There are a lot of things to consider when going to university – the nightlife, the possibility of a gap year, the distance from home – but if a school’s academic reputation is what matters most to you, we have great news for you.
The “Academic Ranking of World Universities” for 2024 has just been published. The ranking takes into account factors such as the number of Nobel Prize-winning alumni, publications in high-ranking journals and the institution’s academic performance per capita.
Which university has secured the coveted crown as the best university in the world according to ARWU? Well, for the 22nd year in a row (the 22nd year!): Harvard University in the USA. Given this institution’s global reputation for academic excellence and its role as a founding member of the Association of American Universities, we are not exactly stunned.
In fact, American universities almost completely dominate this list, taking up an impressive eight of the top 10 spots – the only exceptions being the prestigious British institutions Cambridge and Oxford, which come in fourth and sixth place respectively. More information on the best universities in Europe here.
These are the 10 best universities in the world
- Harvard University
- Stanford University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Cambridge
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Oxford
- Princeton University
- Columbia University
- California Institute of Technology
- University of Chicago
More about higher education at Time Out
At Time Out we know how important it is to make the right choice about where to do your degree. Here is a summary of QS Top Universities on the best institutions in the world for 2025one about the the most beautiful campuses in the worldand one about the Best cities to study.
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