Discover the top universities in India in 2019 here. 

There are 65 top Indian universities featured in the QS BRICS University Rankings 2018, an annual ranking of the most prestigious institutions in the five major emerging economies of the BRICS countries: (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

Read on for an overview of the 10 top universities in India this year, including information on each university’s strengths in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, and how they performed in the QS World University Rankings® 2018.

1. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)

Leading the way for India at ninth in this year’s BRICS, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) overtakes the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore as the highest-ranked university in India in BRICS this year. Also ranked joint 179^th in the world rankings, IIT Bombay is the second Indian Institute of Technology to be founded (in 1958) and is recognized internationally as a leader in the field of engineering education and research. It’s also noted for its innovative short-term courses and its links with peer universities and institutes both inside and outside India, to enhance its programs.

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is currently featured in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for 16 subjects, including the global top 100 for computer science, chemical engineering, civil engineering, art & design and more.

2. Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bangalore

The Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (IISc Bangalore) is ranked 10^th in the BRICS ranking, receiving the highest score in the ranking for the papers per faculty indicator, and the second-highest score for its proportion of staff with a PhD. Established in 1909 and known locally as the Tata Institute, the university currently enrolls around 3,750 students, most of whom are postgraduates. The campus is located in the north of the city and spread over more than 400 acres, and is close to other research institutes.

The Indian Institute of Science Bangalore is ranked among the world’s best for 12 subjects, including the global top 100 for electrical engineering, chemical engineering and materials science. 

3. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)

Ranked 17^th in this year’s BRICS and 172^nd in the world, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) was founded in 1961 with a vision to contribute to India and the world through excellence in scientific and technical education and research. Today it has 11 interdisciplinary centers in which science and engineering overlap, and has a 325-acre campus in the affluent Hauz Khas area of New Delhi, located close to other educational institutions.

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi is internationally ranked for 11 subjects, appearing in the worldwide top 100 for chemical, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering as well as computer science.

4. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)

Next in our list of the top universities in India this year is the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), which is placed 18^th in BRICS and joint 264^th in the world this year. Recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India, IIT Madras was established in 1959 and today has almost 9,000 students. Much of IIT Madras’ large campus is a protected forest, located next to the Guindy National Park in Chennai (formerly known as Madras).

Ranked globally for 11 subjects, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras achieves top-100 positions for electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and materials science.

5. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)

Also founded in 1959 by the Indian government, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is ranked 21^st in this year’s BRICS ranking and joint 293^rd in the world. Most of IIT Kanpur’s 6,500 students live on its large 1,055-acre campus just outside the city of Kanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh. IIT Kanpur has a strong research orientation, and achieves very high scores for the papers per faculty and staff with PhD indicators in the BRICS ranking. 

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is ranked among the world’s best for 12 subjects, with positions in the global top 150 for mechanical, civil, electrical and chemical engineering and materials sciences.

6. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IITKGP)

Ranked 24^th in BRICS and joint 308^th in the world, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) was the first Indian institute of technology to be founded. It was originally established in 1951 to train scientists and engineers following India’s independence four years earlier. IIT Kharagpur’s unusual motto, Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam, translates to "Excellence in action is Yoga", signifying that working well is true yoga and urges you to acquire equanimity, a state of psychological stability and composure.

As well as sharing its organization structure and admissions process with its sister institutes of technology, IIT Kharagpur shares similar subject strengths, appearing in 15 subject rankings, including the top 50 for mineral and mining engineering and the top 150 for all other engineering branches.

7. University of Delhi

The first non-IIT institution to feature in this list of top universities in India, the University of Delhi retains its position of 41^st in the BRICS ranking this year and is also ranked within the top 500 in the world rankings.  The largest of these top Indian universities (with 132,435 regular students), the University of Delhi receives top-20 scores for its reputation among both academics and employers, and is considered one of the best multidisciplinary institutions in the country.

Ranked among the world’s best for 15 subjects, the University of Delhi earns its highest scores for development studies (16^th) and anthropology (51-100).

8. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) only gained the status of IIT as recently as 2001, having previously been the University of Roorkee (founded in 1847 as an engineering college and given university status in 1949). In 1955, IIT Roorkee became the first university in India to offer postgraduate programs in engineering and technology. The university has an entrepreneurial culture, with many of its alumni founding technological and social ventures in India and beyond.

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is internationally ranked for nine subjects, including a place in the global top 150 for civil engineering.

9. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG)

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) is up two places in this year’s BRICS to now rank 52^nd. The sixth institute of technology to be founded (in 1994), IIT Guwahati’s 700-acre campus is considered the most beautiful in the country, located on the banks of the river Brahmaputra, just outside the city of Guwahati, northeast India. Also ranked within the top 550 in the world rankings, the university has 10 research centers and currently educates almost 4,000 students.

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) features among the world’s best for six subjects, achieving its strongest score for mechanical engineering (in the top 200).

10. University of Calcutta

Closing our look at the top universities in India in 2018 is the University of Calcutta, ranked 64^th in BRICS and within the top 800 in the world rankings. Founded in 1857 in Calcutta (now called Kolkata) on the model of the University of London, the university now has 14 campuses spread across Kolkata and its suburbs, and educates about 22,500 students. One of the most distinguished Indian universities, the University of Calcutta has produced many notable alumni in different walks of life, including Kadambini Ganguly, one of the first female graduates and the first qualified female physician of the British empire.

The University of Calcutta is internationally ranked for three subjects: modern languages (ranked 251-300), chemistry (401-450) and physics and astronomy (451-500).

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Click here to discover the top 10 Russian universities in 2019.

68 Russian universities feature in the QS BRICS University Rankings 2018, an annual ranking of the strongest universities in the five fast-developing economies of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

All of the 10 top universities in Russia featured below ranked in the top 50 of this year’s BRICS, and improved upon their positions since last year’s ranking. For each institution, we’ve also assessed their strengths in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, and how they performed on an international scale in the QS World University Rankings® 2018.

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Consistently the highest-ranked university in Russia, Lomonosov Moscow State University is up two places in this year’s BRICS ranking to now place fifth. It also climbed 13 places in the 2018 world rankings to joint 95^th in the world. Lomonosov was founded in 1755, making it one of the oldest Russian universities, and it today educates roughly 47,000 students, 4,000 of whom are international.

Lomonosov Moscow State University is currently ranked among the world’s best for 29 out of the 46 subjects covered by the QS World University Rankings by Subject, including positions in the top 50 for linguistics, modern languages, computer science, mathematics, physics and hospitality.

2. Novosibirsk State University

Up nine places this year (having ranked joint 20^th with Saint-Petersburg State University last year), Novosibirsk State University is ranked 11^th in this year’s BRICS and is also ranked joint 250^th in the world rankings. A much younger institution than Lomonosov, having been founded in 1959, Novosibirsk has nonetheless established itself as one of the best Russian universities, and has 7,000 students, 20% of whom are international.

Novosibirsk State University currently features among the world’s best for nine subjects, achieving top 150 positions for archaeology, physics and astronomy, mathematics and chemical engineering.

3. Saint-Petersburg State University

Saint-Petersburg State University is up seven places in this year’s BRICS, now placed joint 13^th, and is also currently ranked joint 240^th in the world. The oldest of these top universities in Russia, Saint-Petersburg State was founded in 1724 by Peter the Great as the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In its almost three centuries of existence, the university has educated nine Nobel Prize winners and other notable figures, such as current Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Saint-Petersburg State University was included among the world’s best for 14 subjects in 2017, with positions in the global top 150 for linguistics, mathematics, history, modern languages, philosophy and physics & astronomy.

