Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS BRICS World University Rankings 2018.

Home to some of the most prestigious universities in Latin America, Brazil claims 54 out of the 250 total positions in the QS University Rankings: BRICS 2016. Published annually since 2013, the ranking aims to highlight the best universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, five major developing economies which each offer a number of highly regarded universities.

Read on to discover the 10 top universities in Brazil this year, as well as how each institution performed in the recently published QS University Rankings: Latin America and the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Alternatively, click here to see the full BRICS ranking table.

1. Universidade de São Paulo (USP)

The Universidade de São Paulo (USP) features at 10^th in the BRICS ranking this year and has also been ranked 1^st in the QS University Rankings: Latin America twice in a row. Established in 1934, USP is often referred to as the most prestigious university in the country, and has educated 12 Brazilian presidents. It’s the largest of the public universities in Brazil with over 90,000 students enrolled, spread across 11 campuses. Four of these are in São Paulo – the largest city in both Brazil and the Southern Hemisphere.

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, USP performs exceptionally well, ranked among the top universities in the world for 40 out of a possible 42 subjects. Of these, it’s in the global top 50 for seven subjects, including agriculture, veterinary science and architecture. 

2. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)

Also located in São Paulo, the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) retains its position of 12^th in the BRICS ranking this year, and also features at 2^nd place in the Latin America ranking. It was established in 1966, and is consistently ranked as one the world’s best young institutions. Unicamp is responsible for around 15% of Brazil’s research, with its three campuses containing a total of 22 teaching and research centers. It has a large student body of around 35,600 students, of which almost 16,000 are studying postgraduate degrees.

Unicamp currently features among the world’s top universities for 29 subjects, with positions in the top 50 for dentistry and agriculture and forestry, as well as many more top 100 places.

3. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Ranked 29^th in the BRICS countries this year, the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is currently placed 5^th in Latin America and is the oldest of all universities in Brazil. It was established in 1792, when the precursor to its technical school, the Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design, was founded. Now home to around 67,000 students, the university owns a range of museums, hospitals and research centers around the city of Rio de Janeiro, the second-largest in the country and 2016 Olympic Games host city.

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) is included as one of the best universities in the world for 30 subjects, with eight of these in the top 100, including performing arts, sociology and mineral and mining engineering.

4. Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"

Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” is ranked 36^th in BRICS and 12^th in Latin America this year. It’s one of the six public universities in Brazil to be located in São Paulo, and is also sometimes known as São Paulo State University or simply UNESP. Another of the younger universities in Brazil, it was founded in 1976, and now has around 50,600 students enrolled in 23 campuses in São Paulo state.  It’s considered one of Brazil’s leading research universities, and has 33 libraries, two university hospitals, three veterinary hospitals and several other clinics and complementary units.

Internationally ranked for 13 subjects this year, UNESP achieves positions among the top 50 institutions in the world for dentistry and veterinary science, as well as the top 100 for agriculture and forestry.

5. Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)

Staying in São Paulo state for the next of these top universities in Brazil, and the Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) is ranked 45^th in BRICS and 27^th among Latin American countries. Founded in 1933 as a private medical school, UNESP’s teaching hospital was the first to be founded in Brazil. It was exclusively focused on the health sciences before becoming multidisciplinary, following government reforms in 2005.  

The university’s background in health sciences is reflected in the subject rankings, in which UNESP ranks among the world’s best for four subjects. This includes a place in the global top 50 for nursing, top 150 for pharmacy and pharmacology, top 200 for medicine and top 250 for biological sciences.

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

The Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (or PUC-Rio) is up one place in the BRICS ranking this year to now share 46^th place with the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Also ranked 15^th in Latin America, PUC-Rio was founded in 1940 by the Society of Jesus and was the first of the private universities in Brazil to be established. It is a non-profit, philanthropic and Catholic institution with humanistic principles, and is located in the Gávea neighborhood, south of Rio de Janeiro, in an attractive position on the edge of the Tijuca national forest.

PUC-Rio is this year included in nine subject rankings, including the global top 200 for politics and philosophy.

