Topics covered
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.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are the largest and most diverse global university ranking. Its 2023 ranking edition includes more than 1,799 universities across 104 countries and regions.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 table is based on 13 performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
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.
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.
The table below shows the top 20 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
Rank | University | Country |
1 | University of Oxford | UK |
=2 | USA | |
=3 | University of Cambridge | UK |
=3 | USA | |
5 | USA | |
6 | USA | |
7 | USA | |
8 | USA | |
9 | USA | |
10 | UK | |
=11 | USA | |
=11 | ETH Zurich | Switzerland |
13 | USA | |
14 | USA | |
15 | USA | |
16 | Tsinghua University | China |
17 | Peking University | China |
18 | Canada | |
19 | National University of Singapore | Singapore |
20 | USA |
Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
According to the THE website, the below countries have the biggest number of universities/institutions in the top 200 of the THE World University Rankings 2023
Country | Number of institutions in the top 200 |
USA | 58 |
UK | 28 |
Germany | 22 |
China | 11 |
Australia | 10 |
Netherlands | 10 |
Canada | 7 |
Switzerland | 7 |
South Korea | 6 |
France | 5 |
Hong Kong | 5 |
Sweden | 5 |
Eager to start your study abroad journey? Contact your IDP counsellor now to help you secure your place at the right university.
Create your profile and unlock a wide array of features including personalised recommendations, fast-tracked applications and much more.
Dive into our extensive collection of articles by using our comprehensive topic search tool.