Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS World University Rankings® 2020.

The QS World University Rankings® 2018 is here, and 26 universities in Canada are featured among the world’s best. Of these, four are in the global top 100, while a further nine Canadian universities are ranked in the top 300. Planning to study in the Great White North? Here’s where to consider first, starting with the country’s top 10.

1. University of Toronto

Overtaking McGill University to once again be ranked as the best Canadian university is the University of Toronto, up one place at 31^st in the world this year. Established in 1827, the University of Toronto has around 88,700 students at its three campuses in Toronto, and is renowned for its research innovations, such as the discoveries of insulin and stem cells.

2. McGill University

Ranked 32^nd in the world in 2018, McGill University was founded in 1821 and has around 40,500 students, of which 25% are international. Located in Montreal, the university boasts the highest number of Rhodes Scholars (142) and Nobel Prize winners (12) among all Canadian universities. 

3. University of British Columbia

The University of British Columbia is down six places to rank 51^st in the world this year, but nonetheless remains the third-highest-ranked university in Canada. Located in Vancouver and Kelowna in British Columbia, the university has about 62,900 students, including 14,434 international students from 162 countries.

4. University of Alberta

Up four places to rank joint 90^th in the world alongside South Korea’s Korea University, the University of Alberta was founded in 1908 and is mainly based in the city of Edmonton. The university enrolls 37,830 students from 143 countries and has an annual impact of CA$12.3 billion on Alberta’s economy.

5. Université de Montréal

Ranked 130^th in the world, the Université de Montréal is Canada’s highest-ranked Francophone university and one of the top 10 employers in the Montreal region. The university was established in 1878 and is one of the most active Canadian universities in research, with research revenue of more than half a billion dollars.

6. McMaster University

McMaster University, up nine places this year to rank 140^th in the world, was originally founded in 1887 in Toronto but relocated to Hamilton, Ontario in 1930. McMaster is home to 70 research centers and institutes, and is particularly renowned for its medical school.

7. University of Waterloo

Also located in Ontario, the University of Waterloo is ranked 152^nd in the world this year and is one of the youngest of these top universities in Canada, having opened its doors as recently as 1957. Today it has 36,670 students, with 37% of its graduate students coming from outside Canada.

8. Western University

Ranked joint 210^th in the world alongside Belgium’s University of Antwerp, Western University is located in London, Ontario. Previously known as the University of Western Ontario, the university was founded in 1878 and now has around 28,800 students.

9. University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is ranked 217^th in the world in 2018, down on last year but nonetheless a top-10 Canadian university. Founded in 1966, the university has five campuses, including one in Qatar, and has been the birthplace of a variety of significant inventions, including the neurochip.

10. Queen's University

Queen’s University is ranked joint 224^th in the world in 2018 and is one of the oldest universities in Canada, established in 1841 – 26 years before Canada was founded. Today, Queen’s has around 22,461 students, 10% of whom are international.

The remaining top universities in Canada…

11. Simon Fraser University – ranked joint 245^th in the world.
12. Dalhousie University – ranked joint 279^th in the world.
13. University of Ottawa – ranked joint 289^th in the world.
14. University of Victoria – ranked joint 346^th in the world.
15. Laval University – ranked 378^th in the world.
16. Concordia University – ranked 431-440 in the world.
17. York University – ranked 441-450 in the world.
18. University of Saskatchewan – ranked 451-460 in the world.
19. University of Guelph – ranked 491-500 in the world.
20. Université du Québec – ranked 501-550 in the world.
21. University of Manitoba – ranked 551-600 in the world.
22. Université de Sherbrooke – ranked 601-650 in the world.

=23. Carleton University – ranked 651-700 in the world.

=23. University of Windsor – ranked 651-700 in the world.

25. Memorial University of Newfoundland – ranked 701-750 in the world.
26. Ryerson University – ranked 801-1000 in the world.

Find out more about studying in Canada with our complete guide, including advice on applications, visas, fees and more.

For information about ranking categories, and answers to other frequently asked questions, click here.

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is the fourth-best university in the world, according to the latest version of the QS World University Rankings®.

It caps an outstanding rise up the rankings over recent years for Caltech, from eighth in 2015 and fifth last year.

Of the six ranking indicators used to assess universities, Caltech scored particularly highly for its ratio of students to faculty members, for which it is ranked third in the world.