4. Tomsk State University (TSU)

Next in our look at the top universities in Russia is the Siberian-based Tomsk State University (TSU), which has climbed 17^th places in this year’s BRICS to now rank 26^th. Also ranked joint 323^rd in the world, Tomsk State University is the oldest university in Asian Russia, having been established in 1878.  TSU is active with international collaboration, having maintained long-term partnerships with more than 90 leading universities around the world, and it also offers an increasing number of English-taught programs.

As of the latest rankings by subject, TSU is ranked among the top 300 universities for physics & astronomy and modern languages.

5. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University

Another institution improving its position in this year’s BRICS is Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University, also known as PhysTech or MIPT, which climbed 19 places to now rank 28^th in BRICS. Also ranked joint 355^th in the world, MIPT was founded in 1951 and was granted the status of National Research University by the Russian government in 2009. MIPT’s faculty and alumni includes a number of Nobel Prize winners, cosmonauts, scientists, and other prominent figures in business and politics.

MIPT currently ranks among the world’s top 50 for physics & astronomy, and within the top 450 for five other subjects.

6. Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU)

Up five places in this year’s BRICS, Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU) is ranked 33^rd in BRICS and 291^st in the latest world rankings. The oldest and largest of Russia’s technical universities, BMSTU receives the highest score in the whole BRICS ranking for its faculty/student ratio, and is also ranked 12^th for its reputation with employers. As well as maintaining relationships with more than 70 international universities, BMSTU has close collaboration with industrial, scientific, educational and cultural institutions.

BMSTU is ranked among the world’s best for five subjects as of 2017, including the global top 250 for mechanical and electrical engineering. 

7. National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI" (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)

Another of the top universities in Russia which climbed significantly in this year’s BRICS is the National Research Nuclear University, or MEPhI, which is up 15 places to rank 35^th in BRICS and joint 373^rd in the world.  Established in 1942 as the Moscow Mechanical Institute of Munitions, MEPhI now has 21 satellite campuses beyond Moscow, in 20 Russian cities, with a total student population of over 38,000. MEPhI aims to address global, complex challenges of the 21^st century in high-priority fields, including medicine, nuclear energy, nanotechnology and ecology.

MEPhI is currently ranked in the global top 100 for physics and astronomy, as well as the top 400 for electrical engineering and mathematics.

8. National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE)

Climbing 23 places in this year’s BRICS, the Higher School of Economics (HSE) is ranked 39^th in BRICS and joint 382^nd in the world. The youngest university in this list (founded only 25 years ago in 1992), HSE has about 31,900 students and is mainly located in Moscow, with additional campuses in St Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Perm. HSE offers a range of English-taught programs and international students may be able to study for free through government scholarships.

The Higher School of Economics is currently ranked among the world’s best for 13 subjects, featuring in the top 100 for economics, sociology and politics.

9. Moscow State Institute of International Relations – MGIMO University

Considered one of the most elite universities in Russia, Moscow State Institute of International Relations – MGIMO University is ranked 40^th in BRICS and joint 373^rd in the world as of 2018. MGIMO University was dubbed the “Harvard of Russia” by Henry Kissinger because it’s educated so many of Russia’s political, economic, and intellectual elite. MGIMO University is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for teaching the most full-time foreign languages of any institution in the world, at 53. Although it doesn’t appear in the rankings by subject, MGIMO is (as its full name would suggest) particularly noted for its international relations programs.

10. Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU)

Concluding our look at the 10 top universities in Russia in 2018 is Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), which is ranked 49^th in BRICS and joint 386^th in the world. TPU achieves one of the highest scores in the BRICS ranking (third) for its proportion of international students, with 26% of its 14,100 students coming from outside Russia. Founded in 1896 as Tomsk Technological Institute, today TPU has seven research institutes, 72 research labs, a research nuclear reactor and a business incubator.

Tomsk Polytechnic University is currently ranked among the world’s best for 13 subjects, with positions in the top 100 for economics, politics and sociology.

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The QS BRICS World University Rankings 2018, released today, sees Brazil claiming an impressive 61 of the 300 possible positions, including 16 in the top 100. The BRICS ranking has been released annually since 2013 and aims to showcase the top universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, five major developing economies which boast a large number of strong universities.