6=. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)

Featured at joint 46^th in the BRICS ranking this year along with PUC-Rio, the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) also places 16^th in Latin America. UFRGS has one of the highest numbers of scientific publications amongst these top universities in Brazil. It’s mostly located in the vibrant city of Porto Alegre (the capital of the Rio Grande do Sul state, in the south of the country), but has some off-campus buildings for its business school and art institute.    

UFRGS is internationally ranked in an impressive 18 subjects this year, achieving positions in the top 100 for performing arts, philosophy, and mineral and mining engineering. 

8. Universidade de Brasilia

The Universidade de Brasília is up two places from last year to place 51^st in the BRICS ranking. It also comes 9^th in the Latin America ranking, and is the only one of these 10 top universities in Brazil to be located in the country’s capital, Brasilia. Founded in 1962, the university currently enrolls around 40,000 students in 26 faculties and has 18 centers dedicated to specialized research. Other facilities include a hospital, sports center, seismological observatory, physical experiment facilities, an ecological station, a farm and more.

Ranked among the world’s best for eight subjects this year, the Universidade de Brasília achieves its best positions for anthropology (top 100) and agriculture and forestry (top 150).

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

Pontificia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, also known as PUC-SP for short, is a private, non-profit Catholic university located in the Perdizes neighborhood of São Paulo. Ranked 52^nd in BRICS and 38^th in Latin America this year, PUC-SP was founded in 1946 and currently educates around 23,000 students. It was the first university in Brazil to offer graduate programs in the fields of multimedia, social service, psychology of learning, applied linguistics and speech-language therapy, and is highly regarded for its research in the social sciences.

PUC-SP is currently only internationally ranked for one subject, claiming a place in the world’s top 200 for modern languages.

10. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)

The final of our list of the 10 top universities in Brazil is the public Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, placing 53^rd in the BRICS ranking and 14^th in Latin America. One of the largest Brazilian universities, UFMG was established in 1927 and today has a student body of around 49,000. It’s located in the city of Belo Horizonte (the state capital of Minas Gerais) across a 2,000 acre campus in the Pampulha neighborhood.

Currently ranked among the world’s best for 18 subjects, UFMG achieves its highest positions (all in the top 150) for philosophy, agriculture and forestry, pharmacy and pharmacology, and statistics. 

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Click here to view the most recent edition of this article, based on the QS BRICS University Rankings 2018.

The recently released QS University Rankings: BRICS sees 55 Russian universities feature among the best 250 universities in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The BRICS ranking, published annually since 2013, celebrates leading institutions found in these five emerging economies.

Read on for an overview of the 10 top universities in Russia in 2016, including information on how each institution performed in the recent QS World University Rankings by Subject. Or click here to view the BRICS rankings table.

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Lomonosov Moscow State University is consistently the highest ranked Russian university in both the BRICS ranking and the QS World University Rankings®, placing 7^th in BRICS and 108^th in the world. It’s the largest of all Russian universities and one of the oldest, founded in 1755 and currently educating around 47,000 students, the majority of which are studying at graduate level. Located just outside the city center of Russian capital Moscow on Sparrow Hills, the university’s main building is said to be the largest educational building in the world, and Lomonosov’s library system is one of Russia’s largest.

Featured 24 times out of a possible 42 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016, Lomonosov Moscow State University achieves top 50 positions for linguistics, mathematics, and physics and astronomy, plus several more subjects in the top 100.

2=. Saint-Petersburg State University

Ranked joint 20^th in BRICS this year, Saint-Petersburg State University is the oldest of these top universities in Russia, originally established as the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1724 by Peter the Great. It now has around 30,000 students, including over 3,000 who come from outside Russia, making it one of the largest Russian universities. Saint-Petersburg State University is a member of the Coimbra Group, an association of deep-rooted, multidisciplinary and internationally respected European universities.

The university features 11 times in the rankings by subject this year, with a position in the top 50 for mineral and mining engineering, a top-100 spot for linguistics, and positions in the worldwide top 150 for mathematics, philosophy, modern languages and history.

2=. Novosibirsk State University

Sharing 20^th place with Saint-Petersburg State University in the BRICS ranking this year, Novosibirsk State University is also in the top 350 of the World University Rankings. One of the younger Russian universities, it was established in 1959 and is located in the educational and scientific center of Siberia, ‘Akademgorodok’ (Academic Town) – 20 kilometers from Novosibirsk, the largest city in the Asian section of Russia. It’s also a smaller institution than other top universities in Russia listed here, with 6,000 students enrolled in 13 faculties.