This good ranking follows the extremely strong performance of Caltech in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017, where it is ranked in the top 10 in the world for five different subjects: biological sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, earth & marine sciences and physics & astronomy.

This year’s World University Ranking features over 950 universities from 84 different countries. To read more about how it’s compiled, click here, or click here to see this year’s rankings in full.

Harvard University is the third-best university in the world, according to the latest version of the QS World University Rankings®.

It continues a fantastic record for Harvard, which has been ranked in the top four in the world in each of the last five years.

Of the six ranking indicators used to assess universities, Harvard scored particularly highly for its reputation with academics, for which it is ranked the best in the world.

This good ranking follows the extremely strong performance of Harvard in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017, where it is ranked first in the world for fifteen different subjects, including history, law, medicine and psychology.

This year’s World University Ranking features over 950 universities from 84 different countries. To read more about how it’s compiled, click here>, or click here to see this year’s rankings in full.

Stanford University is the second-best university in the world, according to the latest version of the QS World University Rankings®.

It continues a fantastic record for Stanford, which has been ranked as one of the world’s top three universities for the last three years.

Of the six ranking indicators used to assess universities, Stanford scored particularly highly for its reputation with both other academics and employers, achieving a ranking of fifth in the world for both of these categories.

This good ranking follows the extremely strong performance of Stanford in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017, where it is ranked second in the world in seven different subjects:

• Computer science & information systems
• Chemical engineering
• Electrical & electronic engineering
• Mechanical, aeronautical & manufacturing engineering
• Environmental sciences
• Materials science
• Psychology

This year’s World University Ranking features over 950 universities from 84 different countries. To read more about how it’s compiled, click here, or click here to see this year’s rankings in full.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the best university in the world, according to the latest version of the QS World University Rankings®.

It continues a fantastic record for MIT, which has been ranked as the best in the world in each of the last six years.

Of the six ranking indicators used to assess universities, MIT scored particularly highly for its reputation with employers, for which it is ranked fourth in the world.

This good ranking follows the extremely strong performance of MIT in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017, where it is ranked first in the world for a dozen subjects, including chemistry, linguistics, mathematics and chemical engineering.

This year’s World University Ranking features over 950 universities from 84 different countries. To read more about how it’s compiled, click here, or click here to see this year’s rankings in full.

The 14^th edition of the QS World University Rankings has been released, ranking over 950 universities from 84 different countries.

For the sixth year running, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) leads the way at the top of the rankings, closely followed by three other US universities (Stanford, Harvard and the California Institute of Technology). Although there’s a lack of change at the top, with no new entrants in the global top 10, there are plenty of exciting developments further down the rankings with six Chinese universities featuring in the top 100 for the first time and Russian universities making big advances.

Here’s a quick overview of some of this year’s biggest talking points.

MIT remain lightyears ahead of the competition

Over 180 universities from the US and Canada are included in this year’s ranking but none come close to matching the performance of MIT. Ben Sowter, Head of Division in the QS Intelligence Unit says the Massachusetts university could dominate for some time to come. “MIT has a network of successful alumni who make substantial donations to their alma mater and the power these connections grant the university cannot be overestimated,” he said. “Other institutions are scrambling to catch up, but MIT has a 20-year head start so will be pretty difficult to dislodge.”

Lower down the rankings, things are less certain for US universities as growing competition internationally is making it harder for some institutions to attract international faculty and students. 21 of the top 50 universities in the US & Canada have fallen down the ranking since last year.

Russia on the rise

Over recent years, Russian universities have benefited from increased government funding and a concerted attempt to improve student mobility and that investment looks to be paying off. Of the 24 universities from Russia included in this year’s ranking, only three have fallen compared to last year, while the others have either held firm or made impressive gains on their competition.

Elsewhere in Europe, UK universities struggle for a second straight year although Cambridge, Oxford, UCL and Imperial all retain places in the top 10. Whether Brexit and the fall-out from the 2017 general election will make it harder still for UK universities to make international connections remains to be seen, and likely political changes in France, Germany and other European nations could cause plenty of shifts in the world of higher education in the years ahead. For now, many western European countries appear to be in rude health, with Italy in particular resurgent, thanks to two new entries in the top 200.

China keeps climbing

With six universities in the top 100 for the first time ever, this year’s ranking makes for exciting reading if you’re from China. Zhejiang University and the University of Science and Technology in China are the new arrivals in the top 100. In total, China has nearly 50 universities in this year’s ranking.

