The Best Universities in the World: How To Get Accepted?

The choice of a foreign university is one of the most responsible tasks that future students face. What criteria to consider when choosing an educational institution? International educational rankings help answer this question. They rank universities according to various indicators.

However, there are some universities that invariably retain their leading positions. In this article, we will tell you about the top 10 universities in the world which annually occupy the top lines in international rankings. Prepared by experts from https://eduboard.com/ essay writing service, this list is based on the latest data from QS World University Rankings. 

What Does the World University Rankings Assess?

There are many different university rankings. Each of them has its own assessment criteria. Therefore, the same university may rank differently on each of the rankings. Choose the ranking whose criteria seem more meaningful and objective to you. These may include: 

• employment of graduates;
• teaching level;
• faculty-student ratio, etc. 

Universities are also compared by field of study (e.g., top universities for engineers), by the level of education (where the “stronger” bachelor’s, master’s, etc.), or by some other indicator (e.g., the best universities in Asia).

QS World’s Best Universities

Authoritative world ranking of universities Quacquarelli Symonds evaluates universities by such criteria as: 

• the reputation of the university in the academic environment;
• the ratio of students to professors;
• The volume of citations of publications in the academic environment, etc. 

QS ranking includes about 1,500 universities worldwide, and the leading positions are occupied by the most prestigious institutions in the world. Below you can see the top 10 universities in the world according to QS World University Rankings.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT is one of the most famous research universities in the world, which is among the top technical universities and deservedly takes first place in the list of QS. The institute is famous not only for teaching engineering but also for its programs in management. There are 95 Nobel laureates among the graduates of the University of Massachusetts, which says more about the level of the university than any words.

Requirements for students

You can apply through the portal MyMIT. You need to upload your SAT, TOEFL iBT (from 90), or IELTS (from 6.5) scores and a motivation letter.

Deadlines

Apply to MIT by January 5.

Cost and Scholarship

The cost of tuition is $53,450. But MIT is very generous with scholarships, and 59% of students become MIT Scholarship recipients (average ≈ $48,000 per year). If your family income is below $90,000 (and there are many in the CIS), MIT is ready to cover all your expenses, including dormitory accommodation and travel. Thus, an impressive proportion of students study at MIT for free.

University of Cambridge 

The University of Cambridge is part of the association of the most prestigious and oldest universities in Great Britain and occupies the second position in the ranking. The most famous areas of study at this university are natural sciences, medicine, and engineering. Among its graduates, there are 121 Nobel Prize winners.

Requirements for Students

Entrance requirements are appropriate for the level of the university. Note that in the UK, there is a 12-year school education, which means that immediately after 11 years of school, you cannot apply to universities in this country. You need to make up for the missing year. For example, you can enter the bachelor’s degree of your native country or to pass the Foundation (more suitable for liberal arts programs). You can apply for A-Levels, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Pre-U Diploma, etc. Apply through the UCAS portal and attach your transcript, motivation letter, and transcripts. IELTS score is 7.0 or higher.

Deadline

The application deadline is October 15.

Cost and Scholarship

Tuition costs range from £22,000 to £50,000. Scholarships from the university are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students and can cover part or all of their tuition fees. For example, students can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Under it, students receive £18,744 for 12 months of study (as of 2023), as well as coverage of some other expenses.

Stanford University

Stanford University is known as a center of high technology and IT. Alumni include founders of companies such as Yahoo!, eBay, and Google. Stanford has educated 50 Nobel laureates and 200 members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences. The university is ranked No. 3 in the QS rankings.

Student Requirements

To apply, you must complete the CommonApp application, which includes a letter of motivation, a transcript, a TOEFL language certificate with a score of 100 or higher, and recommendations from 2-3 professors. A student applying to Stanford for an undergraduate degree should have an average GPA of approximately 4.8.

Cost and Scholarships

Tuition ranges from $70,000 to $90,000, but the university provides funding for students who show outstanding achievement. Funding from outside organizations is also available. For example, according to the university, more than 80 percent of its students receive a variety of scholarships and grants.

Deadlines

The application deadline is January 2.