Novosibirsk State University is currently featured as one of the world’s best for five subjects – placing within the top 100 for physics and astronomy and the top 150 for mathematics.

4. Bauman Moscow State Technical University

Bauman Moscow State Technical University comes 38^th in this year’s BRICS ranking and is the oldest and largest of the technical Russian universities. It has 19 departments but specializes in various fields of engineering and applied sciences, and teaches more than 19,000 students at all study levels. Bauman Moscow State Technical University is also known for granting up to 3,000 students free room and board in its halls of residence each year, as well as offering well-regarded support for hearing-impaired students.

The university’s technical focus is reflected in its performance in the subject rankings – it’s ranked among the world’s best for five subjects in 2016 (compared to just one in 2015). Its highest ranked subject is mechanical engineering, for which it’s placed in the global top 200.  

5. Tomsk State University

Heading back to Siberia for the next of these top universities in Russia, Tomsk State University comes 43^rd in this year’s BRICS. Founded in 1878 but not opened to students until 1888, it’s the oldest institution in the vast ‘Russian Asia’ area. It now has around 17,000 students enrolled in 23 faculties, and offers 165 master’s programs, including some English-taught courses. Tomsk State University was designated as a National Research University in 2010 and offers its students one of the most extensive library archives of all Russian universities.

In this year’s subject rankings, Tomsk State University is ranked among the top 300 universities in the world for modern languages, and among the top 400 for physics and astronomy.

6. Moscow State Institute of International Relations – MGIMO University

Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) is ranked 44^th in the BRICS ranking this year and is consistently ranked within the top 400 universities in the world. Run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, MGIMO University was previously part of Moscow State University but became a separate institution in 1944. MGIMO specializes mainly in the humanities and, although it doesn’t feature in the subject rankings, the university is particularly well known for preparing students for careers in international relations. The university also holds the distinction of appearing in the Guinness Book of World Records for offering courses in 56 languages, more than any other institution in the world.

7. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University

Another of the top universities in Russia to be located in Moscow, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, colloquially known as PhysTech, is ranked joint 47^th in the BRICS ranking this year. It was established in 1946 and is a leading institution for educating specialists in various fields of modern science and technology, and today has a fairly small student body of 5,600 students in 11 faculties. Eight of its professors are Nobel Prize winners.

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University) features among the world’s best for five subjects this year – all of which are, unsurprisingly, science subjects. Its highest position comes for physics and astronomy, in the global top 150.

8. National Research Nuclear University "Mephi" (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)

Ranked 50^th in BRICS, the National Research Nuclear University, or “MEPhI” was founded in 1942 as the Moscow Mechanical Institute of Munitions and is now another of the most well-respected technical Russian universities. As the name suggests, it focuses on the nuclear industry, as well as physics, engineering and mathematics. However, the institute, which counts a number of Nobel Prize winners amongst its alumni, has also been increasingly working on improving its programs in the fields of economic sciences, humanities and foreign languages.

National Research Nuclear University is internationally ranked for three subjects this year – physics and astronomy (top 100), electrical and electronic engineering (top 300) and mathematics (in the worldwide top 400).

9. Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University

St. Petersburg Polytechnic University features at 61^st in the BRICS ranking this year and is consistently ranked among the top 500 in the world university rankings. Located in St. Petersburg, it’s a large university, with almost 31,000 students currently enrolled. It houses one of the country's most advanced research laboratories in hydro-aerodynamics, and has 20 research centers in total, which conduct research with prominent technology corporations such as Microsoft, Siemens and Apple.

St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is included three times in the latest subject rankings, ranked as one of the world’s leading universities for electrical and electronic engineering (top 250), physics and astronomy (top 300) and computer science and information systems (top 500).

10. National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE, Moscow)

Concluding our list of the 10 top universities in Russia is the Higher School of Economics (HSE), which is also the youngest university in this list, founded as recently as 1992. It was awarded National Research University status in 2009 and specializes in the social sciences, mathematics, computer science and of course economics. Ranked 62^nd in BRICS, its main campus can be found in Moscow, with three other campuses located in St. Petersburg, Nizhniy Novgorod and Perm.

