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World University Rankings: Times Higher Education (THE) 2021
Discover the top universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021
Since its first edition in 2010, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) has been one of the most reliable university rankings in the world and a great resource for international students who seek to study abroad at world-class universities.
What’s the Times Higher Education World University Rankings?
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is the largest and most diverse global university ranking. Its 2021 ranking edition includes almost 1,500 universities across 93 countries. The influencers under this ranking include teaching (30%), research (30%), citation (30%), industry connections (2.5%), and international outlook (7.5%).
Are university rankings important?
The THE World University Rankings can help you sort your options and make you aware of universities you may not have otherwise heard of! It is compiled on the basis of its own list of factors taken into consideration.
At the same time, university rankings should be used together with additional research of each university or school so you can make an informed choice about where to go based on your own preferences.
It’s important to note that these tools aren’t the only measure of how appropriate the university or school may be for you; it’s just one of the elements to consider.
How can you use the university rankings to shortlist universities?
You can further analyse a university on the basis of country/region, course/program and your preferred subject. If you wish to study astronomy, look for universities that rank higher in your preferred field of study. It’s quite possible that the university ranking the highest globally may not be the best in this specific department of your choice.
Once you’ve your list of shortlisted universities, dive deeper by studying each of its curriculum, modules offered, faculties, teaching methodologies, culture, campus life, and sustainability.
What are the top 20 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021?
The world’s top 20 universities in the THE Rankings 2021 are as follows:
Ranking |
University |
Country |
1 | University of Oxford | UK |
2 | Stanford University | USA |
3 | Harvard University | USA |
4 | California Institute of Technology | USA |
5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | USA |
6 | University of Cambridge | UK |
7 | University of California, Berkeley | USA |
8 | Yale University | USA |
9 | Princeton University | USA |
10 | University of Chicago | USA |
11 | Imperial College London | UK |
12 | Johns Hopkins University | USA |
13 | University of Pennsylvania | USA |
14 | ETH Zurich | Switzerland |
15 | University of California, Los Angeles | USA |
16 | University College London (UCL) | UK |
17 | Columbia University | USA |
18 | University of Toronto | Canada |
19 | Cornell University | USA |
20 | Duke University | USA |
Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021
Which countries have the greatest number of universities in the top 100 of THE 2021?
The countries with the biggest number of highly ranked universities in the top 100 of THE 2021 are:
- USA: 37 universities, colleges and institutes
- UK: 11 universities, colleges and institutes
- Germany: 7 universities, colleges and institutes
- China: 6 universities, colleges and institutes
- Australia: 6 universities, colleges and institutes
- Canada: 5 universities, colleges and institutes
Contact your IDP counsellor now to assist you in finding the right university for you and help you get where you want to be!
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