Best Universities in the World

Top Ten Universities for Science, Social Science and Humanities

© Alistair McCulloch

Nov 12, 2007
Harvard University - Best in the World?, Neal1960@Flickr
What is the best university in the world? One clue lies in the THES's annual ranking of the world's best universities. Here's the 2007 top ten for all subjects.

The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) has released its annual list of the world’s top-ranking universities. As in previous years, the 2007 rankings are dominated by English-speaking universities and, in particular, those from the US and the UK which monopolise the top ten.

The Full Top Ten Universities List

  1. Harvard University (US)
  2. University of Cambridge (UK)
  3. University of Oxford (UK)
  4. Yale University (US)
  5. Imperial College London (UK)
  6. Princeton University (US)
  7. California Institute of Technology (US)
  8. University of Chicago (US)
  9. University College London (UK)
  10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)

Outside the US and UK institutions, the highest ranking university is McGill University at number 12, with the Australian National University coming in at number 16, followed by the University of Tokyo (number 17) and University of Hong Kong (number 18).

Top Ten Universities - Natural Science

  1. University of California, Berkeley
  2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  3. University of Cambridge
  4. Harvard University
  5. Princeton University
  6. California Institute of Technology
  7. Stanford University
  8. University of Oxford
  9. Cornell University
  10. Yale University

Top Ten Universities - Life Sciences and Biomedicine

  1. Harvard University
  2. University of Cambridge University of California, Berkeley
  3. University of Oxford
  4. John Hopkins University
  5. University of California, Berkeley
  6. Stanford University
  7. Imperial College London
  8. Yale University
  9. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  10. McGill University (Canada)

Top Ten Universities – Technology

  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  2. University of California, Berkeley
  3. Stanford University
  4. California Institute of Technology
  5. University of Cambridge
  6. Imperial College London
  7. Carnegie Mellon University
  8. Georgia Institute of Technology
  9. University of Tokyo (Japan)
  10. National University of Singapore (Singapore)

Top Ten Universities – Social Sciences

  1. Harvard University
  2. University of California, Berkeley
  3. London School of Economics
  4. Yale University
  5. Stanford University
  6. University of Oxford
  7. University of Cambridge
  8. University of Chicago
  9. Princeton University
  10. Columbia University

Top Ten Universities – Arts and Humanities

  1. Harvard University
  2. University of California, Berkeley
  3. University of Oxford
  4. University of Cambridge
  5. Yale University
  6. Columbia University
  7. Princeton University
  8. University of Toronto
  9. University of Chicago
  10. Australian National University (Australia)

How Were the Rankings Compiled?

The rankings are compiled by a process of peer assessment, drawn from a rolling three-year survey of over 5,000 academics across the world (40% of the final score comes from this survey), a survey of almost 1,500 graduate recruiters (10%), with the remaining 50% coming from quantitative measures including staff-student ratio (20%), research papers citation scores (20%), proportion of staff from overseas (5%) and proportion of students from overseas (5%).

That so many universities appear in each of the various discipline lists is not surprising given that the rankings give a heavy weight to institutional rather than discipline specific factors.

An Important Caveat: Top-Ranked Doesn't Necessarily Mean 'Best'!

In choosing a university it is also very important to remember that universities appearing in these (or most other) rankings as being ‘best’ may not offer the best student experience. That will depend on what a student wants from their university, how much support they need and the extent to which they are prepared to throw themselves wholeheartedly into their studies. These guides to the ‘top ten universities’ are just that – guides. They cannot provide a student with the answer to their specific question. For many students, an institution outside the top ten universities may well be the best choice.

The 2008 Times Higher Rankings

Details of the 2008 rankings from The Higher can be found here.


The copyright of the article Best Universities in the World in College Reviews is owned by Alistair McCulloch. Permission to republish Best Universities in the World in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.