The Higher School of Economics is internationally ranked for eight subjects this year, achieving positions as one of the world’s top 150 universities for economics and econometrics, politics and sociology, with three more subjects in the top 200. 

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Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS BRICS University Rankings 2018.

The latest results of the QS Brics University Rankings sees Chinese universities making up over a third of the 250 institutions now featured. The BRICS ranking aims to showcase the best universities in the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. China is a consistently strong contender in this ranking, reflecting the country’s investment in higher education and research, and now boasts 86 entrants, including uninterrupted dominance of the top five.

Read on for an overview of the 10 top universities in China this year, with information on how each institution also performed in the recently released QS University Rankings: Asia 2016 and the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016.

1. Tsinghua University

Tsinghua University has now retained its position as the highest ranked university in the BRICS countries for three years in a row, and is also the top performing Chinese university in the University Rankings: Asia 2016, at 5^th place (up from 11^th last year). Tsinghua University was founded in 1911 and now has 46,200 students enrolled in 20 schools. Located in capital city Beijing, it’s a member of the prestigious C9 League (the Chinese equivalent of the US Ivy League).

Tsinghua University also fares well in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016, appearing among the world’s best for 33 out of a possible 42 subjects, and claiming top 50 positions for architecture, every branch of engineering (including the new mineral and mining engineering ranking), chemistry, computer science, law, art and design, politics, mathematics, modern languages and more.

2. Peking University

Peking University is also located in Beijing and retains its position at second place among the top universities in China and in the BRICS ranking. Also ranked 9^th in the Asia ranking, Peking University was originally founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking, and has since gained a reputation as one of the most prominent research universities in China. It has maintained a partnership with Germany’s Freie Universität Berlin since 1981 and welcomes a high number of international students every year. Peking University’s campus, known as "Yan Yuan" (the garden of Yan) is celebrated for its beauty and traditional Chinese architecture.

Ranked as one of the world’s best in 36 subjects in the 2016 subject rankings, Peking claims 26 top 50 positions, including modern languages, chemistry, dentistry, mineral and mining engineering, law, computer science, mechanical engineering, art and design, and mathematics.

3. Fudan University

Retaining its position at 3^rd in the BRICS ranking, Fudan University also features at 11^th in the Asia ranking (climbing from 16^th last year). It’s a member of the C9 League and Universitas 21, an international network of research universities, and is located in Shanghai, China’s largest city.  Fudan University was founded in 1905 as Fudan Public School and now has around 31,000 students enrolled in 17 schools. The university has 77 research institutes and 10 teaching hospitals, and is also associated with the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art (an independent subsidiary).   

Internationally ranked for 26 subjects, Fudan University is featured within the top 50 for politics, chemistry, modern languages and materials sciences.

4. University of Science and Technology of China

Having shared 6^th place with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in last year’s BRICS ranking, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) climbs two places to rank 4^th this year. Placed 25^th in the Asia rankings, USTC is led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and was founded in 1958 to meet the science and technology needs of the country and increase its global competitiveness. Located in the city of Hefei, its campuses span 360 acres, and the university was the first in China to establish a graduate school.

The University of Science and Technology of China is featured among the world’s best for 12 subjects in 2016, most of which are (unsurprisingly) science subjects. It achieves its highest positions for chemistry and materials sciences.

5. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The next of our top universities in China is Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which concludes the set of five continuous Chinese universities in the top five of the BRICS ranking, and also places 22^nd in the latest Asia ranking. It was founded in 1896 and now teaches around 37,500 students, of which 1,700 come from outside China. Shanghai Jiao Tong University offers 63 undergraduate programs, 250 master’s programs and 28 postdoctoral programs.

It boasts 25 positions in the 2016 subject rankings, including places within the global top 50 for computer science, chemical engineering, civil and structural engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, materials sciences, art and design and business and management.

