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It may be the second-smallest continent, but Europe is densely packed with many of the world’s best educational institutions. In the QS World University Rankings® 2024, a total of 501 European universities are featured among the world’s best, roughly one-third of all the universities included.
The UK boasts Europe’s highest number of internationally ranked universities with 90 entries, followed by Germany (49) and Italy (42). However, it’s Switzerland that joins the UK in having a university ranked among the world’s top 10, something neither Germany nor Italy can manage.
There are also many great universities outside of the top 10 in Europe. In France, Université de Lille scores very highly for international research network. In the UK, there are many highly ranked universities outside of the top 10 including De Montfort University and the University of Loughborough. These rank highly for international student and faculty ratio, suggesting a vibrant and diverse community within the university. University of Loughborough also ranks highly for employer reputation.
With such a wide selection of top universities in Europe to choose from, deciding where to study in Europe is not always easy. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the top universities in Europe categorised by location.
Top universities in Austria
A landlocked country in central Europe, Austria shares borders with eight other European nations, including Germany to the north and Italy to the south. It has eight top European universities currently included in the QS World University Rankings. Of these, the top universities in Austria are:
Known for its fine chocolate and beer, Belgium is also home to some excellent educational establishments. This year it claims nine of the top universities in Europe to be internationally ranked, with six of these placed within the top 300 worldwide. The top universities in Belgium are:
Denmark has five representatives in this year's rankings, all of which are within the world's top 350 - a remarkable achievement for one of Europe's Nordic nations.
Another popular Nordic study destination, Finland has plenty to offer international students including nine ranked universities which are all inside the world's top 610.
France boasts a very extensive selection of top European universities, and an impressive presence in the international rankings, with 35 institutions featured in total. The top universities in France are:
Offering free tuition to undergraduate students in all but one state, Germany is one of the world’s most popular non-Anglophone destinations for international students. The top universities in Germany are:
A relatively small country in Western Europe, Ireland is home to eight world-ranking universities, of which half are in the capital city, Dublin. The top universities in Ireland are:
Located in the southern peninsula of the continent and much-loved for its weather, cuisine and beautiful settings, Italy is the fifth most populous country in Europe and boasts 42 internationally ranked universities. The top universities in Italy are:
Another of the Nordic nations covered by our QS World University Rankings, Norway is home to six internationally ranked universities, three of which are within the top 300 in the world. The top universities in Norway are:
Acclaimed for its buzzing cities and attractive Mediterranean coast, Spain is popular among tourists and students alike, and claims 35 of the top European universities according to the QS World University Rankings. The top universities in Spain are:
Sweden is home to eight of the world's top universities according to the latest QS World University Rankings, as well as being the home of ABBA and IKEA. If you're looking forward to assembling some flat-pack furniture in your new student accommodation while singing along to Dancing Queen, the top universities in Sweden might be right for you. They are:
Home to a large portion of the Alps mountain range, Switzerland has one university within the global top 10 and a further 10 included in this year's rankings. The top universities in Switzerland are:
Second only to the US in the number of total universities included in the ranking, the UK is the most popular destination to study in Europe. It currently boasts six of the world’s top 10 universities, and five of the top six universities in Europe. The top universities in the UK are:
The list above covers most of the best-known places to study in Europe as an international student. But the top European universities do not end there. Many more European countries are home to one or more institutions included in the QS World University Rankings. Here’s a quick round-up of the rest:
Bosnia-Herzegovina
There is just one university from Bosnia-Herzegovina in the QS World University Rankings 2024. University of Sarajevo is ranked 1201-1400 globally, joint 444th in Europe.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria also has a single representative in this year's rankings. Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" is ranked 741-750 globally, joint 297th in Europe.
Croatia
Four Croatian universities are included in the 2024 edition of the rankings, although only one of these is ranked within the top 1,000. The University of Zagreb is ranked 751-760 globally, the equivalent of being ranked joint 302nd in Europe.
The sole Cypriot institution in this year's rankings is University of Cyprus (UCY), which is ranked an impressive 368th in the world, or 155th in Europe.