Elsewhere in Asia, there’s big news in Singapore where Nanyang Technological Institute has overtaken the National University of Singapore and is on the cusp of the top 10. Ben Sowter said of this: “The world is changing quickly and rankings will increasingly chart the triumph of younger, more agile universities over their more traditional counterparts, as has happened here.”

The world keeps getting smaller

One trend this year that’s immediately obvious, and worth paying attention to in the future, is the continued improvement of universities in less obvious parts of the world. In Latin America, for example, both Argentina and Brazil have seen a flagship university climb the ranking. Argentina’s Universidad de Buenos Aires is now ranked 75^th, while the Universidade de Sāo Paulo in Brazil is up to 120^th. In the Middle East, the top four universities in Saudi Arabia have all improved on last year’s positions. If these performances continue, the need for students to travel abroad to find a good university education may decrease. Even in countries such as Russia and China, there is still work to be done to convince young people they can get a strong education without moving away.

Perhaps the only part of the world which remains under-represented in this year’s rankings is Africa, although the University of Cape Town continues to hold a spot in the top 200. Other African universities may feature lower down the ranking, but there are no signs to suggest a rapid advance up the rankings is on its way.

About the QS World University Rankings®

Published annually, the QS World University Rankings provides an index of the world’s leading higher education institutions, based on six performance indicators. The ranking has been expanded this year to feature 959 universities (43 more than last year) in 84 countries. The results are presented in an interactive table, which can be filtered by both location and indicator.

In 2013, QS became the first compiler of international rankings to be independently audited and approved by the IREG Observatory on Academic Rankings and Excellence. Alongside the QS World University Rankings, the "IREG Approved" label is also carried by the QS University Rankings: Asia and the QS University Rankings: Latin America.

For more in-depth analysis of this year’s results, the free digital supplement is available to read online. Join the conversation on Twitter with #QSWUR.

The QS World University Rankings® 2018 has now been released, and for the second year running UK universities have not got a lot to shout about. Although the likes of Cambridge and Oxford remain near the top of the ranking of over 950 universities, UK institutions have, on average, fallen down the table.

One exception to this trend, however, has been Imperial College London which has risen one place to eighth. While other universities in the UK have suffered as a result of financial cuts and increased competition from universities abroad, Imperial is continuing to thrive, as evidenced by its performance across the six different indicators used by QS to rank universities. Imperial is ranked 23rd in the world for academic reputation, while its extremely healthy ratio of students to faculty is the 18th best in the world.

Imperial has always had a fantastic reputation in the fields of science and technology. In this year’s QS World University Rankings by Subject, the university was ranked in the world’s top 10 universities for engineering & technology subjects as well as natural and environmental sciences.

James Finley, who is studying a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Imperial, told TopUniversities: “Imperial has amazing research facilities and all the students receive close tuition from their supervisors. As a result, this produces a lot of new and interesting research.”

It’s not just the university’s academic record that’s impressive. Imperial is also ranked 20th in the world in the latest QS Graduate Employability rankings, suggesting its graduates are well-placed to enter a competitive job market. This is backed up by the strong reputation the university enjoys with employers: it’s ranked eighth in the world for this indicator in the 2018 world rankings.

James said: “Imperial really stands out to me because of its close links with industry. They also have Imperial Innovations, which is a commercial partner of the university that helps fund new startups. I think these close links and willingness to invest in their students is why the university has one of the highest employment rates in the UK.”

While it may be some time before Imperial is mentioned in the same breath as Oxford and Cambridge, one area it’s out-doing its more illustrious competition is in the area of diversity. As this year’s rankings show, the number of international students and faculty at the university is particularly noteworthy. It has the 12th best ratio of international students in the world, while the ratio of international faculty members is the 42nd best.

This diversity exists across class boundaries as well as international borders. James told us: “I really like the university’s approach to diversity. The Imperial Outreach project helps young people from less privileged backgrounds receive free tuition on exciting STEM activities. The Imperial Festival [a free annual event which allows the public to explore the university’s latest research] is another great example of the university’s openness.”

Whether Imperial can continue to buck the nationwide trend remains to be seen, but the university will be encouraged by the fact it continues to thrive despite the financial and political pressures facing all UK universities at present. One thing that’s worth noting is that QS isn’t alone in thinking Imperial is impressing at the moment. Last month, the Guardian published their university league tables and, as with the QS rankings, Imperial had moved one place higher compared to the year before.

