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Most prestigious universities in the world 2025

Scroll down to see the top 50 ranked universities

°Õ³ó±ðÌýTimes Higher EducationÌýWorld Reputation Rankings 2025Ìýrank the universities that academics believe excel in teaching and research.Ìý

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A questionnaire was sent to a selection of experienced published scholars, between November 2024 and January 2025, asking them to offer their views on the standards of teaching and research in their disciplines and in institutionsÌýwith which they are familiar. The responses were then used to determine which universities were considered the most prestigious.ÌýThere has been an update to the methodology since the last edition. The full methodology with all the changes can be foundÌýhere.

This year’s ranking also includes 300 universities, an increase on the 200 universities in the last edition of the ranking.Ìý

Harvard 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ retains the top position this year with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Oxford taking joint second place.Ìý

The top 10 is dominated by US and UK universities, except for Tsinghua 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ in eighth place and theÌýThe 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of TokyoÌýat number 10.Ìý

Although the results are based on academics’ views, students can incorporate the reputation of a university into their decision-making processes when choosing where to study.

1. Harvard 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Established in 1636, Harvard 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ is the oldest higher education institution in the US. It is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world and has topped theÌýTHEÌýWorld Reputation Rankings since 2011.

The institution has been affiliated withÌý161 Nobel laureates, 32Ìýheads of state,Ìý50 Pulitzer prizewinners and many other academic accolades and prizes.

The central library is one of the largest academic libraries in the world, with 18.9Ìýmillion volumes, while America’s oldest collection of maps and atlasesÌýis stored in the Pusey Library.Ìý

=2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT is based in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts and it is dedicated to the teaching of science and technology. The sheer number of Nobel laureatesÌýaffiliated with the institution – an impressive 101 – reveals the calibre of MIT graduates.

Scientific discoveries and technological advances to come out of the college include the first chemical synthesis of penicillin, the development of radar, the discovery of quarks and the invention of magnetic core memory, which aided the development of digital computers.

=2. 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Oxford

°Õ³ó±ðÌý51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of OxfordÌýis the highest-ranked UK university in this year’s Reputation Rankings. It is also one of the oldest universities in the world and at least 30 world leaders, 30 British prime ministers,Ìý56 Nobel prizewinners and more than 120 Olympic medallists have passed through its halls.

Entry standards are high and prospective students are expected to achieve top grades and pass an interview in order to study at the institution.

Notable alumni include Stephen Hawking, J. R. R. Tolkien, Oscar Wilde and Malala Yousafzai.Ìý

°Õ³ó±ðÌý51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Oxford follows a collegiate structure and is split into 44 colleges and halls. Nearly one-quarter of the city of Oxford’s population is made up of students, meaning that it hasÌýone of the youngest populations of any city in the UK.

=4. Stanford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ

Stanford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ wasÌýfounded in 1891 as a co-educational institution, which was unheard of at a time when most universities were all male.

The research-intensive university has the largest number of Turing AwardÌýrecipients for a single institution (29), as well as 36 Nobel laureates (20 among the current community of scholars) and four Pulitzer prizewinners. In addition, Stanford 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ has producedÌý74Ìýbillionaires and 21 astronauts.

Stanford faculty and alumni have also founded many companies including: Google, Hewlett-Packard, Nike, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn and Yahoo.

=4. 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Cambridge

As well as being one of the most prestigious universities in the world, the 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ of Cambridge can also count itself among the oldest.

The university is split into 31 autonomous colleges.ÌýIt is particularly known for its excellence in mathematics – a high number of Cambridge-affiliated mathematicians have won a Fields Medal, which is regarded as the Nobel Prize for mathematics.

The institution is home to more than 100 libraries. One of the best known is the Wren Library, which is part of TrinityÌýCollege and holds A. A. Milne’s manuscript ofÌýWinnie the Pooh,Ìýan Isaac Newton notebook and early editions of Shakespeare’s works.

The top 50 most prestigious universities

Click each institution to view itsÌýWorld 51¹ú²úÊÓƵ Ranking 2025Ìýprofile

Explore the results of the World Reputation Rankings 2025Ìýin full

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