Harvard University - Best in the World?, Neal1960@Flickr
       


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What is 7+8? Incorrect, please resolve x + y!
Comments
Sep 2, 2008 5:29 AM
Guest :
thats nice
Sep 6, 2008 12:12 AM
Guest :
i think thats good
Oct 11, 2008 11:59 AM
Guest :
i think harvard should be da best university in da world
Oct 12, 2008 12:49 PM
Guest :
It's a dream university!!!
Oct 12, 2008 9:25 PM
Guest :
Harvard def be de best!
Oct 20, 2008 10:18 PM
Guest :
its a true
Oct 24, 2008 5:01 AM
Guest :
MIT.is the best University.I think.
Oct 27, 2008 1:28 AM
Guest :
MIT best in tech & Harvard best overall.
That's pretty good
Oct 28, 2008 1:25 AM
Guest :
sure i also agree that harvard is the best in the world
Nov 1, 2008 3:08 AM
Guest :
thank you,
this was sooo useful =]
Nov 8, 2008 3:43 AM
Guest :
ooh! harvard what a high class university, my dream is to prepare my docterate of arts in harvard univ
Nov 8, 2008 5:56 AM
Guest :
yh i think is really gd i probably will go there
Nov 9, 2008 9:31 PM
Guest :
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY IS BEST OVERALL!!!....
Nov 24, 2008 9:30 PM
Guest :
hello...harvard,u r my dream...
so..i'll come to u....soon.
Nov 25, 2008 2:22 AM
Guest :
If Berkeley is at or near the top in every category where is it on the overall list?
Nov 25, 2008 2:23 AM
Guest :
If Berkeley is at or near the top in every category where is it on the overall list?
Nov 30, 2008 11:46 PM
Guest :
i really wanna go to harvard
Dec 5, 2008 7:19 AM
Guest :
TEI SERRON is the best!!!!
Dec 12, 2008 8:05 AM
Guest :
wao! OXFORD UNIVERSITY is my dreaam. its preety cool.
Dec 16, 2008 9:19 AM
Guest :
I won't say Harvard is the best, it's just one of the very best.
Dec 18, 2008 3:55 AM
Guest :
This is awesome blog. I want to ask you something. Is there one of those universities have "philosophy of education" (especially "values education") under their department. i want to continues my educational carrier. Thanks in advance....
Jan 7, 2009 11:41 AM
Guest :
I live in Europe and I would have to say that UC BERKELEY IS BY FAR THE BEST AND I WILL BE ATTENTENDING
Jan 14, 2009 6:39 AM
Guest :
yes. my opinion is that Harvard is the best in the world , but probably i'm going on Yale university. :]
Jan 18, 2009 2:08 AM
Guest :
harvard, I've been dreaming about studying there since 2nd year high school. Help me Lord! Help me fulfill my dream and get in!!!
Mar 10, 2009 8:07 AM
Guest :
i will be there
harvard
Mar 15, 2009 12:59 AM
Guest :
nice list