“Overall, I’ve really enjoyed studying at Imperial,” said James. “I feel it’s really pushed me to achieve the best I can during my time here, and I feel well-equipped for my next big step after my PhD.”

Want to learn more about Imperial College London? Click here to view the university’s profile.

Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS World University Rankings® 2020.

Unsurprisingly for the world’s most popular study destination, US universities consistently dominate the QS World University Rankings®, and the 2018 edition is no exception – with 31 top US universities featuring in the top 100 and a further 28 institutions in the global top 300. Read on to discover the top 10 universities in the US this year, plus the ranking positions of the remaining 147 universities.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is ranked first, both in the world and in the US for the sixth year in a row. MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and is highly selective, with only 8% of undergraduate applicants receiving a place in 2016.

2. Stanford University

Continuing to rank second in both the QS World University Rankings and the US this year is Stanford University. Stanford is based in the heart of Silicon Valley in California and is renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit and business courses. Its alumni include many successful entrepreneurs such as the founders or co-founders of Netflix, YouTube, WhatsApp and Google.

3. Harvard University

Harvard University retains its position of third in the QS World University Rankings this year. The oldest university in the country, dating back to 1636, Harvard now has around 22,000 students at its large, residential campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard is well respected in a broad range of fields, including law, business and medicine.  

4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Up one place this year to rank fourth in the world, California Institute of Technology, commonly known as Caltech, concludes the uninterrupted quartet of US universities at the top of this year’s QS World University Rankings. Known as a leading tech school, Caltech is located in the city of Pasadena, California and is the smallest university in the US top 10, with only 2,240 students.

5. University of Chicago

Also up one place in the QS World University Rankings® 2018, the University of Chicago is now ranked ninth in the world overall. Established in 1890, the university is known for its strong focus on research. For example, the university’s physics department is known for developing the world’s first man-made, self-sustaining nuclear reaction.

6. Princeton University

Ranked 13^th in the world this year, Princeton University is another of the country’s oldest universities (founded in 1746) and is considered especially prestigious for the arts and humanities, a broad subject area for which its ranked seventh in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017.

7. Cornell University

Cornell University is up two places this year to rank 14^th in the world. Based in Ithaca, New York, Cornell was the first university in the US to award a veterinary medicine degree, and is currently ranked second for veterinary science in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017.

8. Yale University

Ranked 16^th in the world, Yale University is known for its highly selective law school. Yale was established in 1701 and awarded the first PhD in the US in 1861. Today, around 20% of its 12,300 students come from outside the US.

9. Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University retains its position of 17^th in the world this year. Founded in 1876, it’s considered the US’ first research university, and is particularly highly regarded for its education and research in life sciences and medical subjects (achieving sixth place for this broad subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017).

10. Columbia University

Overtaking the University of Pennsylvania as the 10^th highest ranked US university this year is the New-York based Columbia University, up two places to rank 18^th. Columbia was established in 1754 and has produced many notable alumni, including three US presidents: Barack Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Theodore Roosevelt.

The remaining 20 top universities in the US this year are…

11. University of Pennsylvania (ranked 19^th in the world)

=12. Duke University (ranked joint 21^st in the world)

=12. University of Michigan (ranked joint 21^st in the world)

14. University of California, Berkeley (UCB) (ranked 27^thin the world)

15. Northwestern University (ranked joint 28^th in the world)

16. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (ranked 33^rd in the world)

17. University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (ranked joint 38^th in the world)

18. Carnegie Mellon University (ranked joint 47^th in the world)

19. New York University (NYU) (ranked 52^nd in the world)

20. Brown University (ranked 53^rd in the world)

The next 55 top US universities all achieved positions in the global top 400:

21. University of Wisconsin-Madison (ranked 55^th in the world)
22. University of Washington (ranked 61^st in the world)
23. University of Texas at Austin (ranked 67^th in the world)
24. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (ranked 69^th in the world)
25. Georgia Institute of Technology (ranked 70^thin the world)
26. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (ranked 80^th in the world)
27. Boston University (ranked 81^stin the world)
28. Ohio State University (ranked 86^th in the world)
29. Rice University (ranked 89^th in the world)
30. Pennsylvania State University (ranked joint 93^rdin the world)
31. Washington University in St. Louis (ranked 100^th in the world)
32. Purdue University (ranked 105^th in the world)
33. University of California, Davis (UCD; ranked joint 105^th in the world)
34. University of Maryland, College Park (ranked 129^th in the world)
35. University of Southern California (ranked 132^ndin the world)
36. University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB; ranked 134^thin the world)
37. University of Pittsburgh (ranked joint 142^nd in the world)
38. Emory University (ranked joint 147^th in the world)
39. Michigan State University (ranked joint 149^thin the world)
40. University of Minnesota (ranked 163^rd in the world)
41. University of California, Irvine (UCI) (ranked joint 164^thin the world)
42. Dartmouth College (ranked 169^thin the world)
43. University of Virginia (ranked joint 173^rd in the world)
44. University of Florida (ranked joint 178^th in the world)
45. University of Colorado at Boulder (ranked joint 182^nd in the world)
46. University of Rochester (ranked 186^th in the world)
47. Texas A&M University (ranked joint 195^th in the world)
48. University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC) (ranked joint 207^th in the world)
49. Arizona State University (ranked 209^th in the world)
50. Vanderbilt University (ranked 212^th in the world)
51. Case Western Reserve University (ranked 213^th in the world)
52. University of Notre Dame (ranked 216^th in the world)
53. Georgetown University (ranked 227^th in the world)
54. University of Arizona (ranked joint 230^th in the world)
55. Tufts University (ranked joint 243^rd in the world)
56. University of Massachusetts, Amherst (ranked 249^th in the world)
57. University of Miami (ranked 252^nd in the world)
58. North Carolina State University (ranked 263^rd in the world)
59. Rutgers - the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick (ranked joint 283^rd in the world)
60. University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) (ranked joint 301^st in the world)
61. Indiana University Bloomington (ranked 304^th in the world)
62. University at Buffalo Suny (ranked 318^th in the world)
63. University of California, Riverside (UCR) (ranked joint 323^rd in the world)
64. Yeshiva University (ranked joint 325^th in the world)
65. Boston College (ranked joint 339^thin the world)
66. University of Hawaii at Mānoa (ranked joint 341^st in the world)
67. Northeastern University (ranked joint 346^th in the world)
68. George Washington University (ranked joint 352^nd in the world)
69. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute(ranked joint 364^th in the world)
70. Virginia Polytechnic Institute (ranked joint 367^th in the world)
71. Stony Brook University (ranked joint 382^nd in the world)
72. University of Kansas (ranked joint 386^th in the world)
73. University of Utah (ranked joint 391^st in the world)
74. University of Colorado at Denver (ranked 394^th in the world)
75. Illinois Institute of Technology (ranked joint 395^th in the world).

The following 18 US universities are all ranked in the global top 500:

76. Washington State University (ranked 401-410 in the world)

=77. Brandeis University (ranked 411-420)

=77. Wake Forest University (ranked 411-420)

=79. The University of Georgia (ranked 421-430)

=79. University of Connecticut (ranked 421-430)

=79. University of Delaware (ranked 421-430)

=79. University of Iowa (ranked 421-430)

=79. University of Texas Dallas (ranked 421-430)

84. Florida State University (ranked 431-440)
85. Oregon State University (ranked 441-450)

=86. Tulane University (ranked 451-460 – up from 501-550 last year)

=86. University of Tennessee (ranked 451-460)

=88. University of New Mexico (ranked 461-470)

=88. Wayne State University (ranked 461-470)

=90. American University (ranked 471-480)

=90. Iowa State University (ranked 471-480)

=92. Colorado State University (ranked 481-490)

=92. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (ranked 481-490)

The ranking now continues in a wider range, grouping universities in bands of 50:

Click here to find out more.
=94. City University of New York (ranked 501-550 in the world)

=94. Clark University (501-550)

=94. Drexel University (501-550)

=94. Lehigh University (501-550)

=94. Syracuse University (501-550)

=94. University of Cincinnati (501-550)

=94. University of Nebraska (501-550)

=94. University of Oklahoma (501-550)

=94. University of South Florida (501-550)

=103. College of William & Mary (551-600)

=103. Howard University (551-600)

=103. Michigan Technological University (551-600)

=103. University of Kentucky (551-600)

=103. University of Oregon (551-600)

=103. University of Vermont (551-600)

=109. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (new this year, ranked 601-650)

=109. New School University (601-650)

=109. University of Houston (601-650)

=109. University of Massachusetts, Boston (601-650)

=109. University of Missouri, Columbia (601-650)

=109. University of South Carolina at Columbia (601-650)

=115. Clarkson University (651-700)

=115. Louisiana State University (651-700)

=115. Missouri University of Science and Technology (651-700)

=115. Rutgers - the State University of New Jersey, Newark (651-700)

=115. Stevens Institute of Technology (651-700)

=115. Temple University (651-700)

=115. University at Albany Suny (651-700)

=115. University of Alabama (651-700)

=115. Virginia Commonwealth University (651-700)

=115. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (651-700)

The following 14 US universities are all ranked between 701^st and 800^th in the world.