Czechia
Of the 16 universities from Czechia in the QS World University Rankings 2024, three of them make the global top 500. Leading the way with a rank of =248th globally is Charles University, which is also ranked joint 104th in Europe.
Of the three Estonian universities included in this year's rankings, only one cracks the global top 500: the University of Tartu, which is ranked =358th in the world and =151st in Europe.
Eight top universities from Greece are included in this year's rankings, with the National Technical University of Athens ranking =347th in the world (145th in Europe).
There are eleven Hungarian universities within the QS World University Rankings 2024, with the University of Szeged the highest-ranked at 601-610, or joint 252nd in Europe.
There's just one Icelandic university in the QS World University Rankings 2024: the University of Iceland is ranked 1201-1400 globally (joint 444th in Europe).
Latvia
Three universities in Latvia feature in this year's rankings, all of which are located in the capital city Riga. The highest-ranked of these is Riga Technical University, placed 751-760 in the world or joint 302nd in Europe.
Five universities represent Lithuania in the 2024 edition of our rankings, but only one is in the top 500 in the world. Vilnius University is ranked =473rd in the world, the equivalent of joint 203rd in Europe.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the size of the nation, there's just one university from Luxembourg within our rankings. However, it's an extremely strong performer. The University of Luxembourg is ranked 381st in the world, the equivalent of being ranked 159th in Europe.
Malta
Likewise, there's just one Maltese institution in our rankings. The University of Malta is ranked 851-900 in the world (joint 334th in Europe).
Poland
An astonishing 22 universities from Poland are included in this year's rankings, an increase of nearly 50 percent over the last five years. The top-ranked institution is the University of Warsaw, which is ranked 262nd in the world and 110th in Europe.
All eight Portuguese universities included in this year's rankings are within the top 950 in the world, with the University of Porto the highest-ranked. It's placed 253rd in the world, which is high enough to be within the top 110 in Europe (exact rank is 107th).
The top university in Romania is Babes-Bolyai University, ranked 801-850 in the world or joint 318th in Europe. 11 more universities from Romania make it into the 2024 edition of our rankings.
Of the four Serbian universities included in this year's rankings, only one achieves a place within the world's top 1,000. The University of Belgrade is ranked 721-730 in the world, the equivalent of ranking joint 289th in Europe.
The top university in Slovakia in 2024 is the Comenius University in Bratislava, which has ranked 771-780 in the world, ahead of four other Slovakian institutions. Its rank is the equivalent of being ranked joint 309th in Europe.
Three universities from Slovenia feature in the QS World University Rankings 2024, with two of those within the global top 1,000. The highest-ranked is the University of Ljubljana, which ranks 621-630 globally or joint 258th in Europe.
11 universities in Ukraine are included in the 2024 edition of our rankings, with the capital city Kyiv represented four times. The highest-ranked university in Ukraine is one of those four: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is ranked 681-690 globally, the equivalent of =277th in Europe.
As Head of Content, Craig is responsible for all articles and guides published across TopUniversities and TopMBA. He has nearly 10 years of experience writing for a student audience and extensive knowledge of universities and study programs around the world.
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Top universities in Europe
Craig OCallaghan
Updated Aug 22, 2024Save
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Table of contents
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It may be the second-smallest continent, but Europe is densely packed with many of the world’s best educational institutions. In the QS World University Rankings® 2024, a total of 501 European universities are featured among the world’s best, roughly one-third of all the universities included.
The UK boasts Europe’s highest number of internationally ranked universities with 90 entries, followed by Germany (49) and Italy (42). However, it’s Switzerland that joins the UK in having a university ranked among the world’s top 10, something neither Germany nor Italy can manage.
There are also many great universities outside of the top 10 in Europe. In France, Université de Lille scores very highly for international research network. In the UK, there are many highly ranked universities outside of the top 10 including De Montfort University and the University of Loughborough. These rank highly for international student and faculty ratio, suggesting a vibrant and diverse community within the university. University of Loughborough also ranks highly for employer reputation.
In Spain, Universidade de Vigo receives its highest score for sustainability and in Germany, Universität Mannheim scores well for employer reputation.
With such a wide selection of top universities in Europe to choose from, deciding where to study in Europe is not always easy. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the top universities in Europe categorised by location.
