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Top 10 Universities in Europe 2024-25: Ranking and European Universities

Top 10 Universities in Europe 2024-25: Ranking and European Universities

Edited By Stuti Jain | Updated on Jun 04, 2024 12:13 PM IST

Europe has some of the most prominent and historic universities in the world. Top universities in Europe have constantly received top ratings for their academic programmes, research output, and overall student experience. The top 10 universities in Europe 2024 offer top courses like science, technology, humanities, and social sciences, and their graduates are in great demand by businesses throughout the world.

Best universities in Europe include the University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, and many more. Each of these universities has its unique strengths and traditions. They are ranked on a variety of factors which include subject-specific rankings, cutting-edge technology, facilities, and educational excellence.

The top universities in Europe are known for their academic standards, cutting-edge research facilities, and infrastructure. From the humanities and social sciences to engineering and medicine, the best colleges in Europe provide a unique learning atmosphere that promotes intellectual development and a global perspective.

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The best universities in Europe for international students have an average acceptance rate of approximately 15-30%. The average tuition expense for Indian students studying in Europe ranges from Rs. 1.3 L to Rs. 71.5 L per year. Arts, Medicine, Law, Computer Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics are among the most popular subjects for Indian students in Europe in the best universities in Europe for international students 2024.

In this article, we will explore the top 10 universities in Europe along with their acceptance rate, top courses, rankings, and more.

Top 10 Universities in Europe 2024

University

QS 2024 World Ranking

THE 2024 World Ranking

University of Oxford

3

1

ETH Zurich

7

11

University of Cambridge

2

5

Imperial College London

6

8

UCL

9

22

The University of Edinburgh

22

30

Université PSL

24

40

The University of Manchester

32

51

EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

36

33

King's College London

40

38

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is an educational research institution in Oxford, England. The university was established roughly in 1096, making it the oldest university in the world. Oxford University is one of the best universities in Europe for international students and has produced several notable alumni, including 26 Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, 72 Nobel Prize winners, and 120 Olympic medallists.

  • University of Oxford acceptance rate: 13%

  • University of Oxford popular courses for Indian students: Medicine, Law, Computer Sciences, English Language and Literature, Sciences, Archaeology and Anthropology, Engineering, History, and Mathematics.

  • University of Oxford fee for Indian students: Rs. 14.99 L - Rs. 52.95 lakhs per year

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ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities in science and technology and is known for its modern technologies and innovative research. It was established in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School, and its alumni include 22 Nobel laureates, two Fields Medallists, three Pritzker Prize winners, and one Turing Award winner, including Albert Einstein himself.

  • ETH Zurich acceptance rate: 27%

  • ETH Zurich popular courses for Indian students: Computer Science, MBA, Medicine, Business Analytics, Engineering, Finance, Nursing, Physics, and Management.

  • ETH Zurich tuition fee for Indian students: Rs. 1,33,076 per year (1460 CHF)

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a public research university in Cambridge, England. It was established in 1209 and is the world's third-oldest university in existence today. It is one of the best universities in Europe for masters and is consistently ranked among the world's top universities and is known for its education, notable alumni, and world-class research.

  • University of Cambridge acceptance rate 2024: 20%

  • University of Cambridge popular courses for Indian students: Cell Biology, Business and Economics, Physical Sciences, Computer Science, Law, Psychology, Social Sciences, and European Teaching.

  • University of Cambridge tuition fee for Indian students: Rs. 25.96 L - Rs. 67.78 lakhs per year

Imperial College London

The Imperial College, London is a public research university in London, England. It is consistently ranked as one of the world's top universities and has been placed among the top ten universities in the world by QS World University Rankings 2024 and Times Higher Education World University 2024 Rankings. Imperial College London notable alumni include Nobel Prize winners, CEOs of top companies, scientists, and engineers.

  • The Imperial College, London acceptance rate 2024: 12 - 18%

  • The Imperial College, London popular courses for Indian students: Science, Technology, Business, Engineering, and Medicine.

  • The Imperial College London fee for Indian students: Rs. 27.65 L - Rs. 71.50 L per year

University College London (UCL)

The University College London (UCL), established in 1826, is a public research university in London, England. It is a prestigious and well-respected university that has been consistently ranked among the top universities in the world and is currently ranked 9th in the QS World University Rankings 2024 .

  • University College London acceptance rate: 30-40%

  • University College London popular courses for Indian students: Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Engineering, Sciences, Medicine, Law, Management, and Education.

  • University College London tuition fee for Indian students: Rs. 9.80 L - Rs. 61.12 L per year.

University of Edinburgh

The University of Edinburgh is a public research university located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1583 and is one of the top universities in Europe, Scotland's four ancient universities, and the sixth-oldest university in the world. The University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world and is currently ranked 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2024.

