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Engineering remains one of the top courses to study abroad after 12th in 2025. Due to high demand, and great employment opportunities post course completion, a lot of international students decide to study engineering abroad. Every student aspires to be a part of the top engineering colleges in the world, such as MIT, Stanford, Harvard, or Oxford. However, choosing the right college is crucial for helping them achieve academic excellence and career growth. While deciding which institution would be the right fit for you, considering their advanced research facilities, world-class faculty, and strong industry connections is a must! In this article, we will have a closer look on the top engineering colleges in the world and explore what makes them the best in the world of engineering, based on the QS world university rankings, THE rankings, and US News rankings.
Read More: Engineering in India vs Abroad in 2025: Which One is Better?
The quality of education, research facilities, vibrant cultural niche, ultra-modern infrastructure, and quality of lifestyle are among the major factors that influence the decision of international students to apply for different engineering colleges in the world. Studying in the best B.Tech colleges in world help students to access more research opportunities, industry connections, and internships.
Here we have provided a list of the top 25 best engineering colleges in the world 2025 for international students as per the latest QS and THE ranking, and US News reports. Students are advised to research thoroughly before applying for any one.
Following are the key points to not when deciding the top engineering colleges in the world.
THE evaluates all the engineering universities in the world across five major disciplines. These are:
Note: The THE ranking for 2025 includes 1,488 institutions from 97 countries and territories that are ranked on the basis of 18 performance indicators.
Below are the top 25 engineering colleges in the world, as per THE rankings and their ranking methodology.
2025 Subject Rankings methodology:
Rank | Name Country/Region | Overall | No. of Students | No. of students per staff | International Students | Female: Male Ratio |
1 | Harvard, US | 97.5 | 22,584 | 10.0 | 25% | 52 : 48 |
2 | Stanford, US | 96.4 | 16,963 | 5.9 | 23% | 47 : 53 |
3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US | 96.2 | 11,836 | 8 | 33% | 42 : 58 |
4 | University of Oxford, UK | 96.1 | 22,095 | 10.8 | 43% | 51 : 49 |
5 | University of California, Berkeley, US | 95.8 | 42,423 | 18.7 | 25% | 52 : 48 |
6 | University of Cambridge, UK | 95.6 | 20,980 | 11.5 | 38% | 49 : 51 |
7 | California Institute of Technology, US | 95.5 | 2,397 | 6.4 | 32% | 38 : 62 |
8 | Princeton University, US | 94.5 | 8,378 | 7.8 | 23% | 47 : 53 |
9 | National University of Singapore | 93.4 | 34,388 | 21 | 26% | 49 : 51 |
10 | ETH Zurich, Switzerland | 92.6 | 22,883 | 15.8 | 44% | 33 : 67 |
11 | Peking University, China | 92.3 | 34,981 | 11.5 | 15% | n/a |
12 | Imperial College London, UK | 91.9 | 21,000 | 12.1 | 60% | 43 : 57 |
13 | Tsinghua University, China | 91.0 | 38,289 | 11 | 9% | n/a |
14 | Nanyang Technological University, Singapore | 90.8 | 26,044 | 17.1 | 29% | 48 : 52 |
15 | Georgia Institute of Technology, US | 90.3 | 34,116 | 31.4 | 31% | 34 : 66 |
16 | University of California, Los Angeles, US | 88.8 | 44,237 | 9.9 | 15% | 56 : 44 |
17 | Delft University of Technology, Netherlands | 88.7 | 20,943 | 14.5 | 37% | 32 : 68 |
18 | Yale University, US | 88.3 | 14,401 | 6.2 | 22% | 53 : 47 |
19 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, US | 86.6 | 47,787 | 8.5 | 18% | 52 : 48 |
20 | Carnegie Mellon University, US | 86.1 | 15,312 | 13.1 | 46% | 44 : 56 |
21 | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland | 85.7 | 12,432 | 12.5 | 64% | 30 : 70 |
22 | Technical University of Munich, Germany | 85.0 | 34,907 | 41.8 | 43% | 35 : 65 |
23 | University of Toronto, Canada | 83.1 | 80,107 | 25.2 | 29% | 56 : 44 |
24 | Cornell University, US | 83.0 | 25,528 | 10.5 | 26% | 52 : 48 |
25 | University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | 82.6 | 50,655 | 19.7 | 25% | 51 : 49 |
Below are the top 25 engineering colleges in the world as per QS world university rankings 2025.