Top universities in Austria
A landlocked country in central Europe, Austria shares borders with eight other European nations, including Germany to the north and Italy to the south. It has eight top European universities currently included in the QS World University Rankings. Of these, the top universities in Austria are:
Top universities in Austria
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ three more top universities in Austria
Top universities in Belgium
Known for its fine chocolate and beer, Belgium is also home to some excellent educational establishments. This year it claims nine of the top universities in Europe to be internationally ranked, with six of these placed within the top 300 worldwide. The top universities in Belgium are:
Top universities in Belgium
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ four more top universities in Belgium
Top universities in Denmark
Denmark has five representatives in this year's rankings, all of which are within the world's top 350 - a remarkable achievement for one of Europe's Nordic nations.
Top universities in Denmark
QS World University Rankings 2024
Top universities in Finland
Another popular Nordic study destination, Finland has plenty to offer international students including nine ranked universities which are all inside the world's top 610.
Top universities in Finland
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ four more top universities in Finland
Top universities in France
France boasts a very extensive selection of top European universities, and an impressive presence in the international rankings, with 35 institutions featured in total. The top universities in France are:
Top universities in France
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ 30 more top universities in France
Top universities in Germany
Offering free tuition to undergraduate students in all but one state, Germany is one of the world’s most popular non-Anglophone destinations for international students. The top universities in Germany are:
Top universities in Germany
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ 44 more top universities in Germany
Top universities in Ireland
A relatively small country in Western Europe, Ireland is home to eight world-ranking universities, of which half are in the capital city, Dublin. The top universities in Ireland are:
Top universities in Ireland
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ three more top universities in Ireland
Top universities in Italy
Located in the southern peninsula of the continent and much-loved for its weather, cuisine and beautiful settings, Italy is the fifth most populous country in Europe and boasts 42 internationally ranked universities. The top universities in Italy are:
Top universities in Italy
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ 37 more top universities in Italy
Top universities in the Netherlands
This Dutch-speaking country towards the north of the continent boasts 13 globally ranked universities. The top universities in the Netherlands are:
Top universities in the Netherlands
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ eight more top universities in the Netherlands
Top universities in Norway
Another of the Nordic nations covered by our QS World University Rankings, Norway is home to six internationally ranked universities, three of which are within the top 300 in the world. The top universities in Norway are:
Top universities in Norway
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ one more top university in Norway
Top universities in Spain
Acclaimed for its buzzing cities and attractive Mediterranean coast, Spain is popular among tourists and students alike, and claims 35 of the top European universities according to the QS World University Rankings. The top universities in Spain are:
Top universities in Spain
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ 30 more top universities in Spain
Testimonials
Top universities in Sweden
Sweden is home to eight of the world's top universities according to the latest QS World University Rankings, as well as being the home of ABBA and IKEA. If you're looking forward to assembling some flat-pack furniture in your new student accommodation while singing along to Dancing Queen, the top universities in Sweden might be right for you. They are:
Top universities in Sweden
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ three more top universities in Sweden
Top universities in Switzerland
Home to a large portion of the Alps mountain range, Switzerland has one university within the global top 10 and a further 10 included in this year's rankings. The top universities in Switzerland are:
Top universities in Switzerland
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ six more top universities in Switzerland
Top universities in the UK
Second only to the US in the number of total universities included in the ranking, the UK is the most popular destination to study in Europe. It currently boasts six of the world’s top 10 universities, and five of the top six universities in Europe. The top universities in the UK are:
Top universities in the UK
QS World University Rankings 2024
+ 85 more top universities in the UK
Top universities in the rest of Europe
The list above covers most of the best-known places to study in Europe as an international student. But the top European universities do not end there. Many more European countries are home to one or more institutions included in the QS World University Rankings. Here’s a quick round-up of the rest:
Bosnia-Herzegovina
There is just one university from Bosnia-Herzegovina in the QS World University Rankings 2024. University of Sarajevo is ranked 1201-1400 globally, joint 444th in Europe.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria also has a single representative in this year's rankings. Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" is ranked 741-750 globally, joint 297th in Europe.