Read on to discover the 10 top universities in Brazil this year, including information on each university’s subject strengths in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, and how the institutions performed on a regional scale in the recently published QS Latin America University Rankings 2018.

1. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)

Overtaking Universidade de São Paulo to be the highest-ranked university in Brazil both in the QS BRICS World University Rankings 2018 and the QS Latin America University Rankings 2018, the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) is ranked 12^th in this year’s BRICS and second in Latin America.

Unicamp was founded in 1966 in São Paulo and is noted for its research, claiming around eight percent of Brazil´s articles in scientific journals. The university also features among the world’s best for 36 out of a possible 46 subjects in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, with positions in the global top 50 for agriculture & forestry and dentistry.

2. Universidade de São Paulo (USP)

Down three places to rank joint 13^th this year with Russia’s Saint-Petersburg State University, the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) is also ranked third in Latin America in 2018. USP is considered one of the most prestigious universities in Latin America and is the largest public university in Brazil, with around 95,000 students enrolled in 11 campuses.

It’s currently ranked among the world’s best for 41 subjects in the latest subject rankings, with top 50 positions for agriculture & forestry, law, architecture, art & design, mineral & mining engineering, sports-related subjects and more.

3. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is ranked joint 31^st in this year’s BRICS ranking and is seventh in Latin America. Established in 1792 as the Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design, UFRJ is the oldest of these top universities in Brazil and now teaches more than 67,000 students. It’s mainly located in Rio de Janeiro, but has a presence in 10 other cities, and also owns a number of museums, hospitals and research centers.

4. Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"

Established in 1976, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", also known as UNESP, is ranked 34^th in this year’s BRICS and 10^th in Latin America. In the BRICS ranking, it achieves one of the highest scores for its number of staff with a PhD, ranking 11^th out of the 300 institutions featured.

UNESP is made up of 24 campuses in São Paulo state, and is currently ranked among the world’s best for 17 subjects, including the top 100 for agriculture & forestry, dentistry, veterinary science and sports-related subjects.

5. Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP)

Next in our look at the top universities in Brazil in 2018 is Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP), which is up 10 places to rank 42^nd this year. It also received a similar rank (41^st) in the Latin America rankings in 2018. Founded in 1946, PUC-SP has nine colleges, 45 departments, 39 undergraduate courses and 28 postgraduate programs. As of the latest subject rankings, it’s currently in the global top 300 for both linguistics and modern languages.

6. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)

Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) retains its position of 46^th in the BRICS ranking this year, and was also ranked 13^th in the QS Latin America University Rankings. Established in 1940, PUC-Rio is a private, non-profit Catholic university located in the Gávea district of Rio de Janeiro, in a pleasant area at the edge of the Tijuca National Forest, a stone’s throw from the beach. PUC-Rio is ranked internationally for 11 subjects, including the top 150 for philosophy.   

7. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)

Ranked joint 47^th in the BRICS, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) is up six places this year and is also placed joint 11^th in Latin America.  The largest public university in the country, UFMG educates around 49,000 students, and is free of charge. It was founded in 1927 and today offers 77 undergraduate courses and 80 postgraduate programs, with more than 900 research centers. UFMG appears in the latest subject rankings for 20 subjects, including the global top 50 for sports-related subjects.

8. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

The last of these top universities in Brazil to feature in the top 50 BRICS universities, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) is ranked 50^th in the BRICS ranking and 14^th in Latin America this year. As a public university, UFRGS does not charge tuition fees to its 33,200 students, although all students do need to sit a difficult exam, known as the vestibular exam, to gain admission. UFRGS is currently ranked for 23 subjects, including the top 100 for sports-related subjects.

9. Universidade de Brasilia (UnB)

The Universidade de Brasilia (UnB), the only university in this list located in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, is ranked 56^th in BRICS this year and 18^th in the Latin America ranking. UnB is a public institution with around 40,000 students in 26 faculties, and it also runs 18 specialized research centers across its four campuses. The university is currently ranked among the world’s best for 12 subjects, including the top 150 for agriculture & forestry and anthropology.

10. Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar)

Concluding our look at the top universities in Brazil in 2018 is the Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), ranked 57^th in BRICS and 29^th in Latin America. Founded in 1968 as the first public university in São Paulo state, UFSCar has three campuses, with its main campus in the city of São Carlos, and currently has 24,825 students enrolled. Like other Brazilian universities, UFSCar achieved a top-100 position for sports-related subjects, and ranks among the world’s best for a further seven subjects.

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Watch the video above to discover the 10 highest ranked universities in this year’s QS World University Rankings: BRICS 2018, a ranking of 300 of the top universities in the five BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The ranking is compiled based on eight indicators which consider each institution’s reputations among academics and employers, as well as its research impact, diversity and more.

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Sponsored by UCLan

Serena, a third year studying for a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at UCLan shares her tips for starting medical school in the UK.

Whether you’re just finishing up a foundation year or flying straight to university from your home country, the weeks before the start of term can be quite hectic.  From getting a phone contract to setting up a new bank account, there’s so much to sort out before the first day, so I’ve compiled a list of essentials you’ll need to pack before term starts to help you prepare.

Get all the paperwork out of the way

Make sure you sort out your visa and any insurance you may need to buy while studying overseas. You’ll also want to ensure your passport is still valid and remember to bring a driver’s licence or other form of identification as you won’t want to solely rely on your passport in your day to day life.  

Don’t buy your textbooks before you get to the UK

Your textbooks will be so heavy that it’s not worth wasting your luggage allowance on them. Also, remember you’ll save so much money if you buy second-hand books on Ebay or Amazon.

Buy all your homewares and toiletries in the UK too

In terms of everyday items you need while at university, halls generally always come furnished with all the basic essentials, like a bed and desk, but you might want to buy your own toiletries and homewares, including hangers, a wok, a warm duvet to curl into in winter, pillows, bed linen, towels, cutlery, crockery and pans. Again, I would advise against buying all that stuff in your home country because of your limited luggage allowance, and it might be worth waiting to buy some things until you’ve arrived at uni and can see what’s provided by your halls.

Pack non-perishable foods from home for when you feel homesick

Preston, where UCLan is based, has many places to shop, but I’m pretty sure that wherever you end up studying in the UK, you’ll find there’s a lot of choice. So make sure you save your precious luggage allowance for all your clothes as well as things you won’t be able to find here, like non-perishable foods (i.e. cereal, dried pasta, snacks) that you think you might miss. Souvenirs and photos from your life back home are another fantastic cure for homesickness. Use these to decorate your room and make it a little homier.

Wellies are pointless, but scarves and gloves are essential

It can be hard to buy winter clothes for the first time if you’re used to living in hotter climates and have no idea how to dress for cold weather. The key to staying warm is to make sure all your extremities are covered up (head, hands and feet). Wellies aren’t really necessary, but a good pair of leather boots will go a long way toward keeping you warm. If you’re not one for hats, buy a coat with a hood, and, if you’re particularly susceptible to cold, you might want to invest in heat-tech tights, leggings, shirts and socks. Also, depending on which uni you go to, you may want to buy a blazer (and smart clothes). Like most medical programs, UCLan’s MBBS course has a strict dress code in place due to the professional nature of the program.

Invest in a laptop, printer and a couple of adaptors  

You’ll also want to invest in your own laptop, as even if your university has a 24-hour library (like UCLan) with computer suites, you’re probably going to want a laptop of your own so you can work on your assignments in bed, Skype your best friends and watch Netflix.

I’d also recommend investing in a printer as this can be really useful for printing notes or gig tickets at the last minute. Don’t forget to pack a few adaptors, or get some at duty free at the airport. Remember, plugs in the UK have three pins, and electricals will only work at 230V AC, so you might want to make sure all your electricals (hair dryer, laptop etc) can work here.