=125. Clemson University (701-750)

=125. Smith College (701-750)

=125. Southern Methodist University (701-750)

=125. Texas Tech University (new this year, ranked 701-750)

=125. University of Central Florida (701-750)

=125. University of Denver (701-750)

=125. University of Wyoming (701-750)

=132. Brigham Young University (751-800)

=132. Florida International University (751-800)

=132. Georgia State University (751-800)

=132. Kansas State University (751-800)

=132. Loyola University Chicago (751-800)

=132. University of New Hampshire (751-800)

=132. University of Tulsa (751-800)

The remaining 19 top US universities are all ranked in the 801-1000 range, making them joint 139^th in the US:

=139. Auburn University (801-1000)

=139. Baylor University (801-1000)

=139. Binghamton University Suny (801-1000)

=139. Fordham University (801-1000)

=139. George Mason University (801-1000)

=139. Kent State University (801-1000)

=139. Marquette University (801-1000)

=139. Miami University (801-1000)

=139. New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT; 801-1000)

=139. Ohio University (801-1000)

=139. Oklahoma State University (801-1000)

=139. San Diego State University (801-1000)

=139. University of Arkansas (801-1000)

=139. University of Mississippi (801-1000)

=139. University of Montana Missoula (801-1000)

=139. University of San Diego (801-1000)

=139. University of San Francisco (801-1000)

=139. University of the Pacific (801-1000)

=139. Utah State University (801-1000)

Find out more about studying in the US with our complete guide, which includes advice on applications, visas, costs, funding and more.  

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Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS World University Rankings® 2020.

The UK boasts 76 positions in the QS World University Rankings® 2018, including five new entries this year. Four UK universities feature in the global top 10, while a further 24 have achieved the incredible feat of ranking in the top 200. Perhaps unsurprisingly, both halves of Oxbridge and several London-based institutions feature in the UK top 10, but there’s a much broader range of universities and locations further down the table.

To read this year’s rankings in full, click here.

1. University of Cambridge

There’s no change at the top since last year, with the University of Cambridge ranked first in the UK. However, the university is down one place in the QS World University Rankings to now rank fifth in the world this year. Cambridge was founded in 1209, making it one of the oldest universities in the world, and currently educates around 19,000 students.

2. University of Oxford

Ranked sixth in the world, the University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and is credited with producing highly successful alumni, including 27 British Prime Ministers, 30 international leaders, 50 Nobel Prize winners and other prominent figures such as Sir Stephen Hawking.

3. UCL (University College London)

UCL continues to rank seventh in the world this year, making it London’s highest-ranked university for three years in a row. UCL calls itself London’s Global University and this is certainly reflected in its on-campus diversity, with more than 15,500 of its 38,900 students coming from outside the UK.

4. Imperial College London

Up one place to now rank eighth in the world this year, Imperial College London is the fourth and final UK university to appear in the global top 10. Imperial is a science-based institution which focuses on developing technologies and their practical applications.

=5. King's College London (KCL)

King’s College London is ranked joint 23^rd in the world this year, sharing the position with the University of Edinburgh. Renowned for its medical education and research, the university is home to the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, the world’s first nursing school.

=5. University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh continues to be the highest-ranked university in Scotland, this year placing joint 23^rd in the world and joint 5^th in the UK. Established in 1582, the university’s prestige has helped earn the city the nickname ‘Athens of the North’, and it’s been ranked one of the top five UK universities for research excellence.

7. University of Manchester

Ranked 34^th in the world in 2018, the University of Manchester is the UK’s largest single-site university, hosting 39,700 students hailing from 160 countries. A member of the prestigious Russell Group of UK universities, Manchester has been associated with 25 Nobel Prize winners.

8. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Back in London, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is up two places to rank 35^th in the world in 2018. Established in 1895, LSE focuses on the social sciences and has a diverse student body, with over 7,500 of its 10,880 students coming from overseas.