Croatia
Four Croatian universities are included in the 2024 edition of the rankings, although only one of these is ranked within the top 1,000. The University of Zagreb is ranked 751-760 globally, the equivalent of being ranked joint 302nd in Europe.
+ three more top universities in Croatia
Cyprus
The sole Cypriot institution in this year's rankings is University of Cyprus (UCY), which is ranked an impressive 368th in the world, or 155th in Europe.
Czechia
Of the 16 universities from Czechia in the QS World University Rankings 2024, three of them make the global top 500. Leading the way with a rank of =248th globally is Charles University, which is also ranked joint 104th in Europe.
+ 15 more top universities in Czechia
Estonia
Of the three Estonian universities included in this year's rankings, only one cracks the global top 500: the University of Tartu, which is ranked =358th in the world and =151st in Europe.
+ two more top universities in Estonia
Greece
Eight top universities from Greece are included in this year's rankings, with the National Technical University of Athens ranking =347th in the world (145th in Europe).
+ seven more top universities in Greece
Hungary
There are eleven Hungarian universities within the QS World University Rankings 2024, with the University of Szeged the highest-ranked at 601-610, or joint 252nd in Europe.
+ 10 more top universities in Hungary
Iceland
There's just one Icelandic university in the QS World University Rankings 2024: the University of Iceland is ranked 1201-1400 globally (joint 444th in Europe).
Latvia
Three universities in Latvia feature in this year's rankings, all of which are located in the capital city Riga. The highest-ranked of these is Riga Technical University, placed 751-760 in the world or joint 302nd in Europe.
+ two more top universities in Latvia
Lithuania
Five universities represent Lithuania in the 2024 edition of our rankings, but only one is in the top 500 in the world. Vilnius University is ranked =473rd in the world, the equivalent of joint 203rd in Europe.
+ four more top universities in Lithuania
Luxembourg
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the size of the nation, there's just one university from Luxembourg within our rankings. However, it's an extremely strong performer. The University of Luxembourg is ranked 381st in the world, the equivalent of being ranked 159th in Europe.
Malta
Likewise, there's just one Maltese institution in our rankings. The University of Malta is ranked 851-900 in the world (joint 334th in Europe).
Poland
An astonishing 22 universities from Poland are included in this year's rankings, an increase of nearly 50 percent over the last five years. The top-ranked institution is the University of Warsaw, which is ranked 262nd in the world and 110th in Europe.
+ 21 more top universities in Poland
Portugal
All eight Portuguese universities included in this year's rankings are within the top 950 in the world, with the University of Porto the highest-ranked. It's placed 253rd in the world, which is high enough to be within the top 110 in Europe (exact rank is 107th).
+ seven more top universities in Portugal
Romania
The top university in Romania is Babes-Bolyai University, ranked 801-850 in the world or joint 318th in Europe. 11 more universities from Romania make it into the 2024 edition of our rankings.
+ 12 more top universities in Romania
Serbia
Of the four Serbian universities included in this year's rankings, only one achieves a place within the world's top 1,000. The University of Belgrade is ranked 721-730 in the world, the equivalent of ranking joint 289th in Europe.
+ three more top universities in Serbia
Slovakia
The top university in Slovakia in 2024 is the Comenius University in Bratislava, which has ranked 771-780 in the world, ahead of four other Slovakian institutions. Its rank is the equivalent of being ranked joint 309th in Europe.
+ four more top universities in Slovakia
Slovenia
Three universities from Slovenia feature in the QS World University Rankings 2024, with two of those within the global top 1,000. The highest-ranked is the University of Ljubljana, which ranks 621-630 globally or joint 258th in Europe.
+ two more top universities in Slovenia
Ukraine
11 universities in Ukraine are included in the 2024 edition of our rankings, with the capital city Kyiv represented four times. The highest-ranked university in Ukraine is one of those four: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is ranked 681-690 globally, the equivalent of =277th in Europe.
+ 10 more top universities in Ukraine
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As Head of Content, Craig is responsible for all articles and guides published across TopUniversities and TopMBA. He has nearly 10 years of experience writing for a student audience and extensive knowledge of universities and study programs around the world.
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