6. Nanjing University

Retaining its position at 8^th in the BRICS ranking, Nanjing University is also ranked 23^rd in Asia this year. It was founded in 1902 but can trace its early establishments back as far as 258 AD, and now has about 30,000 students enrolled across two campuses, which each span nearly 600 acres. A member of the prestigious Yangtze Delta Universities Alliance, it’s located in Nanjing in eastern China, the ancient capital of the country for various periods, which holds a significant place in Chinese history and culture.

Nanjing University is ranked internationally for 23 subjects, including a place in the global top 100 for chemistry, Earth and marine sciences, materials sciences and architecture.

7. Zhejiang University

Zhejiang University is the final of these top universities in China to make the top 10 in the BRICS ranking, climbing two places this year to be ranked 9^th in BRICS. Also ranked 24^th in Asia, Zhejiang (sometimes known as Zheda) is another member of the C9 League and the Yangtze Delta Alliance. It was founded in 1897 in the city of Hangzhou and now has one of the largest academic libraries amongst Chinese universities, as well as a total enrolment of 47,339 students, over 5,800 of which come from outside China.

Zhejiang University is ranked among the world’s best for 24 subjects, placing in the world’s top 50 for chemical engineering and the top 100 for nine other subjects.

8. Beijing Normal University

Heading back to Beijing for the next of our top universities in China, Beijing Normal University is ranked 11^th in BRICS and 40^th in Asia this year. Colloquially known as Beishida, the university’s name reflects its legacy as a former unit of the Imperial University of Peking which was devoted to training schoolteachers. It’s home to a wide range of research centers and laboratories, as well a six-hectare ‘Science Park’, and currently has about 22,000 students enrolled, including 1,800 international students.

Beijing Normal University is included in 16 of the 2016 subject rankings, appearing in the top 100 for education and training, linguistics, modern languages, and social policy and administration.

9. Wuhan University

Climbing one place from last year, Wuhan University is ranked 16^th in the BRICS ranking this year, and 44^th in Asia. Located in the city of Wuhan, capital of the Hubei province and the most populous city in central China, the university is administered by the Ministry of Education in China and was founded in 1893. Wuhan University’s elegant and palatial architecture and blend of Eastern and Western styles has led to the campus being called the most beautiful in China.

Not just a pretty sight, Wuhan University is also one of the most prestigious Chinese universities, appearing 15 times in the latest rankings by subject, with a position in the top 100 for philosophy.

10. Tongji University

The final of our 10 top universities in China is Tongji University, which made a leap from 26^th to 17^th in the BRICS ranking and is also 53^rd in the Asia ranking. Tongji University was originally established as Tongji German Medical School in 1907, becoming a state university 20 years later. It now teaches around 36,600 students, of which 2,200 are from outside China.

An engineering-intensive university, Tongji University is especially renowned for its architecture and engineering programs, and this is reflected in the subject rankings. Of the nine subjects in which it’s internationally ranked, Tongji is in the global top 50 for architecture, civil and structural engineering, and art and design. 

Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS BRICS University Rankings 2019.

The results of the QS University Rankings: BRICS 2016 are out now, showcasing the top universities in the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Released annually, the BRICS ranking highlights higher education leaders in these five major emerging economies.

44 Indian universities are featured in the top 250 of this year’s BRICS ranking – read on for an overview of the 10 top universities in India this year, or click here to view the full table.

1. Indian Institute of Science Bangalore

The Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (IISc Bangalore) is a specialist public institution which leads the way for India in the BRICS ranking, at 6^th place this year. It also made its debut appearance in the overall QS World University Rankings in the 2015/16 edition, in which it was ranked 147^th. Located amongst a center of research institutes just north of the city of Bangalore, IISc Bangalore is well regarded for its research in technology and engineering. It was originally founded in 1909 with two departments and just 21 students, and now has 39 departments across 400 acres of land, and 3,500 students.

As well as achieving 33^rd place in the QS University Rankings: Asia 2016, IISc Bangalore is featured among the world’s best for 12 subjects, including a place in the top 50 for materials sciences, and the top 100 for chemical engineering, electrical engineering and chemistry.

2. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB)

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) climbs from 16^th to 13^th place in this year’s BRICS ranking. IIT Bombay was founded in 1958 and has since established itself as one of the top universities in India. Mainly a technical institution known for its engineering and science courses, it also offers a variety of arts and humanities programs. IIT Bombay builds links with peer universities both in India and abroad, in order to enhance its research and study programs. It’s located in the Powai area in the north-east of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay) and has around 8,000 students.

