Physics is one of the oldest scientific disciplines, and the most fundamental to understanding how the universe behaves. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 includes a physics and astronomy ranking, extended to feature 600 of the world’s best institutions for this subject, all ranked according to this methodology.

If you’re interested in comparing the best physics schools, and on a global scale, then read on for a regional breakdown of this year’s top universities for the subject – including a brief overview of the top 10 – or click here for the full table.

Top universities for physics in the US & Canada

The North American region currently claims a total of 116 institutions in the physics university ranking, 21 of which are based in Canada.

Six out of four of the world’s top 10 universities for physics and astronomy are based in the US, with a further four of the nation’s representatives making the global top 20, and 10 more in the top 50 – with impressive performance in the range from both the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Michigan; the first climbing 11 places this year to rank in 30^th place, while the latter climbed up a total of eight spots, now placing joint 32^nd for the subject worldwide. 

11 more US universities make the global top 50 in the physics ranking, and in the top 100, Rice University moved up from its former position in the 101-150 range.

Traveling north to Canada, a few Canadian universities improved their spot this year, with its overall best performer being the University of Toronto, which moved up two places to rank 21^st. Next is the University of British Columbia, which now ranks 38^th after climbing a total of five places, followed by another improved institution for the subject, McGill University (40^th, up from 51-100).

Top universities or physics in Europe

Europe dominates the physics university ranking this year, with a total of 254 entrants – led by Germany and the UK, with 45 and 38 entrants, respectively.

Of Germany’s 45 representatives, five are ranked in the global top 50: Technische Universität München (up five places to rank 16^th), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (20^th), Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (up four places to rank joint 28^th), KIT Karlsruher Instituts für Technologie, (also up four places to 31^st), and Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (climbing from 51-100 to now rank 43^rd).

Aside from Oxford and Cambridge in the top 10, the UK has four more entrants in this year’s top 50 universities for physics worldwide, with Imperial College London maintaining its position in 11^th place, followed by UCL (University College London) in joint 36^th place, the (44^th) and the University of Edinburgh (joint 47^th).

Up next with a total of 26 entrants in the physics university ranking is Italy – the nation’s highest-ranked institution for the subject, Sapienza Università di Roma, also happened to improve its position in the ranking by five places this year, now placing joint 34^th.

France is home to 22 top universities for physics and astronomy, its best performer being Ecole Polytechnique in joint 32^nd place, followed by new highly-ranked entrants – Univeristé PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) in 46^th place, and Sorbonne University (joint 49^th).

Of Russia’s 17 representatives this year, Lomonosov Moscow State University is the best performer, in 26^th place.

Heading back to southern Europe, Spain is home to 15 ranked universities for physics, led by Universidad Autónoma de Madrid at 51-100.

Another of the world’s top 50 universities for physics is based in the Netherlands – Delft University of Technology, which retains its position of joint 49^th this year.

Sweden and Belgium both host eight entrants each, with Sweden’s best performers, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology and Lund University, both maintaining their places in the 51-100 range; while Belgium’s highest-ranked institution, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), continues to rank at 101-150.

With six representatives each, Ireland, Austria, Finland, Poland and Greece also claim some of the world’s top universities for physics: Ireland’s Trinity College Dublin (TCD) remains at 101-150, and Austria’s highest-ranked, Universität Wien, climbed from 151-200 to 101-150. Both Finland and Poland claim their best performers – the University of Helsinki and the University of Warsaw – in the top 200.

Meanwhile, Portugal’s five entrants this year are led by the University of Lisbon (151-200), while the University of Copenhagen continues to be the highest ranked of Denmark’s four top universities for physics and astronomy, at 51-100.

Each home to three entrants are the Czech Republic and Norway, though it’s the Czech Technical University in Prague performing the most notably at 201-250.

Slovenia, Hungary, Ukraine and Romania have two entrants each, with Slovenia’s University of Ljubljana leading the lot at an improved ranking of 201-250.

And finally, with just one representative apiece are Lithuania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovakia, Estonia, and new entrant Belarus.

Top universities for physics in Asia

China has the most representatives of any Asian location in this year’s physics university ranking, with 36 institutions in total. Two make the global top 20, with Tsinguia University ranking the highest in 18^th place, directly followed by Peking University (19^th). A further five Chinese universities rank in the top 100 worldwide, with Zhejiang University being the most improved, having gone up from placing the 151-200 range, followed by Nanjing University (up from 101-150).

Next up in Asia is Japan, with 24 entrants. In addition to the University of Tokyo in the top 10, other top Japanese universities for physics and astronomy include Kyoto University (24^th), Tokyo Institute of Technology (joint 36^th), Tohoku University (41^st), and Osaka University (45^th).

South Korea is currently home to 21 top universities for physics, with a total of four in the global top 100, led by Seoul National University (SNU) in joint 34^th place.

