Top Universities in Europe

It may be the second-smallest continent, but Europe is densely packed with many of the world’s best educational institutions. In the QS World University Rankings® 2020, a total of 381 European universities are featured among the world’s best, roughly 38 percent of all the universities included.

The UK boasts Europe’s highest number of internationally ranked universities with 84 entries, followed by Germany (46) and France (31). However, it’s Switzerland that joins the UK in having a university ranked among the world’s top 10, something neither Germany nor France can manage.

With such a wide selection of top universities in Europe to choose from, deciding where to study in Europe is not always easy. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the top universities in Europe categorized by location.

Top universities in Austria 

A landlocked country in central Europe, Austria shares borders with eight other European nations, including Germany to the north and Italy to the south. It has eight top European universities currently included in the QS World University Rankings. Of these, the top universities in Austria are:

1. University of Vienna(joint 154^th in the world, joint 64^th in Europe)
2. Vienna University of Technology(joint 192^nd in the world, joint 84^th in Europe)
3. Universität Innsbruck(joint 266^th in the world, 115^th in Europe)
4. Technische Universität Graz (311^th in the world, 136^th in Europe)
5. Johannes Kepler University Linz(joint 412^th in the world, joint 183^rd in Europe)

+ 3 more top universities in Austria

Top universities in Belgium 

Known for its fine chocolate and beer, Belgium is also home to some excellent educational establishments. This year it claims eight of the top universities in Europe to be internationally ranked, with all but two of these placed within the top 300 worldwide. The top universities in Belgium are:

1. KU Leuven(80^th in the world, 26^th in Europe)
2. Ghent University(joint 130^th in the world, joint 51^st in Europe)
3. Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)(joint 167^th in the world, 70^th in Europe)
4. Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)(195^th in the world, 87^th in Europe)
5. University of Antwerp (223^rd in the world, 96^th in Europe)

+ 3 more top universities in Belgium

Top universities in France 

France boasts a very extensive selection of top European universities, and an impressive presence in the international rankings, with the majority of its top 10 universities located in the capital city Paris. The top universities in France are:

1. Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL) (53^rd in the world, 13^th in Europe)
2. Ecolé Polytechnique(joint 60^th in the world, 15^th in Europe)
3. Sorbonne University (77^th in the world, 23^rd in Europe)
4. CentraleSupélec(139^th in the world, 55^th in Europe)
5. Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon(joint 160^th in the world, 66^th in Europe)

+ 26 more top universities in France

Top universities in Germany 

Offering free tuition to undergraduate students in all but one state, Germany is one of the world’s most popular non-Anglophone destinations for international students. The top universities in Germany are:

1. Technische Universität München(55^th in the world, 14^th in Europe)
2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München(63^rd in the world, 17^th in Europe)
3. Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg(66^th in the world, 19^th in Europe)
4. Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin (joint 120^th in the world, joint 44^th in Europe)
5. Kit, Karlsruher Institut Für Technologie(124^th in the world, 47^th in Europe)

 + 41 more top universities in Germany

Top universities in Ireland 

A relatively small country in Western Europe, Ireland is home to eight world-ranking universities, of which half are in the capital city, Dublin. The top universities in Ireland are:

1. Trinity College Dublin(joint 108^th in the world, 37^th in Europe)
2. University College Dublin(185^th in the world, 80^th in Europe)
3. National University of Ireland, Galway(259^th in the world, 112^th in Europe)
4. University College Cork(310^th in the world, 135^th in Europe)
5. Dublin City University(joint 429^th in the world, joint 189^th in Europe)

+ 3 more top universities in Ireland

Top universities in Italy 

Located in the southern peninsula of the continent and much-loved for its weather, cuisine and beautiful settings, Italy is the fifth most populous country in Europe and boasts 34 internationally ranked universities. The top universities in Italy are:

1. Politecnico di Milano(149^th in the world, 61^st in Europe)
=2. Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna Pisa (joint 177^th in the world, joint 75^th in Europe)
=2. University of Bologna (UNIBO) (joint 177^th in the world, joint 75^th in Europe)
4. Sapienza University of Rome (203^rd in the world, 89^th in Europe
5. Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa(204^th in the world, 90^th in Europe)

 + 29 more top universities in Italy

Top universities in the Netherlands 

This Dutch-speaking country towards the north of the continent boasts 13 globally ranked universities. The top universities in the Netherlands are:

1. Delft University of Technology(50^th in the world, 13^th in Europe)
2. University of Amsterdam(64^th in the world, 15^th in Europe)
3. Eindhoven University of Technology(102^nd in the world, 35^th in Europe)
4. University of Groningen (114^th in the world, 40^th in Europe)
5. Leiden University(118^th in the world, 42^nd in Europe)

+ 8 more top universities in the Netherlands

Top universities in the Nordic countries 

Europe’s Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) offer 27 internationally ranked universities. Within the Nordic region, Finland claims the highest number of ranked institutions, despite being the most sparsely populated country in Europe, while Denmark offers the highest-ranked university in the group. The top universities in the Nordic countries are:

Denmark 

1. University of Copenhagen(joint 72^nd in the world, 21^st in Europe)
2. Technical University of Denmark(112^th in the world, 39^th in Europe)

+ 3 more top universities in Denmark

Finland

1. University of Helsinki(107^th in the world, 36^th in Europe)
2. Aalto University(134^th in the world, 53^rd in Europe)

+ 7 more top universities in Finland

Norway

1. University of Oslo(119^th in the world, 43^rd in Europe) 
2. University of Bergen(joint 163^rd in the world, joint 67^th in Europe)

+ 2 more top universities in Norway

Sweden

1. Lund University(92^nd in the world, 29^th in Europe)
2. KTH Royal Institute of Technology(joint 98^th in the world, 33^rd in Europe)

