educational loans and scholarships, ANU has maintained its high image and prestige across the globe. Not only has it produced 6 Nobel Laureates but it also contributed immensely to the development of the country.
8. University of Tokyo:
The University of Tokyo has emerged as a premier Asian institute internationally recognized for the quality education it provides to its students. The university has given fifteen Prime ministers to Japan, seven Nobel Prize winners, and countless scientists and experts in multiple fields such as molecular bioscience, medical science, cosmic ray research, environmental sciences, Asian culture, and solid-state physics.
The University of Tokyo has set a benchmark for Asia's new generation of universities. It is ranked among the best modern universities in the world and has established itself as an enterprising institution with a personalized approach to teaching and a multi-disciplinary approach to research. The University of Tokyo has set a firm international reputation and focus on thousands of its students belonging to foreign countries.
9. University of Toronto:
The University of Toronto is number one in Canada as per the QS World University Rankings 2018. According to U.S. News and World Report's 2017, It is among the world's top 10 public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2017 Best Global Universities Rankings, it is among the world's top 10 public universities.
This institute deserves to be amongst the world's best universities due to being the number one university in Canada in providing employment to graduates. The student-faculty ratio kept at the most ideal level which speaks volumes about the high standards set by the university. The international standards of the university can be judged from the fact that over 18% of total students are from 168 countries. The library of the university is the third-largest in North America.
The students get an unbelievably wide variety of options to choose from as the university offers 700 undergraduate courses, 215 graduate courses, and over 60 professional degrees in its three different campuses. With its whopping budget of C$1.9 billion, the university affords scholarships and educational loans to the students to study the course of their choice. Toronto has so far produced 10 Nobel Laureates. Considering the enormous resources and incalculable contribution in research and innovation, the University of Toronto rightly deserves to amongst the best universities of the world.
10. Peking University China:
Known as the 'Harvard of China,' Peking University has emerged as an internationally recognized center of learning and knowledge. It was founded in the year 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking to provide comprehensive education to the students. It was named Peking University in 1912 when China became a republic. Its big campus spreading over 274 hectares land has the best in class infrastructure to cater to the requirements of the students enrolled here.
The students are admitted through nationwide examinations which make it the best institution in the country. The university has immensely contributed to the development of the country through its research-based education that has opened the door of job opportunities at the international level to its students. In the year 2000, Beijing Medical University was merged with it which added a range of new medical courses to the university. China has consolidated its number one ranking in education and research in South East Asia by virtue of the unparalleled strides made by this premier institute.
The rapidly changing world economy and the ever-changing international scenario have given rise to a growing demand for skilled graduates all across the globe. Only a university fulfilling the objective of excellence in education and research can stand the chance of being recognized at the international front. An institute excelling in the field of ground-breaking research coupled with the creation of new jobs and new industries deserves to be amongst the best universities in the world. Only a university contributing enormously to almost every aspect of the growth of the economy and society can make it to the list of top ten universities in the world. All the above institutes have established themselves as the supreme centers of learning in the world.