India follows with 16 representatives, led by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) at 101-150 (up from 151-200). The nation’s second-best institution for the subject, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), also saw an improvement in the ranking this year (up from 201-250 to now rank 151-200). 

Of Taiwan’s 10 top physics schools this year, the National Taiwan University (NTU) and the National Tsing Hua University are the nation’s best, both ranked 51-100.

Hong Kong has six representatives in the physics university ranking this year, also with two in the 51-100 range: the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU).

Malaysia and Pakistan both claim five institutions each, though it’s Malaysia’s prestigious Universiti Malaya (UM) that achieves the top spot, at 151-200 (up from 201-250). Also with five entrants is Pakistan, with National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad climbing from 451-500 to 351-400.

Elsewhere, Thailand is home to three of the world’s top physics schools, led by Chulalongkorn University, which climbed from 301-350 to 251-300. Singapore and Indonesia meanwhile have two entrants each, with Singapore’s National University of Singapore (NUS) ranked 25^th, while Nanyang Technological University (NTU) (also in Singapore) is joint 28^th place after climbing an impressive 10 spots. 

And finally, Indonesia is new to this year’s ranking with two representatives, while Vietnam and Kazakhstan each have one top physics school – the former being a new entrant to this year’s physics university ranking.

Top universities for physics in Australia & New Zealand

In the Australasian continent, Australia dominates the physics university ranking, with 16 ranked institutions for the subject. The Australian National University (ANU) is the highest achiever and the only Australian university to rank in the top 50 for physics (42^nd). The University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney both follow at 51-100, sharing the title of second-best.  

Meanwhile in New Zealand, the University of Auckland ranks the highest, at 151-200, and is followed by the University of Canterbury which made a drastic improvement this year (from 251-300 to 201-250).

Top universities for physics in Latin America

In the Latin American region, it’s Brazil that dominates the physics university ranking, with 11 representatives in total. The nation’s best ranked university for the subject is Universidade de São Paulo, which retains its position in the global top 51-100, alongside Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (with a total of six entrants in Chile).

Mexico follows with seven entrants, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) ranking the highest, at 101-150.

Argentina’s three top universities for physics are led by the notable Universidad de Buenos Aires (101-150), while Colombia’s only two entrants this year both managed to improve their positions in the ranking: the nation’s highest-ranked, Universidad de Los Andes Colombia (at 251-300, up from 301-350) and Universidad Nacional de Colombia (301-350, up from 351-400).

Peru and Puerto Rico are both new to this year’s physics university ranking, with one entrant each.  

Top universities for physics in Africa & the Middle East

Traveling to Africa, the continent is home to a total of seven top universities for physics – five of which are based in South Africa, with the University of Cape Town preserving its spot as the nation’s top-ranked institution for the subject, despite dropping from 151-200 to now place 201-250. Egypt meanwhile is home to two top physics schools, with Cairo University ranking the highest (351-400).

Heading to the Middle East, Turkey leads with the most entrants (seven), the Middle East Technical University being the nation’s best performer (up from 301-350 to 251-300).

However, it’s Israel which is home to the region’s highest-ranked universities for physics and astronomy, with Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and Weizmann Institute of Science both up from 151-200 to 101-150. Four more Israeli universities are featured among the world’s best for this subject.

Of Saudi Arabia’s four world-renowned representatives, two are new entrants this year – including the highest-ranked, King Abdulaziz University (KAU) (301-350). And finally, Iran is new this year, with Sharif University of Technology coming 451-500 for physics and astronomy.

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For those wishing to pursue a career in veterinary science, the 2019 edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject has now been released, allowing veterinary science enthusiasts to draw side-by-side comparisons of the world’s current 50 best universities for the subject.

Read on for a region-by-region comparison of this year’s top veterinary schools, including a brief overview of the global top 10; alternatively, click here for the full veterinary science ranking table.

Top universities for veterinary science in the US & Canada

The North American region is currently home to almost half (21) of the world’s top veterinary schools this year. 18 of these are based in the US, while Canada claims just three, led by the University of Guelph, in the top 10 above.

In addition to its three institutions ranked within the top 10, the US is also home to four more veterinary schools in the global top 20 – with Michigan University maintaining 11^th place, followed by the University of Minnesota which moved up an impressive nine places to rank joint 13^th. Although the University of Pennsylvania and Texas A&M University are no longer in the top 10, they continue to do rather well, at 18^th and 20^th place, respectively.

Top universities for veterinary science in Europe

In Europe, the UK is home to seven veterinary schools, three of which are in the top 10. A further two UK universities are in the global top 20 for the subject, including the University of Glasgow (ranked 12^th) and the University of Bristol (19^th).

