When choosing a university abroad as an international student, there are some key factors to consider. These include choosing one that is renowned for its high academic quality and that allows you to access excellent employment opportunities after graduating.
To help candidates who wish to study abroad, we have ranked the top 10 countries with the best universities based on quality of education, graduate opportunities, and consistency.
1. United States of America
The first on the list is the United States, with 30 universities in the top 100. The USA attracts over one million students from all over the world to study at its world-class universities, and there are over 4,000 educational institutions. American universities are particularly known for their investment in STEM fields and business courses. A benefit is that graduates in these fields can expect to pursue high-paying careers.
Universities in the country are also known for their excellent athletic programs and extracurricular activities. Studying at an American university also opens up the possibility of permanently staying in the country dubbed the land of opportunities.
The three most popular universities in the USA
- York University
- Columbia University
- University of Southern California
2. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is a great country for international students as it has been a leader in global education for almost 1,000 years. The University of Oxford is its oldest higher institution and was founded in 1096 AD. There are 160 universities in the UK, most of which have a strong student culture that includes all kinds of clubs, sports teams, and social activities.
When you secure a degree from a UK university, it gives you easy access to the best jobs in the labor market. There are 18 UK universities in the top 100 educational institutions in the world, and the best, Cambridge University, is ranked third.
The three most popular universities in the UK
- University College London
- King’s College London
- University of Manchester
3. Germany
Since the 14th century, Germany has offered quality education, and even in the modern age, it produces excellent graduates in STEM subjects. There are four German universities in the top 100 universities in the world.
German universities produce the highest percentage of graduates in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and have the world’s best faculty in engineering, electrical studies, and architecture.
One of Germany’s best educational institutions, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) attracts the largest international students of any higher institution in the EU. Many courses at German universities are taught in English to appeal to the widest possible audience.
The three most popular universities in Germany
- Technical University of Munich
- Technical University of Berlin
- University of Design Bremen
4. Australia
There are seven universities in Australia that made the top 100 of the world university rankings. Over the years, Australia has been investing significantly in its higher education sector. The primary reason for massively financing its institutions is to attract international students and researchers.
Australia is the home to the Group of 8 (Go8) universities, the world’s leaders in cutting-edge research. The country’s universities offer numerous programs in arts, medicine, and business.
The Three most popular universities in Australia
- Monash University
- Curtin University
- RMIT University
5. Canada
Canada has the second-highest number of university graduates among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is known to dedicate humongous sums of money to its higher education sector, with the latest being a $1.4 billion investment in a large-scale research initiative.
Graduates of Canadian universities can expect to receive offers from top employers upon completion of their studies. About 100 universities offer 15,000 degree programs, while three of its institutions are in the top 50 of the world rankings according to QS.
The three most popular universities in Canada
- University of Toronto
- McGill University
- University of British Columbia
6. France
France is home to some of the most famous scholars in history, so naturally its universities are rated among the best in the world. In recent years, these universities have increased their competitive search for foreign students.
The country thrives in the petrochemical and aerospace engineering industries and these are where a good number of its top graduates get jobs without hassle.
Aside from 71 public universities. There are about 3,000 private higher education institutions across the country, offering completely independent curricula, and specialized instruction in all different fields of study.
The three most popular universities in France
- Cité Paris University
- University Paris-Saclay
- Sorbonne University
7. Spain
Spain has gradually been rising through the educational ranks to become a country with universities that rub shoulders with other top ones in Europe. Spain is the healthiest and second-friendliest country for foreigners and a top destination for digital entrepreneurs and students. One of the world’s oldest institutions, the University of Salamanca in Spain, founded in 1134, has been attracting intellectuals from around the world for nearly 900 years.
This country has five universities in the QS top 100 best universities which is a result of a recent spate of investments in Spanish higher education, many of which come from US-based investors who want to make Spain a global destination for international students.
The three most popular universities in Spain
- University of Granada
- University of Barcelona
- University of Valencia
8. South Korea
Two South Korean universities are in the top 50 universities in the world, with Seoul National University ranked 36th. The country boasts the highest percentage of university graduates in the OECD, and it recently launched a five-year plan to attract an additional 300,000 students by 2028.
Part of this plan includes the creation of the Global Korea Scholarship, which will fund over 8,000 job placements for international students. The country has a number of universities specializing in both STEM and humanities and also offers the opportunity to learn Korean.
The three most popular universities in South Korea
- Yonsei University
- Korea University
- Kyung Hee University
9. Netherlands
The Netherlands is renowned for low tuition fees, and English-taught courses and it produces graduates with the best degrees in art courses like philosophy, religion, foreign languages, history, language arts, performing arts, and visual arts.
According to QS rankings, the Netherlands has five universities in the top 100 institutions in the world. Other countries may focus on science, technology, and business, but Dutch universities excel in the humanities.
Education in the Netherlands is responsible for producing famous artists and thinkers such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Erasmus. The last name is especially notable in the context of one of the Netherlands’ greatest educational achievements: the Erasmus program; which is designed to get students from all over Europe to participate in short-term “Erasmus Years”.
The three most popular universities in The Netherlands
- University of Amsterdam
- Maastricht University
- University of Twente
10. New Zealand
New Zealand is small in terms of the number of educational institutions, but all eight universities in this European nation are already considered world-class according to QS Top Universities. As of 2023, New Zealand universities increased their budgets by $32 million to invest in world-class research scholarships. Its ultimate goal is to make the universities world-class hubs for STEM subjects. Recognizing the need to equip students with skills for the future, New Zealand has recently begun to provide more funding for its education sector.
The three most popular universities in New Zealand
- University of Auckland
- University of Waikato
- University of Canterbury.
