Moving into the professional world typically starts by obtaining a degree from an accredited college or university. If you’re ready to get a job in tech, business, science, or another field, consider studying at one of the best universities in Europe. For international students, studying in a foreign place shows potential employers your ability and willingness to step outside of your comfort zone and assume responsibility.
Europe schools ranked favorably in the most recent world ranking by Times Higher Education. In this article, you’ll find a list of the best schools in Europe you should consider applying to. In this article, you’ll learn about European school rankings, acceptance and graduation rates, and what makes schools like Oxford University and Cambridge University worth your time and consideration.
What Attracts Students to Universities in Europe?
Some of the key factors that attract international students to European universities include the variety of world-class academic institutions, an abundance of scholarships, extremely low tuition fees, and exposure to foreign languages and cultures. International students are also drawn to European institutions for the flexibility to work while studying and being in a different country during their studies.
Europe Schools Ranked: An Overview
| Europe Rank | World Rank on Times Higher Education | World Rank on US News | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 5 | University of Oxford |
| 2 | 5 | 8 | University of Cambridge |
| 3 | 12 | 20 | Imperial College London |
| 4 | 15 | 26 | ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology |
| 5 | 18 | 16 | University College London |
| 6 | 27 | 230 | London School of Economics and Political Science |
| 7 | 30 | 32 | University of Edinburgh |
| 8 | 32 | 46 | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich |
| 9 | 35 | 33 | King’s College London |
| 10 | 38 | 74 | Technical University of Munich |
The Best Universities in Europe, Explained
Although British universities dominate this list of the 10 best universities in Europe, it also features top universities in Germany, Scotland, and Switzerland. Below you will find explanations as to why these 10 institutions are the best in Europe based on global rankings, as well as acceptance and graduation rates, campus location, and other information sourced from the universities’ official websites.
1. University of Oxford
- Campus Location(s): Oxford, England
- Acceptance Rate: 18%
- Graduation Rate: 98.8%
- US News Country Rank: #1
The University of Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university and the largest university in the world, with evidence of operation dating back to 1096. Oxford University has 39 colleges and approximately 100 academic departments categorized under humanities, social sciences, mathematical, physical and life sciences, and medical sciences.
2. University of Cambridge
- Campus Location(s): Cambridge, England
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Graduation Rate: 99.2%
- US News Country Rank: #2
The University of Cambridge is the second oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is renowned for its traditional scholarly values and academic excellence. The university has 31 colleges and about 150 departments, faculties, schools, and institutes. Its schools include technology, physical sciences, humanities and social sciences, clinical medicine, biological sciences, and arts and humanities.
3. Imperial College London
- Campus Location(s): London, England
- Acceptance Rate: 15%
- Graduation Rate: 97.6%
- US News Country Rank: #4
Imperial College London is a leading destination for local and international students interested in pursuing a comprehensive business, medicine, engineering, or science course. The education provided at Imperial is research-led, exposing students to challenging real-world problems and opportunities in multinational and multicultural environments.
4. ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
- Campus Location(s): Zurich, Switzerland
- Acceptance Rate: 27%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: #5
Established in 1855, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is one of Europe’s finest universities in technology and science. It is renowned for its innovation and cutting-edge research. The European university has 16 departments that conduct scientific research and offer academic education in subjects ranging from architecture and engineering to physics and chemistry.
5. University College London
- Campus Location(s): London, England
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 96.7%
- US News Country Rank: #3
University College London, also known as UCL, is a leading multidisciplinary university at the heart of London with a diverse global community of students, renowned academics, external partners, alumni, and industrial links. UCL’s distinctive approach to education, innovation, and research seek to transform how knowledge is created and shared, how global problems are solved, and the way that the world is understood.
6. London School of Economics and Political Science
- Campus Location(s): London, England
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Graduation Rate: 97.6%
- US News Country Rank: #98
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is one of the leading educational institutions offering the benefits of studying in a capital city. LSE offers a rigorous education in the social sciences, designed to stretch the intellectual capacity of students through a wide range of specialist degree programs, executive education, summer programs, and distance learning.
7. University of Edinburgh
- Campus Location(s): Edinburgh, Scotland
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: 96.8%
- US News Country Rank: #6
The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked as a top university in European and international rankings. It boasts a diverse student population, with international students from over 150 countries. Prospective students can choose from a wide range of degree programs from the university’s three colleges and 21 schools.
8. Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- Campus Location(s): Munich, Germany
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: #10
LMU Munich is a prestigious German university, and one of the best innovative universities in both Germany and Europe as a whole. Students enrolled at LMU Munich have access to the highest standards of education in teaching and research. This multidisciplinary, comprehensive university has 18 faculties and over 300 English and German-taught undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs.
9. King’s College London
- Campus Location(s): London, England
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Graduation Rate: 94.7%
- US News Country Rank: #7
Founded in 1829, King’s College London is a world-class university renowned for cutting-edge research and exceptional education. It has a diverse student population from more than 150 countries and over 185,000 alumni across the globe. King’s College London is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing a course in healthcare, humanities, social sciences, or law.
10. Technical University of Munich
- Campus Location(s): Munich, Germany
- Acceptance Rate: 8%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: #22
The Technical University of Munich is one of the most innovative universities in Europe with a distinctively entrepreneurial approach. The university’s academic staff is committed to delivering outstanding research in science that addresses the challenges of the modern age. Prospective students can choose from 182 degree programs covering life sciences, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, medicine, and management.
How We Created Our List of the Best Schools in Europe
In order to create our list, we followed the Times Higher Education 2022 World University Rankings. These rankings were created by evaluating teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry outcomes of over 1,600 institutions from around the world. Complementary information was retrieved from the US News Best National University Rankings.
Is a Top University in Europe Right for You?
Yes, a top university in Europe is right for you if you’re studying at a top university that gives you access to resources you can’t easily find elsewhere. Having the opportunity to be at the heart of cutting-edge research and innovations can open up many career opportunities for you.
As well, if being taught by the leading minds and academics at prestigious universities in a new country interest you, you’ll likely benefit from the extensive historic backgrounds and unique experiences that come with studying at a top university in Europe.
Best Universities in Europe FAQ
No, you cannot apply to both Cambridge and Oxford during the same academic year. You must either choose to apply to Cambridge or Oxford. However, this restriction is not applicable to students who are applying for a graduate degree or second undergraduate degree at both schools, nor does it apply to organ scholars.
Yes, you can study for free in Europe, as there are several tuition-free universities in Europe for undergraduate students. There are also some countries where you can do a master’s degree for free such as Finland, Norway, Czech Republic, Iceland, and Germany. An alternative way to study for free in Europe is through a full scholarship.
London is the best city for international students in Europe because of its economic, educational, and cultural opportunities, taking into account the university rankings, student mix, desirability, employer activity, affordability, and student view. Other top cities to study in Europe including Munich, Berlin, and Zurich.
The language requirements for international students may differ among European universities, depending on the country and university’s language of instruction. For example, international students not from English-speaking countries may be required to provide English language test results from the IELTS or TOEFL to be considered when applying to UK universities or European universities where the primary mode of instruction is English.
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