University/College | QS World University QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 1 |
University of Oxford | 2 |
Stanford University | 3 |
University of Cambridge | 4 |
ETH Zurich | 5 |
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | 6 |
Tsinghua University | 7 |
Imperial College London | 8 |
Harvard University | 9 |
EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne | 10 |
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) | 11 |
National University of Singapore (NUS) | 12 |
| 13 |
Delft University of Technology | 14 |
Georgia Institute of Technology | 15 |
Peking University | 16 |
University of Toronto | 17 |
The University of Tokyo | 18 |
Carnegie Mellon University | =19 |
Technical University of Munich | =19 |
Politecnico di Milano | 21 |
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 22 |
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 23 |
KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology | 24 |
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | 25 |
Let us explore the top 10 engineering colleges in detail.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, popularly known as MIT is one of the top 100 universities in USA and the world. Massachusetts Institute of Technology acceptance rate for international students is typically around 2%. The average Massachusetts Institute of Technology fees 2025 is around $85,600 per year. MIT courses are classified as 57 majors and 59 minors in undergraduate and 50 masters degrees.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
Acceptance Rate | 2% |
Tuition Fees | $85,600 per year |
Institution Type | Private |
Language of Instruction | English |
Popular Courses | Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Business and Economics, etc |
The University of Oxford is a top public research university located in Oxford, England was established in between 1249 and 1264. Oxford is one of the oldest and largest higher education institutes in the UK. The University of Oxford acceptance rate is approximately 17.5% and a minimum GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0 is required for admission in undergraduate programs, a GPA of 3.3 might be considered for some graduate programs or under a few exception cases.
University of Oxford Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
Acceptance Rate | 17.5% |
Tuition Fees | £35,260- 59,260 per year |
Institution Type | Public |
Language of Instruction | English |
Popular Courses | Arts and Humanities, History, Biomedical Sciences, Economics and Business, MBA, and Computer Science, |
Stanford University is a private university located in Stanford, USA. Stanford University acceptance rate is approximately 4% for international students. The Stanford University fees 2025 for overseas students is calculated at USD 61,731. Stanford University was established in 1885 and offers more than 200 graduate courses for students.
Stanford University Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
Acceptance Rate | 4% |
Tuition Fees | USD 61,731 |
Institution Type | Private |
Language of Instruction | English |
Popular Courses | Business, Earth, Education, Engineering, Humanities & Sciences, Law, and, Medicine |
The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research institution in Cambridge established in the year 1209. The University of Cambridge acceptance rate is 20%. Sudents must have a required GPA of 3.0 or higher to get admission to the university. The University of Cambridge fees 2025 for international students is between Rs. 25.96 lakhs and Rs. 67.98 lakhs every academic year. Cambridge offers over 30 undergraduate programmes encompassing over 65 subject areas.
University of Cambridge Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
Acceptance Rate | 20% |
Tuition Fees | Undergraduate: £25,734 to £70,554 Postgraduate: £14,875 to £342,544 |
Institution Type | Public |
Language of Instruction | English |
Popular Courses | Cell Biology, Business and economics, Computer Science, Law, Psychology, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and European Teaching |
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is a leading public research university located in Zurich, Switzerland. It was estblished in 1855 and is a popular university, especially for STEM disciplines. The ETH Zurich acceptance rate is around 27%. The ETH Zurich tuition fees 2025 ranges between CHF 1,500 to CHF 2,500 per year. ETH Zurich offers 23 Bachelor's programmes, over 40 Master's programmes, and a wide variety of doctoral and research opportunities.
ETH Zurich Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
---|---|
Acceptance Rate | 27% |
Tuition Fees | CHF 730 per semester (approx. ₹70,000 per year) |
Institution Type | Public |
Language of Instruction | German (Bachelor’s), English/German (Master’s) |
Popular Courses | Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Architecture, Data Science |
The University of California was established in 1868. UC Berkeley has been ranked 3rd best university in the latest global rankings by U.S. News & World Report. University of California, Berkeley acceptance rate is around 11-12% for international students. The University of California fees 2025 is around 44,346to76,968 per year. Students should have a minimum score of 3.0 (B) GPA on a 4.0 scale to get admission in the university.
