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Most prestigious universities in the world 2023

Scroll down to see the top 50

°Õ³ó±ðÌýTimes Higher EducationÌýWorld Reputation Rankings 2023Ìýrank 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 October 2022 and January 2023, 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.ÌýThe full methodologyÌýfor theÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿âÌýWorld Reputation Rankings 2023 can be foundÌýhere.

Harvard University and theÌýMassachusetts Institute of Technology retain the top two places this year, with their positions unchanged since last year.

The top 10 is dominated by US and UK universities, except for Tsinghua University in eighth place and theÌýThe University 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.

Scroll down for more student perspectives on studying atÌýsome of the most prestigious universities in the world.Ìý

5. University of Cambridge

As well as being one of the most prestigious universities in the world, the University 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.

4. University of Oxford

°Õ³ó±ðÌýUniversity 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±ðÌýUniversity 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.

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3. Stanford University

Stanford University 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 University has producedÌý74Ìýbillionaires and 21 astronauts.

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

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.

1. Harvard University

Established in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest higher education institution in the US. It is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world and has topped theÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿âÌýWorld 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

The top 50 most prestigious universities

Click each institution to view itsÌýWorld University Ranking 2024Ìýprofile

Explore the results of the World Reputation Rankings 2023Ìýin full

Editor’s note:ÌýAs part of ourÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ¿âÌýstatement on UkraineÌýpublished on 2ÌýMarch 2022, Russian universities have been given less prominence in our rankings. Russian universities that met the criteria for this ranking are not displayed in the table above.