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, ranking fourth in the QS World University Rankings.  It consists of 44 colleges, and the choice of programs for studying is very big. Famous alumni such as Lewis Carroll, John Tolkin, Margaret Thatcher, and others have worked here. To this day, famous scientists, world-renowned professors, and Nobel Prize winners still work here.

Student Requirements

To enter Oxford right after high school, you need to make up the missing year of study. You can do a year of undergraduate studies in your country, A-Level, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge Pre-U programs. Applicants must take entrance exams and write a motivation letter, as well as provide references. The level of English must be confirmed by certificates such as IELTS 7.0 or higher.

Cost and Scholarships

The cost of tuition is £26,000 – £38,000. But also Oxford, in order to maintain the status of a top university, is interested in attracting the best students and is ready to pay them scholarships. Funding is provided mainly for students in postgraduate programs. You can count on both a faculty scholarship and a grant from a foundation. For example, Hill Foundation Scholarships cover tuition and living expenses.

Deadlines

Apply by October 15 if you want to enroll in Oxford.

Harvard University

Harvard University is one of the oldest universities. It is one of the top universities in the world and ranks 5th in QS rankings. Among the famous alumni were Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Franklin Roosevelt, and others. The university is known for programs in psychology, philosophy, political science, and law.

Student Requirements

The application for admission includes a letter of motivation, SAT/ACT scores, a language test (minimum IELTS scores ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 depending on the school), recommendations, and a transcript with grades.

Cost and Scholarships

The cost of college is $50,000, but Harvard University provides funding for talented students. The chance of getting it is quite high. In fact, according to the university, 55% of students receive some sort of scholarship.

Deadlines

Harvard’s application deadline is Jan. 1.

California Institute of Technology.

Caltech is #6 in the rankings and one of the most prominent technical universities. Physicist William Shockley, chemist Eric Betzig, philosopher Linus Pauling, and others have studied within its walls.

Requirements for students

The QuestBridge portal is used for admission, where applicants must upload their SAT/ACT scores, motivation letter, recommendations, transcript with grades, and TOEFL (no minimum score is specified, but the higher, the better).

Cost and Scholarships

The cost of tuition is $60,000. The university does not pay scholarships for academic excellence, but international students can request financial support from foundations. However, you can also provide proof of low family income when you apply. If the admissions committee deems you a talented student who cannot afford to pay your own tuition, it may waive your need to pay for your education.

Deadlines

Caltech’s application deadline is Jan. 3.

Imperial College London

The College of London is among the top 10 universities in the world and ranks eighth in the QS ranking. Mahatma Gandhi, Francis Crick, Alexander Bell, and others studied at UCL.

Requirements to students

To enter UCL, a certificate of A-Level or Foundation program is required. The application also includes a letter of motivation and recommendations.

Cost and Scholarships

The cost of the undergraduate program is £24,000, but full scholarships are available for the master’s program.

Deadlines

The application deadline is Jan. 15.

ETH Zurich

The Swiss University of Technology is one of the top universities in Europe, ranking ninth in the QS World University Rankings. The university specializes in machine learning and sustainable development. Among its graduates, there are 21 Nobel Prize winners and two Pritzker Prize winners. 

Requirements for students

For admission, you need a high school diploma and pass the entrance exams. In addition, it is necessary to provide proof that the student is accepted to the university in the chosen program in the home country.

Cost and Scholarships

The cost of tuition is CHF 730 per semester. Scholarships are available for postgraduate programs only.

Deadlines

The deadline for application is December 15.

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is among the top foreign universities and is known for its schools of business, medicine, law, and sociology. Among its students and alumni are nearly 100 Nobel laureates. The University of Chicago is ranked 10th in the QS ranking.

Student Requirements

Admission will require application through the CommonApp portal, where applicants need to upload a letter of motivation, SAT/ACT scores, language tests, and recommendations.

Cost and Scholarships

The cost of tuition is $60,000. For those who have shown outstanding achievement, the university provides a scholarship.

Deadlines

The application deadline is January 3.

To Conclude

Studying at the best universities in the world is quite possible. Even if you’re not a straight-A student or the child of millionaires. But you need to work out your profile in detail and know how to show your strengths in front of the admissions committee. Then you can even count on a scholarship and study at a top university for free.