  • University of Edinburgh acceptance rate: 44-51%

  • University of Edinburgh popular courses for Indian students: Medicine, Law, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

  • University of Edinburgh tuition fee for Indian students: Rs. 13.77 L - Rs. 58.26 L per year

Université PSL

Université PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres), founded in 2010, is a public research university located in the centre of Paris, France. The university has produced 28 Nobel laureates, 10 Fields medal winners, 3 Abel laureates, 50 César and 79 Molière medals, which accounts for around 10% of French research, and has earned over 150 ERC funds since it was established. PSL is also regarded as one of the best universities in Europe for international students

  • Université PSL acceptance rate: 10 -15%

  • Université PSL popular courses for Indian students: Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Engineering and Technology, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Management,

  • Université PSL tuition fee for Indian students: EUR 243 to EUR 3,770 (Rs. 21,983 to Rs. 3,41,065) per year

The University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a public research institution located in Manchester, England. It was established in 2004 by the merger of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) and the Victoria University of Manchester. The University of Manchester is one of the best colleges in Europe and is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities and is currently ranked 32nd in the QS World University Rankings 2024.

  • University of Manchester acceptance rate: 56%

  • University of Manchester popular courses for Indian students: Physics, Engineering, Medicine and Social Sciences.

  • University of Manchester tuition fee for Indian students: Rs, 17.48 L - Rs. 36.54 L per year

EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

EPFL, also referred to as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is a research university in Lausanne, Switzerland that focuses on engineering and natural sciences. It is one of Europe's leading institutions, frequently listed in the top 10 in the QS World University Rankings. EPFL is one of the few institutions that run a nuclear reactor, a fusion reactor, a Gene/Q supercomputer, and has P3 bio-hazard facilities as part of its research and teaching.

  • EPFL acceptance rate: 23-27%

  • EPFL popular courses for Indian students: Computer science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Artificial intelligence, Robotics, Materials science, Sustainability, and Healthcare.

  • EPFL tuition fee for Indian students: Rs. 1,36,792 (1,500 CHF) per semester

King's College London

The King’s College London is a public research university in London, England. It was established in 1829 and is one of the best universities in Europe, and is one of England's oldest universities. King's College London (KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. It is currently ranked 37th in the 2024 QS World University Rankings.

  • King’s College London acceptance rate: 13%

  • King’s College London popular courses for Indian students: Humanities, Law, Medicine, Dentistry, Natural and Social Sciences, Engineering, and Management.

  • King’s College London tuition fee for Indian students: Rs. 24.53 L - Rs. 64.81 L per year

Best Universities in Europe for Masters 2024

University

QS 2024 World Ranking

ETH Zurich

7

University of Oxford

3

Imperial College London

6

King's College London

40

The University of Edinburgh

22

Technical University of Munich

37

Copenhagen University

107

University of Cambridge

2

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

54

The University of Manchester

32

Trinity College Dublin

81

Best Universities in Europe for Business 2024

London Business School

SDA Bocconi School of Management

INSEAD

IE Business School

Copenhagen Business School

ESSEC Business School Cergy-Pontoise Campus

Esade Barcelona Pedralbes Campus

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University

HEC Paris Business School

Warwick Business School

Best Universities in Europe for Computer Science 2024

University

QS 2024 World Ranking

ETH Zurich

7

University of Oxford

3

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

47

University of Helsinki

115

Technical University of Munich

37

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

73

Sapienza University of Rome

134

University of Leeds

75

University of Freiburg

192

Heidelberg University

87

Moscow State University

87

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the highest-ranked university in Europe?

According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the University of Oxford is Europe's highest-ranked university. Oxford, founded in the 11th century, is one of the oldest institutions in the English-speaking world. Oxford is home to Nobel laureates and famous professors and offers students an innovative academic and social atmosphere.

2. What is the best university in Europe 2024?

According to QS World University Rankings 2024, the University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London are considered the best universities in Europe 2024, among which the University of Oxford tops the list. These institutions are evaluated based on a variety of criteria, including their topic of study, learning environment, location and culture, student life, cost, and financial assistance.  

3. What is the hardest university to get into in Europe?

European universities consistently have very low acceptance rates, making them highly competitive for admission. Some other factors that contribute to the difficulty in admission include high academic standards, a difficult selection process, and limited availability. Some universities that are hardest to get into are listed below:

  • University of Oxford

  • University of Cambridge 

  • Imperial College London

  • École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) 

4. What are the best universities in Europe for computer science?

Some of the top universities in Europe for computer science are ETH Zurich, the University of Oxford, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), the University of Helsinki, and the Technical University of Munich.

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