+6 more top universities in Sweden

Top universities in Russia 

The largest country in the world by landmass, Russia performed very well in the latest QS World University Rankings, with 25 universities, including eight in the top 350. The top universities in Russia are:

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University(84^th in the world, 28^th in Europe)
2. Novosibirsk State University(joint 231^st in the world, 98^th in Europe)
3. Saint-Petersburg State University(joint 234^th in the world, joint 99^th in Europe)
4. Tomsk State University(joint 268^thin the world, 116^th in Europe)
5. Bauman Moscow State Technical University(284^th in the world, 119^th in Europe)

+ 20 more top universities in Russia

Top universities in Spain 

Acclaimed for its buzzing cities and attractive Mediterranean coast, Spain is popular among tourists and students alike, and claims 27 of the top European universities according to the QS World University Rankings. The top universities in Spain are:

1. University of Barcelona(joint 165^th in the world, 69^th in Europe)
2. Universitat Autonóma de Barcelona(188^th in the world, 82^nd in Europe)
3. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid(joint 192^nd in the world, joint 84^th in Europe)
4. University Complutense Madrid (UCM)(joint 212^th in the world, 92^nd in Europe)
5. University of Navarra(245^th in the world, 105^th in Europe)

+ 22 more top universities in Spain

Top universities in Switzerland 

Home to a large portion of the Alps mountain range, Switzerland is the only country other than the US or the UK to claim a university in the world’s top 10. All but one of its nine internationally ranked universities are in the global top 400. The top universities in Switzerland are:

1. ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)(sixth in the world, second in Europe)
2. Ecolé Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)(joint 18^th in the world, sixth in Europe)
3. University of Zurich (UZH)(76^th in the world, 22^nd in Europe)
4. University of Geneva(110^th in the world, 38^th in Europe)
5. University of Bern (123^rd in the world, 46^th in Europe)

+ 4 more top universities in Switzerland

Top universities in the UK 

Second only to the US in the number of total universities included in the ranking, the UK is the most popular destination to study in Europe (although Brexit may change this in the future). It currently boasts four of the world’s top 10 universities, and eight of the 10 top universities in Europe. The top universities in the UK are:

1. University of Oxford(fourth in the world, first in Europe)
2. University of Cambridge(seventh in the world, third in Europe)
3. UCL (University College London)(eighth in the world, fourth in Europe)
4. Imperial College London(ninth in the world, fifth in Europe)    
5. University of Edinburgh(20^th in the world, seventh in Europe)

+ 79 more top universities in the UK

Top universities in Greece 

1. National Technical University of Athens(joint 454^th in the world, 199^th in Europe)
2. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki(561-570 in the world, joint 241^st in Europe)

+ 4 more top universities in Greece

Best of the rest…

The list above covers most of the best-known places to study in Europe as an international student. But the top European universities do not end there. Many more European countries are home to one or more institutions included in the QS World University Rankings. Here’s a quick round-up of the rest:

Belarus 

1. Belarus State University(joint 351^st in the world, joint 159^th in Europe)
2. Belarusian National Technical University(801-1000 in the world, joint 325^th in Europe)

Bulgaria

1. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski(751-800 in the world, joint 299^th in Europe)

Croatia

1. University of Zagreb(751-800 in the world, joint 299^th in Europe)

Czech Republic 

1. Charles University(joint 291^st in the world, joint 122^nd in Europe)
2. University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (355^th in the world, 162^ndin Europe)

+ 7 more top universities in the Czech Republic

Estonia

1. University of Tartu(301^st in the world, 128^th in Europe)
2. Tallinn University of Technology(601-650 in the world, joint 252^nd in Europe)
3. Tallinn University (801-1000 in the world, joint 325^th in Europe)

Hungary

1. University of Szeged(501-510 in the world, joint 214^th in Europe) 
2. University of Debrecen (601-650 in the world, joint 252^nd in Europe)

+ 4 more top universities in Hungary

Latvia

1. Riga Technical University(701-750 in the world, joint 281^st in Europe)

=2. Riga Stradins University (801-1000 in the world, joint 325^th in Europe)

=2. University of Latvia (801-100 in the world, joint 325^th in Europe)

Lithuania 

1. Vilnius University(joint 458^th in the world, joint 200^th in Europe)
2. Vilnius Gediminas Technical University(591-600 in the world, joint 246^th in Europe)

 + 2 more top universities in Lithuania

Poland 

1. Jagiellonian University(joint 338^th in the world, joint 149^th in Europe)
2. University of Warsaw(joint 349^th in the world, joint 157^th in Europe)

+ 14 more top universities in Poland

Portugal

1. University of Lisbon(joint 338^th in the world, joint 149^th in Europe)
2. University of Porto(joint 353^rd in the world, 161^st in Europe)

+ 5 more top universities in Portugal

Romania 

=1. Babes-Bolyai University (801-1000 in the world, joint 325^th in Europe)

=1. University of Bucharest (801-1000 in the world, joint 325^th in Europe)

Serbia

1. University of Belgrade(801-1000 in the world, joint 325^th in Europe)

Slovakia

=1. Comenius University in Bratislava (751-800 in the world, joint 303^rd in Europe)

=1. Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (751-800 in the world, joint 303^rd in Europe)

Slovenia

1. University of Ljubljana(591-600 in the world, joint 246^th in Europe)
2. University of Maribor(751-800 in the world, joint 303^rd in Europe)

Ukraine 

1. V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University(joint 491^st in the world, joint 208^th in Europe)
2. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv(541-550 in the world, joint 233^rd in Europe) 

+ 4 more top universities in Ukraine

This article was originally published in November 2013. It is updated after each QS World University Rankings® release, most recently in June 2019.

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