Europe is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities, renowned for their academic excellence and research contributions. According to the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025, ETH Zurich leads as the top university in Europe, followed by Imperial College London and the University of Oxford. Similarly, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 places the University of Oxford at the pinnacle, with the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London completing the top three.
These institutions not only excel in global rankings but also attract a diverse international student body, reflecting their global appeal. For instance, Imperial College London reports students from over 125 countries, underscoring its international reach. Such universities play a pivotal role in advancing knowledge and fostering innovation across various disciplines.
Why Study in Europe
Tuition Fees are Low
For public universities in Europe, the tuition fees are quite low when compared with that of countries like Canada, the USA, Australia, and many others. Some countries in Europe even offer scholarships to students from around the world and some other countries offer absolutely tuition-free university education to both local and international students.
You Can Be Certain of Studying In English
English proficiency in European countries is generally on the high side, as evidenced by the fact that there are several bachelor’s and master’s programs being taught in English that you can choose from. So as an international student, you do not need to worry about learning some other European language as a requirement for being able to study in Europe.
Have The Opportunity to Discovery The Whole Continent
Going to study in Europe comes with a lot of benefits for an international student. While studying, you can harness the opportunity by visiting different countries in Europe, This will get you acquainted with different countries in Europe. You might even travel around the continent of Europe before you finish your study. This is quite attainable due to cheap trains, flights, and other means of transport.
There are many places to tour as a student studying in Europe hence choosing to study in any of the top universities in Europe is definitely not a mistake.
The Education Systems are well Respected and In Order
In Europe, different countries have their own education systems; however, globally, the educational systems in Europe have proven to be worth emulating by other continents. Following the Bologna reform, which implied that the system of higher education in European countries is aligned. In other words, all bachelor’s and master’s programs in Europe follow a laid-out academic framework.
Research and World-class Education
Around the world, most of the top-ranked universities are located in Europe. The cross-student exchange relationship in Europe has brought about cutting-edge research facilities. Europe is also now popularly considered an epicenter for research.
Best Universities In Europe: Rankings
Below is the list of some of the best universities you can find in Europe and their rankings as a base for numbering.
The putting together of this list was made possible from data gotten from US.News. The institutions were assessed based on their performance in research and also ratings made by members of the academic community in the region and around the world. Most universities in Europe are among the best schools in the world.
- University of Oxford
- Cambridge University
- University College London
- Imperial College London
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
- University of Edinburgh
- King’s College London
- University of Copenhagen
- University of Amsterdam
- Sorbonne Universite
#1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is one of the top universities in Europe. The specific founding date of the University of Oxford is currently not known; however, the roots of the school are traced back to at least 1096. Also, the university is located in the United Kingdom, which is around 60 miles northwest of London. It might interest you to know that 45 percent of its entire student population comprises graduate students.
Rankings
- #5in Best Global Universities
- #1in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #1in Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom
#2. Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge has a history dating back to 1209. The student population is around 19,000; however, over 35 percent of the students study at the graduate level. However, over a dozen academic departments and many other divisions make up this university.
Rankings
- #9in Best Global Universities
- #2in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #2in Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom
#3. University College London
The University College London can be found in the United Kingdom, It is also referred to as UCL. The educational institution is a public one that was founded in 1826; furthermore, it is the third university that was established in England after Oxford and Cambridge. Although UCL has Central London as its base, it also has campuses in other countries like Qatar and Australia.
Rankings
- #19in Best Global Universities
- #3in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #3in Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom
Would you like to Study in the UK? see a complete Step-By-Step guide to study in UK here.
#4. Imperial College London
Imperial College London is one of the best public best universities in Europe. Imperial was formerly a college of the University of London and after some time became an independent institution in 2007. The science-focused university was founded in 1907 in addition, it is made up of several campuses that are located in and around London.
Rankings
- #20in Best Global Universities
- #4in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #4in Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom
#5. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich is a public research university that is also popularly known as ETH Zurich. Furthermore, the University was founded in 1854 and is located in Denmark. In fact, It boasts of over 19,000 students out of which over 7,000 are international students.
Rankings
- #26 in Best Global Universities
- #5 in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #1 in Best Global Universities in Switzerland
#6. University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh was established in 1853. In as much as It is a public education institution and has over 5 campuses in Edinburgh. Additionally, The university has three main colleges – Humanities, arts, and social sciences; Engineering and Medicine, Veterinary medicine, and science. Tuition fees are higher for international students coming from outside Scotland as well as the European Union.
Rankings
- #30in Best Global Universities
- #6in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #5in Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom
#7. King’s College London
King’s College London is an education research public university that is situated in the united kingdom. The university’s total number of students is over 27,000 out of which more than 12,000 are international students.
Rankings
- #34in Best Global Universities (tie)
- #7in Best Global Universities in Europe (tie)
- #6in Best Global Universities in the United Kingdom
#8. University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen was founded in 1479. It is a public university and is the largest institution for education established in Denmark however the university is known to be the second oldest university in Scandinavia.
Rankings
- #34in Best Global Universities (tie)
- #7in Best Global Universities in Europe (tie)
- #1in Best Global Universities in Denmark
#9. University of Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam was established in 1932 and is a public education institution. Because the university is located in the Netherlands, it has approximately four campuses. In recent years, a population of 30,000 students has attended the university, however, tuition costs in educational institutions are quite higher for international students or students from non-European Union countries.
Rankings
- #40in Best Global Universities
- #9in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #1in Best Global Universities in the Netherlands
#10. Sorbonne University
The Merger of the Paris-Sorbonne University and Pierre et Marie Curie University brought about the establishment of Sorbonne University in 2018. The fact that Sorbonne Universite is a public university in Paris that boasts over 43,000 students with more than 8,000 as international students.
Rankings
- #43in Best Global Universities (tie)
- #10in Best Global Universities in Europe
- #1in Best Global Universities in France
Best Universities in Europe For International Students
- Salzburg College – Austria
- The Paris Institute of Creative Arts – France
- University of Granada – Spain (Universidad de Granada)
- University of Leeds – England
- Humboldt University of Berlin – Germany
- Florence University of the Arts – Italy
- Hellenic American University – Greece
- University of Stirling – Scotland
- Maastricht University – The Netherlands
- Corvinus University of Budapest – Hungary
Best Universities in Europe For American Students
- Sorbonne University
- Humboldt University
- Aarhus University
- University of Oslo
- Technical University of Munich
- University of Ljubljana
- Heidelberg University
- Lund University
- University of Vienna
- University of Bologna
Top Universities in Europe For Engineering
- University of Oxford, UK
- University of Cambridge, UK
- Politecnico di Milano, Italy
- Politecnico di Torino, Italy
- ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
- Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
- Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Imperial College London, UK
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
- EPFL – Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Best Universities in Europe For Business
- University of Oxford: Saïd
- University of St. Gallen
- European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) Berlin
- IESE Business School
- INSEAD Business School
- HEC Paris
- London Business School
- Università Bocconi, SDA Bocconi School of Management
- ESSEC Business School
- ESCP Business School
Best Universities In Europe For Computer Science
- Technical University of Munich, Germany
- ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
- University of Edinburgh, UK
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
- Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
- University of Cambridge, UK
Conclusion
Most of the top universities in the world are located in Europe. So as a student thinking of going to any country in Europe to study, you should be confident of getting the best education that can match global standards.
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