The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain claim two entrants each; one institution in the Netherlands sits in the top 10, while Wageningen University makes the top 20, in joint 15^th place. Belgium’s top vet school, the University of Ghent, climbed four places to now rank joint 13^th, while Germany and Spain both claim their best performers in the mid-range of the veterinary science ranking – Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (25^th) and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (30^th).

With just one ranked veterinary school each, are Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Italy, and new entrant Finland, with the University of Helsinki, which places 110^th in the QS World University Rankings 2019. Of all these locations, Denmark claims top spot, with the University of Copenhagen moving up four places to now rank joint 15^th. Switzerland’s Vetsuisse Faculty Bern and Zurich also made an impressive improvement in the veterinary science ranking this year, climbing seven places to rank 21^st. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences follows in 22^nd place, as well as Ireland’s University College Dublin (UCD) at joint 26^th, Austria’s University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (31^st) and Italy’s Università degli Studi di Milano (48^th).

Top universities for veterinary science in Australia & New Zealand

Australia is home to four top universities for veterinary science, with its best performer, the University of Sydney, ranking in the top 10 this year after rising two spots in the veterinary science ranking. It’s followed by the University of Melbourne in 17^th place, and the University of Queensland (UQ) which climbed five places in the ranking this year, now claiming 33^rd place. Australia’s new entrant this year, the University of Adelaide, is a notable institution overall, ranking 114^th in the current QS World University Rankings.

New Zealand is home to just one top veterinary science school – Massey University, which dropped six spots to now rank at 29^th.

Top veterinary schools in the rest of the world

Elsewhere in the world, Japan and South Africa are the only other locations with entrants in the veterinary science ranking this year, with Japan’s University of Tokyo and South Africa’s new entrant, the University of Pretoria, both sharing 43^rd place.

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Germany is one of the world’s most represented locations in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019, with 45 German universities included among the world’s best for particular subjects.

Read on for an overview of the highest-ranked universities in Germany for each of the 48 subjects covered in this year’s rankings.

Accounting & Finance

The 2019 accounting and finance ranking sees four German universities rank 51-100 - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technical University of Munich (up from 151-200), Universität Frankfurt am Main and Universität Mannheim.

Agriculture & Forestry

Of Germany’s 13 representatives in the agriculture ranking, the University of Hohenheim continues to be the leader, climbing an impressive 19 places to rank joint 15^th.

Anatomy & Physiology

Universität Frankfurt am Main is the highest-ranked of the top German universities for anatomy & physiology at joint 38^th, overtaking Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Five more German institutions are featured in the ranking.

Anthropology

The best place to study anthropology in Germany out of its five entries in the anthropology ranking is Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, climbing 13 places and overtaking Freie Universitaet Berlin to rank joint 31^st this year, while the latter is down slightly at 33^rd.

Archaeology

Germany is well represented in the archaeology ranking, with 16 top German universities featured, led by Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, which climbed four places to rank joint 11^th. The global top 50 also includes Freie Universität Berlin at 19^th.

Architecture

Eight German institutions are featured among the world’s best for architecture, led by the Technical University of Munich in joint 25^th place. Also in the top 50 is Technische Universität Berlin, up nine places to rank 32^nd.

Art & Design

Of Germany’s three entrants in the art & design ranking, its highest ranked is Universität der Künste Berlin, up from 51-100 to joint 49^th.

Biological Sciences

An impressive 36 top universities in Germany are ranked among the top 500 in the world in the biological sciences ranking, with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in the lead at 25^th, up 11 places from last year.

Business & Management Studies

Universität Mannheim is the leader among the 19 top universities in Germany for business and management, up from 51-100 to 47^th.

Chemical Engineering

Two German universities share 35^th place in the chemical engineering ranking this year: Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen University), up 11 places from last year, and Technische Universität Berlin, which climbed from 51-100. Eight more top German universities are featured in this ranking.

Chemistry

The Technical University of Munich is Germany’s best-performing representative in the chemistry ranking at 27^th (up five places this year), and 42 more German institutions are featured.

Civil & Structural Engineering

Of the six top universities in Germany in the civil engineering ranking, four are the joint highest-ranked at 51-100: KIT, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, RWTH Aachen University, and the Technical University of Munich.

Classics & Ancient History

German universities performed well in the second edition of the classics ranking, with seven entrants, including Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in fourth place.

Communication & Media Studies

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München has climbed nine places from last year’s communication & media studies ranking, now coming 26^th and continuing to be the highest ranked of Germany’s eight entries.

Computer Science & Information Systems

Of the 31 top German computer science schools, Technical University of Munich is once again the highest-ranked, up eight places to rank joint 34^th.

Dentistry

Germany’s sole entrant in the dentistry ranking, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, climbed five places to rank 41^st.