University of California, Berkeley Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
Acceptance Rate | 11-12% |
Tuition Fees | 44,346to76,968 |
Institution Type | Public/Government |
Language of Instruction | English |
Popular Courses | Social Sciences, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Computer and Information Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Psychology |
Tsinghua University, located in Beijing, China, is one of Asia’s and the world’s most prestigious public research universities. Tsinghua University acceptance rate for international students is around 16%, making admission highly competitive. The Tsinghua University fees 2025 range between CNY 30,000 to CNY 150,000 per year depending on the program. Tsinghua offers over 80 undergraduate majors and more than 100 graduate programs, many of which are English-taught programs.
Tsinghua University Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
---|---|
Acceptance Rate | 16% |
Tuition Fees | CNY 30,000 – CNY 150,000/year |
Institution Type | Public |
Language of Instruction | Chinese & English (for select programs) |
Popular Courses | Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, Environmental Science, MBA, Law |
The Imperial College of London is one of the top universities in the UK. he University was established in 1907 in South Kensington, London. The Imperial College London acceptance rate 2025 is approximately 12% to 18%. Imperial College London 2025 fees ranges from EUR 37,100 to EUR 67,500 for international students. The university offers more than 130 undergraduate courses and 200 master’s courses for international students.
Imperial College London Highlights:
Category | Description |
Acceptance Rate | 12% - 18% |
Tuition Fees | EUR 39,100 - EUR 67,500 |
Institution Type | Public/Government |
Language of Instruction | English |
Popular Courses | Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine, and Business |
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, United States established in 1636. Harvard University acceptance rate 2025 for international students is only 3.4%. Harvard University 2025 fees is $86,705 for the year 2025-2026. The university offers more than 3,700 courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Harvard University Highlights:
Category | Description |
Acceptance Rate | 3.4% |
Tuition Fees | $86,705 |
Institution Type | Private |
Language of Instruction | English |
Popular Courses | Economics, Business Administration and Management, Psychology, Neuroscience, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Public Policy, and more. |
EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) is a top public research university located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The EPFL acceptance rate for international students is approximately 20%, reflecting its competitive admissions process. The EPFL tuition fees 2025 is CHF 1,266 per year. EPFL offers 13 Bachelor’s and over 25 Master’s programs, most taught in French at the undergraduate level and English at the graduate level.
EPFL Highlights 2025:
Category | Description |
---|---|
Acceptance Rate | 20% |
Tuition Fees | CHF 1,266 per year |
Institution Type | Public |
Language of Instruction | French (Bachelor’s), English (Master’s) |
Popular Courses | Robotics, Data Science, Civil Engineering, Physics, Life Sciences, AI |
Below are the top 25 engineering colleges in the world as per US News Reports 2025.
Rank | University | Country |
1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | USA |
2 | Stanford University | USA |
3 | University of California, Berkeley | USA |
4 | Tsinghua University | China |
5 | Georgia Institute of Technology | USA |
6 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | USA |
7 | Purdue University–West Lafayette | USA |
8 | University of Illinois – Urbana‑Champaign | USA |
9 | University of Michigan – Ann Arbor | USA |
10 | University of Texas–Austin | USA |
11 | University of Cambridge | UK |
12 | Carnegie Mellon University | USA |
13 | University of Oxford | UK |
14 | ETH Zurich | Switzerland |
15 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
16 | University of Tokyo | Japan |
17 | Imperial College London | UK |
18 | Seoul National University | South Korea |
19 | University of Toronto | Canada |
20 | Peking University | China |
21 | University of Washington | USA |
22 | University of Melbourne | Australia |
23 | Nanyang Technological University | Singapore |
24 | Tohoku University | Japan |
25 | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) | USA |
Which engineering is best in the future? Which engineering course is the best for students in the future is completely dependent on the personal interests and career goals of the candidates. Many top engineering courses are available in the top 10 engineering universities in the world 2025 for international students. Students can select any of the following courses as per their academic reports, field of interest, and availability of the seats.
Computer Science and Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Countries like the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries nourish some of the top engineering universities in the world. However, the cost of attendance and high living expenses in the countries restrict the course of migration for international students. Many study abroad aspirants look for a cheaper option to study engineering abroad for better future opportunities.