IIT Bombay is ranked among the world’s best in 14 subjects, including a place in the global top 100 for computer science, chemical engineering, civil and structural engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, materials sciences, and art and design.

3. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) is ranked 15^th in the BRICS ranking this year. Originally founded as an engineering college in 1961, it now has 11 inter-disciplinary centers, in which its engineering and science programs often overlap. Its 325 acre campus is located in the attractive Hauz Khas area, south of the capital city of New Delhi. The campus is also close to a number of other universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). 

Internationally ranked in 14 subjects, IIT Delhi is within the top 100 worldwide for computer science, chemical engineering, civil and structural engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, materials sciences, and art and design.

4. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)

Coming 19^th in the BRICS ranking this year, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is another of the top Indian universities to have been founded in the mid-20^th century (1959). It has around 8,000 students currently enrolled at its campus in Chennai (formerly known as Madras), which is the largest cultural, economic and education center in South India. Its location also boasts great natural beauty, and is adjacent to the Guindy National Park.

IIT Madras is currently featured among the world’s best for nine subjects, including a position in the global top 100 for chemical engineering, civil and structural engineering, electrical and electronic engineering and mechanical engineering.

5. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK)

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), also founded in 1959, places 22^nd in the BRICS ranking this year. Located on extensive 1,000 acre grounds just outside the city of Kanpur (in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh), around 7,000 students are enrolled. Like the other institutes of technology, its main focus is on engineering and technology subjects, but it also offers a selection of programs in arts, humanities and social sciences. IIT Kanpur was the first Indian institute to offer education in computer science.

IIT Kanpur appears in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 10 times this year, achieving its best position (in the global top 100) for electrical and electronic engineering, and a place in the top 150 for seven other subjects, including computer science and statistics.

6. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IITKGP)

Another of the top technical Indian universities, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) is ranked 25^th in the BRICS ranking this year. Originally founded in 1951 as a training institute for scientists and engineers, it was the first of the Indian Institutes of Technology to be established, and now teaches around 9,000 students. Its campus is also the largest among the IITs at 2,000 acres, and is located in the city of Kharagpur in north-east India, 116 kilometers west of Kolkata.

Of the 11 subjects in which IIT Kharagpur is internationally ranked, it unsurprisingly performs best in engineering fields, placing in the top 100 for civil and structural, electrical and electronic and mechanical engineering.  

7. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)

At 39^th in the BRICS ranking, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) only recently became an Indian Institute of Technology, in 2001. It was founded in 1847 and given university status in 1949, when it became known as the University of Roorkee. The institute now has 21 academic departments offering programs in engineering, applied sciences, humanities, social sciences and management, with a strong focus on technological and scientific education and research. The university also lays claim to having three centers of excellence – devoted to nanotechnology, transportation systems and disaster mitigation and management.

IIT Roorkee is featured in the subject rankings seven times this year, achieving its best position for civil and structural engineering (in the top 150). 

8. University of Delhi

The highest ranked of the non-IIT Indian universities this year is the University of Delhi, which is 41^st in the BRICS ranking this year. Considered one of the best multidisciplinary universities in the country, it’s made up of a collegiate of 77 affiliated colleges and teaches around 132,400 students. It was established in 1922 by the then British Indian government and has now grown to become one of the largest universities in India, made up of two large main campuses in New Delhi – the North Campus and the South Campus – the latter of which boasts 69 acres of green, hilly terrain.

The University of Delhi is ranked among the world’s best for 12 disciplines in 2016, including 18^th place for development studies, and a top 100 position in the new anthropology ranking.

9.= University of Calcutta

The University of Calcutta is joint 54^th in the BRICS ranking this year. Like the University of Delhi, it is a multidisciplinary, public university. It was founded in 1857 in the city of Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, which is the major commercial, cultural and educational center of east India. It now has a total of 14 campuses spread across the city and its suburbs, with over 23,000 students enrolled. The university has established a strong reputation for itself both in and outside of India.

Not previously featured in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, the University of Calcutta this year ranks in the global top 300 for modern languages.