my vote is for harvard...its best

cheers
vijayta
http:premiumblogs.org
Mar 20, 2009 12:44 AM
Guest :
wow!! Harvard is the best my dream university!!
Mar 25, 2009 4:16 AM
Guest :
yeah!!! ANU :D well done Australian National University :) Cheers
Mar 27, 2009 1:13 AM
Guest :
HARVARD U THE BEST UNIVERSITY MY FIRST CHOICE UNIVESIRTY
Apr 8, 2009 9:42 PM
Guest :
I Hope aftr 3 monthes from now i'm going to harvard .. so wish me luck evryone... i'm alive.....
Apr 9, 2009 8:52 AM
Guest :
OH MY GOD!
If any of these commenters have been to any of these uni's then the world is buggered.
You lot need to learn grammer and english!
WOW, how dumb
Apr 15, 2009 3:22 PM
Guest :
Stanford, naturally.
Apr 16, 2009 3:12 AM
Guest :
I will go 2 Harvard someday
Apr 17, 2009 12:02 PM
Guest :
All that aside, the SEC has the best collaboration of universities. I'm glad you can sit in a room and read a book though, I'm sure that will take you very far in life.
Apr 30, 2009 2:20 AM
Guest :
life is hard without the best education...
god will plan everything in his time
May 4, 2009 12:23 AM
Guest :
Obviously Harvard University is the best in the world... I know that someday I can go to school there... I will do my best to pass the requirements and the entrance exam because I know that God will help me...
Wait for me Harvard,....
May 4, 2009 12:34 AM
Guest :
go harvard!!!
May 4, 2009 12:35 AM
Guest :
go harvard, go!1!
May 4, 2009 12:37 AM
Guest :
x+y
May 26, 2009 8:44 PM
Guest :
oxford u r my dream
Jun 4, 2009 3:41 AM
Guest :
Cambridge should be in the top becuase most of the biological idea came from there. e.g DNA
Jun 24, 2009 5:29 PM
Guest :
I think University of California, Berkeley is the best if u r plannin on doin sometin in the science field......
Jun 26, 2009 8:54 PM
Guest :
can consider UIAM..
Jun 26, 2009 11:38 PM
Guest :
I think universities should be classified on the basis of research, foreign faculty, student teacher ratio and in take of average students not very brilliant students. Teaching a brilliant student not a big task. Teaching an average student and making it brilliant is a big task. I think each university is fine where you find the people of your interest. MIT is good in Technology, Harvard is good in Social Sciences. So it all depend upon your interests.
Jul 3, 2009 2:59 AM
Guest :
what about iit??????
Jul 3, 2009 11:11 AM
Guest :
harverd university is the best.as i am a student of genetic engineering and biotechnology ,i want to do my PhD in HARVERD UNIVERSITY.
Jul 18, 2009 7:25 PM
Guest :
I acnt agree that University of Toronto is not in the top technological university list where as National university of Singapore is.
Jul 20, 2009 5:28 PM
Guest :
harvard is da best but i'll attend cambridge
r.i.p mj i luv u
Jul 20, 2009 5:30 PM
Guest :
harvard sucks cambridge should be no. 1 they intro. dna
Aug 4, 2009 9:50 PM
Guest :
i sooo want to go to oxford. but i hope i can do it ><
good luck guys! i hope you get to go into the university you want to be in :DD
Aug 5, 2009 10:14 AM
Guest :
HARVARD IS OVERRATEEDDDD
Aug 5, 2009 8:51 PM
Guest :
"HARVARD" ! my dream ,im coming 2 u soon
Aug 10, 2009 4:41 AM
Guest :
Cambridge,,,I'm comingggg!!!!^_^
Aug 19, 2009 9:50 AM
Guest :
Havard is truly the best in the world, no doubt.+234703512242.+2347057213070
Aug 21, 2009 10:26 PM
Guest :
ya good
Sep 1, 2009 11:11 PM
Guest :
harvard universisy be da best in the world
Sep 1, 2009 11:14 PM
Guest :
It's a dream university in whole world!!!
Sep 4, 2009 2:02 AM
Guest :
harvard's the best...i wish to go to harvard
Sep 5, 2009 8:15 AM
Guest :
I wish, i take degree in petroleum from Harvard University which is best university in the world.
Sep 8, 2009 11:31 PM
Guest :
i reallyw anna get through oxford
Sep 13, 2009 10:13 PM
Guest :
I surely wanna continue my education in Harvard. I am an undergraduate student in Genetic engineering. Guide me with your help please. How can I fulfill my far-fetched dream?
Sep 19, 2009 2:06 AM
Guest :
IIT is the best
Sep 23, 2009 12:53 AM
Guest :
Univesity of Zimbabwe is really the best!!!!!!!!!
Oct 2, 2009 2:04 AM
Guest :
i don't think harvard is THE BEST, because i think that harvard is more into using and spreading thier name rather than actually concentrating on the education, and i was a bit dissapointed on the school homepage...
Oct 15, 2009 11:04 AM
Guest :
that's good
Oct 19, 2009 7:37 PM
Guest :
Harward is awesome..
we have to improve IIt's standard to top ten universities in world's comp
Nov 4, 2009 10:18 PM
Guest :
MIT is my dream uni.
67 Comments