Here’s a list of some of the cheapest study abroad engineering colleges in the world 2025 for Indian students:
University of California-Berkeley.
Carnegie Mellon University.
Georgia Institute of Technology.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
University of Michigan.
University of Nebraska Omaha.
Cornell University.
These universities offer affordable tuition fees for international students. Students can do proper research on different overseas engineering colleges to compare their fee structure and educational facilities.
The best countries to do engineering abroad include USA, UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia. They are known for having some of the best and top-tier engineering colleges, offering students with diverse courses, and strong careers prospects. Other countries that are also good options to study engineering abroad include Singapore and Ireland.
When you decide which country is best for doing engineering, ensure to check some factors like the living expenses, study costs, availability of scholarships, high-ranking universities, job market, and overall learning and growth environment.
Studying in the top technical universities in the world demands high academic excellence and eligibility criteria. The top engineering colleges in world have different eligibility requirements for international students. These requirements may vary depending on the selected course and the ranking of the university.
A few admission criteria for international students to study in the best engineering schools in the world 2025 are as follows:
Candidates must show a good academic record in class 12 in subjects like maths, algebra, chemistry, physics, vectors, and others.
As most programmes are conducted in English, therefore, students need to demonstrate their English language proficiency through exams like TOEFL or IELTS.
GRE score.
Strong essays demonstrating your skills for engineering, career goals, and relevant experiences.
Consolidated Marksheets
Internship Certificates
To get admission in the top engineering colleges in the world, students must take standardised entrance exams like SAT, ACT, or subject-specific exams like GRE for graduate programs. Students must also demonstrate English language proficiency with IELTS/TOEFL/PTE scores. In addition to this, several top engineering colleges also require students to have a high school diploma or equivalent with strong performance in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
To get admission in the top engineering colleges in the world, students must follow this admission process.
Study engineering abroad can be rewarding for international students. However, the cost of studying in a foreign country can be financially exhausting for many students. Indian students who are planning to study in the top 10 engineering colleges in world can apply for multiple scholarships to sustain themselves throughout their educational journey overseas.
Check the list of the top 10 scholarships for Indian students 2025 to study engineering abroad:
Eiffel Scholarship
Charpak Scholarships
Melbourne International Research Scholarships (MIRS)
Curtin International Scholarship
Also Read: Top Scholarships for Engineering Students
The engineering field is associated with multiple exciting job opportunities. Many foreign universities seek potential candidates to fill critical job roles. The United States, Canada, Germany, Singapore, and Switzerland are among the major recruiters of engineers all over the world. The average salary for an engineer in the USA is approximately USD 106,907 per annum.
Some of the popular Engineering jobs abroad for Indian students include:
Automation and Robotics
Data scientists
Cybersecurity experts
Software engineers
Prosthetics
International students can get education loans (₹20 – ₹75 lakhs) for pursuing a masters degree abroad. Those students who have got admission in a recognised engineering college abroad for masters are eligible to apply for education loans to fund their studies.
Feature | Details |
Loan Amount | ₹20 – ₹75 lakhs |
Interest Rate | 9% – 13.5% |
Loan Type | Secured & Unsecured |
Coverage | Tuition, living, travel, insurance, books |
Top Lenders | SBI, HDFC Credila, Axis, ICICI, Avanse |
Repayment | Up to 15 years |
Moratorium | Course + 6–12 months |
Processing Time | 7 – 21 days |
Processing Fee | 0.5% – 2% |
Collateral | Needed above ₹7.5L (varies) |
Tax Benefit | Section 80E (interest only) |
Also Read:
There is no single best field to study engineering in 2025. However, a few popular specialisations like Robotics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Cybersecurity Engineering have recently developed interest among study abroad aspiring engineers.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been ranked as the best engineering college 2025 by the latest QS Subject Ranking Report and US New Report. Whereas, as per the latest 2025 ranking of THE, Harvard University is listed as the world's best engineering college for the year 2025.
Canada, UK, USA, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, China, Singapore, New Zealand, and France have been ranked among the top countries in the world for engineering for international students.
Yes, due to the rapid advancement of technology in China, the Tsinghua university in China made it to the top 10 engineering colleges in the world in 2025.
QS uses metrics like academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, and internationalization. THE focuses on teaching quality, research volume/impact, industry income, and global outlook to determine the top colleges in the world.
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