Development Studies

Again, there is only one German entrant in this ranking: the University of Göttingen, up from 51-100 to 45^th.

Earth & Marine Sciences

17 German universities are featured in the earth & marine sciences ranking, with six sharing the top position of 51-100 in the world for this subject: Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Bremen, Universität Frankfurt am Main, Universität Hamburg and Universität Potsdam.

Economics & Econometrics

Looking at the economics ranking, Universität Mannheim climbed from 51-100 to rank 44^th this year, making it the highest ranked of Germany’s 24 entrants.

Education & Training

Germany has 10 entrants in the education ranking, with Freie Universitaet Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin both ranked 51-100.

Electrical & Electronic Engineering

18 top universities in Germany are featured in the electrical engineering ranking, led by the Technical University of Munich, which climbed an impressive 17 spots to rank joint 20^th.

English Language & Literature

Freie Universitaet Berlin is the highest-ranked university for English language & literature in 2018, up 10 places to rank 37^th. There are 10 more top universities in Germany featured in the English ranking.

Environmental Sciences

Germany has 13 entrants in the environmental science ranking, with the Technical University of Munich leading the way at 51-100 in the world, up from 101-150.

Geography

There are 11 top universities in Germany in the geography ranking, led by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, which climbed six places to rank 22^nd.

History

Germany has 11 entrants in the history ranking, including three in the top 50, with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin the highest-ranked at 30^th.

Hospitality & Leisure Management

No German institutions were featured in the hospitality & leisure management ranking this year.

Law

There are 14 German institutions in this year’s law school ranking. The highest-ranked was previously Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, but Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München now takes the top spot at joint 35^th, up 14 places from last year.

Library & Information Management

Germany is represented by three institutions in the library & information management ranking, led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München at 29^th.

Linguistics

Of the 20 German universities in the linguistics ranking, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is again the highest-ranked, climbing four places to rank 29^th in the world this year.

Materials Science

25 top universities in Germany are featured in the materials science ranking, led by RWTH Aachen University, which is up six places to rank 22^nd in the world this year.

Mathematics

The Technical University of Munich is the highest-ranked of Germany’s 26 entries in the mathematics ranking, up five places to rank joint 45^th. Also in the top 50 is Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn at 50^th.

Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering

Five of Germany’s 19 representatives in the mechanical engineering ranking are in the global top 50, with RWTH Aachen University its highest-ranked, up four places to rank 19^th.

Medicine

Those wishing to train as a doctor in Germany have 31 top medical schools to choose from, with Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin the best of the bunch, having climbed from 51-100 to 33^rd place. You can read advice on how to study medicine in Germany here.

Mineral & Mining Engineering

There are only two top universities in Germany in the mining engineering ranking, with Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg down this year but nonetheless remaining the highest-ranked German entrant, at 16^th.

Modern Languages

If you’re looking to study modern languages in Germany, there are 15 top universities in Germany for this subject, with Freie Universität Berlin climbing nine places to rank joint 26^th.

Nursing

No German institutions were ranked in this year’s nursing school ranking.

Performing Arts

Germany has five top performing arts schools, led by the specialized college of music Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, up 14 places to rank 36^th.

Pharmacy & Pharmacology

Of Germany’s 19 entrants in the pharmacy ranking, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München is the highest-ranked, up five places to rank 45^th.

Philosophy

There are 16 German representatives in the philosophy ranking, three of which are in the global top 50. Its highest-ranked entrant is Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, ranked 12^th.

Physics & Astronomy

Germany has an impressive 44 entrants in the physics ranking, including five in the top 50. Its highest-ranked entrant overall is the Technical University of Munich, up five places to rank 16^th.

Politics & International Studies

There are nine German entrants in the politics ranking, with Freie Universitaet Berlin leading the way in 19^th place.

Psychology

Germany has 23 entrants in the psychology ranking, with its three highest-ranked all placed 51-100: Freie Universitaet Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

Social Policy & Administration

Three German universities are featured in the social policy ranking this year, led by Freie Universität Berlin at joint 31^st.

Sociology

17 top universities in Germany are featured in the sociology ranking, led by Freie Universität Berlin, ranked 20^th this year. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is not far behind, at joint 23^rd.

Sports-related Subjects

Germany has two entrants ranked among the world’s best for sports-related subjects, both ranked 51-100: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg and Universität Freiburg.

Statistics & Operational Research

Seven top German universities are featured in the statistics ranking, four of which are ranked 51-100: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (up from 101-150), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, RWTH Aachen University and Technische Universität Berlin.

Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies

This year’s theology ranking saw Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen overtake Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg as the highest-ranked of Germany’s nine entrants, climbing nine places to rank joint sixth.

Veterinary Science

Germany has just two entrants in the veterinary science ranking, led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, which retains its position of 25^th this year.

This article was originally published in March 2018. It was updated in February 2019.

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