1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, US
Students: Over 11,000
Acknowledged as an educational behemoth, MIT has built a strong academic reputation with courses on architecture, engineering, technology and the social sciences, among others.
2. Stanford University, California, US
Students: Over 16,000
Comprising 18 interdisciplinary research institutes and seven schools, the university is known for its traditional liberal arts courses as well as its technology and engineering programs.
3. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, US
Students: Over 22,500
America’s oldest university is known for its humanities and natural sciences courses. Like several other high-ranking institutes, Harvard's alumni network is populated with Pulitzer Prize winners, Nobel laureates and heads of states.
4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, US
Students: Over 2,000
Caltech is one of the top institutes in terms of education and research in science and engineering. It also offers opportunities for study in fields like music, theater and the visual arts.
5. University of Oxford, England
Students: Over 20,500
One of the most storied universities in the world, Oxford has four academic divisions - Humanities; Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Social Sciences. Its alumni network comprises Olympic medalists, Nobel laureates and world leaders.
6. University of Cambridge, England
Students: Over 19,000
Founded in the early 13th century, Cambridge is prized for its centuries of historical importance. It has over 100 libraries that house more than 15 million books, in addition to magical museums and a botanical garden.
7. ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
Students: Over 18,000
ETH Zurich has a strong background in scientific and technological research. It has produced over 20 Nobel laureates, including theoretical physicist Albert Einstein (1879-1955).
8. Imperial College London, England
Students: Over 16,500
The institute offers science, engineering, medicine and business courses, with an added focus on the practical applications of research.
9. University of Chicago, Illinois, US
Students: Over 13,500
With 29 Nobel laureates to their credit, this research-focused university has a strong academic background. Its professional schools include the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business and the Harris Public Policy School.
10. University College London (UCL), England
Students: Over 32,500
A highly regarded multi-disciplinary university, UCL boasts a diverse student body and over two dozen Nobel laureate graduates.
11. National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Students: Over 30,000
Singapore’s flagship university, NUS take an Asia-centric approach to its multidisciplinary curriculum. It has 30 university-level research set-ups that focus on fields like energy, environment and risk management.
12. Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Students: Over 25,000
This research-focused university is frequently listed among the world’s most beautiful ones. Its multicultural campuses are home to globally renowned organizations like the Earth Observatory of Singapore and the National Institute of Education.
13. Princeton University, New Jersey, US
Students: Over 8,000
One of the oldest universities in the U.S., the private university counts two U.S. presidents (James Madison and Woodrow Wilson) among its graduates, as well as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, among others.
14. Cornell University, New York, US
Students: Over 22,000
The Ivy League university has academic units in Ithaca, New York City, New York, and Doha, Qatar. In addition to offering courses across diverse disciplines like veterinary science, journalism and the biological sciences, the university also hosts more than 1,000 student organizations.
15. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, US
Students: Over 12,500
Known for its law and legal studies, history, politics and humanities courses, the university has over 100 departments and programs to cater to all kinds of student interests.
16. Columbia University, New York, US
Students: Over 26,000
The private university is formed of undergraduate schools, like Columbia College and the School of General Studies, and graduate schools such as Columbia Law School and Columbia Journalism School. It also boasts 83 Nobel Prize laureates.
17. Tsinghua University, China
Students: Over 36,000
The Beijing-based university comprises 20 schools and 58 departments that teach a variety of courses like science, engineering, arts and literature, social sciences and medicine.
18. University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Students: Over 39,000
With more than 500 undergraduate and 300 graduate programs, the multi-disciplinary university fosters a dynamic research culture.
19. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
Students: Over 20,500
Founded in 1740, this is a private Ivy League institute with a storied reputation. Its four undergraduate and 12 graduate schools offer courses in the liberal arts and sciences.
20. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, US
Students: Over 43,500
The university's reputation is bolstered by research-oriented graduate programs and professional degrees, as well as its nearly 1,500 societies and club.