9.= Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

Sharing 54^th place with the University of Calcutta in this year’s BRICS ranking, the final of our 10 top universities in India is another IIT, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati). It’s a young IIT, established in 1994 by the Indian government. Its 700 acre campus, positioned on the northern banks of the Brahmaputra River just outside the city of Guwahati, northeast India, is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. The university has six research centers with a focus on energy, environment, educational technology, nanotechnology, mass media communication and instruments facility.

IIT Guwahati is ranked among the world’s best for four subjects – electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry and computer science. 

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To view the top universities in South Africa in 2018, click here. Or click here to view the full QS BRICS University Rankings 2018.

First launched in 2013, the QS University Rankings: BRICS showcases the best performing universities in the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). A total of 11 top universities in South Africa are included in the ranking this year, all assessed on eight indicators including their global reputation amongst academics and employers, as well as their research impact and internationalization.

Read on for an overview of the top 10 South African universities (actually 11, as two are tied), or click here to view the full BRICS rankings table.

1. University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town is South Africa’s highest-ranked university in both the BRICS ranking and the QS World University Rankings® 2015/16, ranking 14^th in this year’s BRICS and 171^st in the world. It was originally founded in 1829 as the South African College, making it the oldest university in the country. The university sits on the slopes of Table Mountain’s Devil’s Peak, offering great views. It has a cosmopolitan community of students from over 100 countries in Africa and the rest of the world, and is the alma mater of five Nobel Laureates. The University of Cape Town also has the distinction of being affiliated with the hospital that achieved the world’s first heart transplant.

The university features among the world’s best for an impressive 31 out of a possible 42 subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016, including a place in the global top 50 for development studies (9^th) and geography, as well as the top 100 for a further 10 subjects, including medicine, law and agriculture.

2. University of the Witwatersrand

Ranked joint 26^th in the BRICS countries and joint 331^st in the world, the University of the Witwatersrand is made up of five separate campuses in urban and suburban areas in Johannesburg, the largest and wealthiest city in South Africa. Often called Wits University for short, the University of the Witwatersrand is another of the country’s oldest universities, established in 1896 as the South African School of Mines. It now teaches around 33,300 students, with more than 2,600 hailing from outside South Africa.

The university is home to one of the largest fossil collections in the southern hemisphere and is well regarded for its programs in palaeo-sciences. This is reflected in this year’s subject rankings, in which the University of Witwatersrand features in the global top 50 for archaeology, and it’s also a strong contender for development studies (joint 14^th). It ranks among the world’s best for a further 15 subjects.

3. Stellenbosch University

The next of our top universities in South Africa is Stellenbosch University, coming 35^th in the BRICS ranking this year and 401-410 in the world university rankings. Located 50 kilometers east of Cape Town in the town of Stellenbosch, the university was established in 1918 and has around 30,100 students (nicknamed maties) currently enrolled. Stellenbosch is a friendly university town with a rich history and a picturesque backdrop of the Boland Mountains. The university has four other campuses, with the most recent opening in Worcester, which houses the Ukwanda Rural Clinical School of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, aiming to improve health services in rural areas.

Stellenbosch University is internationally ranked in nine individual subjects, joining other leading South African universities in the global top 100 for development studies.

4. University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria is one of the largest of these top universities in South Africa, with more than 50,000 students currently enrolled in seven campuses which cover just under 2,800 acres. Established in 1908, it places 49^th in the BRICS ranking and is in the 501-550 range of the world university rankings. The university’s main campus can be found in the suburb of Hatfield in Pretoria, one of the country’s three capital cities, which is known for its lush collection of lilac Jacaranda trees and for being a center of academia. Offering courses in English and Afrikaans, the University of Pretoria is home to the only veterinary science faculty in the country.

The university currently features among the world’s best for 11 subjects, again placing among the global top 100 for development studies.

5. University of Johannesburg

The University of Johannesburg is the youngest of these top universities in South Africa, only coming to existence in 2005 when Rand Afrikaans University, Technikon Witwatersrand and parts of Vista University merged, with the aim to create a modern, unified university. Ranked 63rd in BRICS and 601-650 in the world, the University of Johannesburg is now one of the largest South African universities with around 49,500 students enrolled in nine faculties, including 2,300 international students. It has four urban campuses in the metropolitan area of Johannesburg, the largest of which is Auckland Park.