9. University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is ranked 44^th in the world in 2018. The university is another Russell Group member and is the largest independent employer in the city of Bristol. The university was established in 1876 and now enrolls around 22,300 students.

10. University of Warwick

Ranked 57^th in the world in 2018, the University of Warwick is actually based in the outskirts of the city of Coventry, and is home to the Warwick Arts Centre, the largest of its kind in the UK outside of London.

The remaining top 20 UK universities are…

11. University of Glasgow – ranked 65^th in the world. 

12. Durham University – ranked joint 78^th in the world.

13. University of Sheffield – ranked joint 82^ndin the world.

=14. University of Nottingham – ranked joint 84^th in the world.

=14. University of Birmingham – ranked joint 84^th in the world.

16. University of St Andrews – ranked 92^nd in the world.

17. University of Leeds – ranked 101^st in the world.

18. University of Southampton – ranked joint 102^nd in the world.

19. Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) – ranked 127^th in the world.

=20. Lancaster University – ranked joint 135^th in the world.

=20. University of York – ranked joint 135^th in the world.

The remaining top universities in the UK, in order of how they ranked this year, are… 

22. Cardiff University– ranked joint 137^th in the world.

=23. University of Aberdeen – ranked joint 158^th in the world.

=23. University of Exeter – ranked joint 158^th in the world.

25. University of Bath– ranked 160^th in the world.

26. Newcastle University – ranked joint 161^st in the world.

27. University of Liverpool – ranked joint 173^rd in the world.

28. University of Reading – ranked joint 188^th in the world.

29. Queen's University of Belfast – ranked 202^nd in the world.

30. University of Sussex– ranked 228^th in the world.

31. Loughborough University– ranked 234^th in the world.

32. University of Leicester– ranked 238^th in the world.

33. Royal Holloway University of London– ranked joint 259^th in the world.

34. University of Surrey – ranked joint 264^th in the world.

35. University of Dundee– ranked joint 267^th in the world.

36. University of East Anglia (UEA) – ranked 274^th in the world.

37. University of Strathclyde – ranked joint 277^th in the world.

38. SOAS - School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London – ranked joint 296^th in the world.

39. Birkbeck College, University of London– ranked joint 308^th in the world.

40. Heriot-Watt University– ranked 312^th in the world, up 15 places from last year.

41. City University London– ranked 343^rd in the world.

42. Brunel University – ranked joint 346^th in the world.

43. University of Essex – ranked joint 347^th in the world.

44. Oxford Brookes University – ranked joint 361^st in the world.

=45. Aston University – ranked 373^rd in the world.

=45. University of Kent – ranked joint 373^rd in the world.

47. Goldsmiths, University of London – ranked joint 398^th in the world, up from 421-430 last year.

After the global top 400, the remaining universities are ranked in ranges, starting from 401-410, going up to 801-1000. Click here to find out more. 

48. Swansea University – ranked 431-440 in the world.
49. Bangor University - ranked 441-450 in the world.
50. University of Stirling – ranked 451-460 in the world.
51. Aberystwyth University– ranked 481-490 in the world.
52. Kingston University, London – ranked 501-550 in the world.

=53. Coventry University – ranked 551-600 in the world, up from 651-700 last year.

=53. Westminster University – ranked 551-600 in the world, new this year.

Five top universities in the UK are ranked in the 601-650 range, and are therefore joint 55^th in the UK:

=55. Keele University 

=55. University of Bradford

=55. University of Hull 

=55. University of Portsmouth 

=55. University of Ulster 

Another five top UK universities are placed 701-750, and are therefore joint 60^th in the UK:

=60. Bournemouth University – new this year.

=60. London Metropolitan University 

=60. Middlesex University 

=60. University of Brighton – new this year.

=60. Plymouth University 

Four institutions are placed in the 751-800 range, making them joint 65^th in the UK:

=65. Northumbria University at Newcastle

=65. University of Hertfordshire

=65. University of Huddersfield

=65. University of Salford

And finally, the remaining eight top UK universities are all ranked 801-1000, which means they’re joint 69^th in the UK:

=69. Edinburgh Napier University – new this year.

=69. London South Bank University – new this year.

=69. Manchester Metropolitan University

=69. Nottingham Trent University

=69. Robert Gordon University

=69. University of Central Lancashire

=69. University of East London

=69. University of Greenwich

You can find out more about studying in the UK with our complete guide, which features advice on applications, visas, costs, funding and more.