The University of Johannesburg is internationally ranked in four subjects, once again achieving a top 100 position for development studies.

6. University of Kwazulu-Natal

Ranked 72^nd in BRICS and 551-600 in the world, the University of Kwazulu-Natal is another young university which was formed by a merger, in this case in 2004 of the former University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. It’s made up of five campuses in the KwaZulu-Natal province in the south-east of the country, an area known for its attractive parks and gardens and for being the former location of the Zulu kingdom. The university has a student population of around 43,000, including many international students.

The University of Kwazulu-natal is ranked among the world’s best for three subjects this year – the top 200 for agriculture & forestry, and the top 300 for medicine and education & training.

7. Rhodes University

The next of the top universities in South Africa is Rhodes University, which features at 75^th place in the BRICS ranking and 501-550 in the world. Founded in 1904, it’s the oldest university in the Eastern Cape Province, and is located in Grahamstown, around 70 miles northeast from Port Elizabeth. The university was named after the British businessman, mining magnate and politician Cecil Rhodes. Highly residential, it’s one of the smallest South African universities, teaching around 8,000 students in six faculties, the largest of which is the humanities faculty.

This emphasis on the humanities is reflected with Rhodes University’s top 200 position for English language and literature, plus another position in the top 200 for communication and media studies.

8. University of the Western Cape

A new entry to the World University Rankings 2015/16 at 701+ and ranked 111-120 in BRICS, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) was founded in 1959 and is currently home to around 15,700 students. The university played a crucial role in the struggle against discrimination and racial inequality in South Africa’s history, and was praised by the late former President Nelson Mandela for having transformed itself “from an apartheid ethnic institution to a proud national asset.” Today the university is internationally renowned for its research and has built relationships with other universities both in South Africa and beyond.

The University of the Western Cape currently ranks as one of the top 300 institutions for English language and literature.

9. University of the Free State

The University of the Free State is ranked in the 131-140 range of BRICS this year, and is located in Bloemfontein (‘blooming fountain’, appropriately named considering the abundance of roses), which is one of South Africa’s three capitals, and the capital of the central Free State province. Established in 1904 as Grey College, the University of the Free State now has more than 31,000 students across three campuses and seven faculties, of which about 2,085 students are from overseas. The university previously only conducted teaching in English, but is now bilingual, also teaching in Afrikaans.

10=. North-West University

North-West University is new to the world university rankings this year in the 701+ range, and is ranked 151-200 in the BRICS table.  It was formed from a merger in 2004 of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the University of North-West. It’s another large institution, with about 69,000 students enrolled in its three campuses at Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpar in the North West and Gauteng provinces. The university has the motto ‘Innovation through diversity’ and prides itself on celebrating and encouraging multiculturalism, multilingualism and multinationalism.

10=. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Stretching our list of the top universities in South Africa from 10 to 11, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is also in the 151-200 range of the BRICS ranking. Founded in 2005, it was also created from a merger, this time of the PE Technikon the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University (Vista PE). The university has around 27,000 students enrolled in six campuses, five of which are in the major city of Port Elizabeth on the south coast, with another campus in the city of George in the Western Cape province. 

QS is proud to announce the QS Connect Masters scholarship. This scholarship is exclusive to QS Connect Masters event attendees.

Scholarship value: US$ 2,000

Recipients: 1

Eligibility Criteria:

1. You must attend a QS Connect Masters event
2. You must start your first year of study in the next academic year
3. You must study at a masters (non-MBA) level
4. You must have accepted an offer from a school by the time we select a winner in May
5. The scholarship must go towards your tuition fee

If you don`t meet the above eligibility criteria, QS has the right to exclude you from the selections process

To apply for the scholarship, please elaborate on the below:

Essay topic:  Considering your long- term objectives and ambitions, how will your master’s degree prepare you for your future career?

Word limit: Maximum 250 words

Deadline: 30^th April 2020 (midnight GMT)

Please indicate your full name, the scholarship title and the QS fair you have attended (example: QS Connect Masters- London- March 2019) at the beginning of your essay. These words will not count towards the word limit.