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The World’s Top 10 Young Universities in Pictures
By Mathilde Frot
Updated April 8, 2021 Updated April 8, 2021Published today, the QS Top 50 Under 50 2016-2017 spotlights the world’s best universities under 50 years old, based on the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings®. Here’s this year’s top 10 young universities on the rise – with lush campus pictures!
1. Nanyang Technological University
Ranked 13th in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, Nanyang Technological University has the largest campus on the island of Singapore, and a vision of becoming the world’s greenest campus by 2020. Click here for 10 facts we bet you didn’t know about NTU – and meet the campus cats!
2. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Placed 36th in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is known for its strong performance in science and technology subjects, as well as business and related fields. Its campus is a gorgeous lot of 60 hectares overlooking the clear water bay in East Kowloon, about 30 minutes from central Hong Kong. Facilities include an outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, labs and an indoor swimming pool.
3. KAIST – Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
Founded in 1971 and based in the city of Daejeon, South Korea’s KAIST is 46th in the QS World University Rankings this year, and is world-leading in many science and technology subjects. Notable alumni include Sang Soo Oh, the inventor of the world’s first internet phone DialPad, and Yi So-Yeon, the first Korean to fly in space; while staff members include Dong-ho Cho, who featured in Time Magazine in 2010 for his work developing the online electric vehicle.
4. City University of Hong Kong
Dating from 1984, City University of Hong Kong is 55th in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017 and 7th in the latest edition of the QS University Rankings: Asia. Covering around 16 hectares of land by Shek Kip Mei Park, the campus features a roof garden, a sports center and a swimming pool.
5. Pohang University of Science and Technology
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) is another fast-rising South Korean university with a focus on science and technology subjects, founded in 1986. Its strong performance in these areas is reflected in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, where it stands out in the rankings for computer science, chemical engineering, chemistry, environmental studies, and other STEM subjects.
6. Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Ranked 111th in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, Hong Kong Polytechnic University was founded in 1994 – making it one of the youngest universities in the Top 50 Under 50. Spanning around 10 hectares in Kowloon, Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s campus features a striking glass-walled House of Innovation, showcasing the university’s innovative research in a wide range of fields.
7. Maastricht University
Ranked 173rd in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017, the Netherlands’ Maastricht University was founded in 1976, and is known for its focus on small tutorial groups and problem-based learning. Located in several locations in the city center and the outskirts of Maastricht, the campus features a student service center in a building which long pre-dates the modern university, going back to 1627.
8. University of Technology Sydney
Since its founding in 1988, the University of Technology Sydney has made great strides up the ranking tables, currently ranked 193rd in the world overall. The university boasts a state-of-the-art campus and ongoing development work, thanks to the AU$1 billion it’s raised so far. New facilities put in place include a 3D visualization space, a specialist crime scene simulation lab and an automated library retrieval system.
9. Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona
Founded in 1968, Spain’s Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is currently ranked 203rd in the world. Based in Cerdanyola del Vallès in Catalonia, about 20km from the center of Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is located in a beautiful green setting and organizes regular nature-based activities for students to improve bio-diversity in the area.
10. University of Antwerp
Tenth on our list of top young universities, Belgium’s University of Antwerp was founded in 1971 and is placed 209th in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017. Across its nine campuses, scattered across the city of Antwerp and its leafy outskirts, the university has an impressive 1,100 artworks on display, including paintings and sculptures. In fact there are even guided tours of the Campus Drie Eiken, Campus Middelheim and the Stadscampus for tourists!
This article was originally published in September 2016 . It was last updated in April 2021
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I'm originally French but I grew up in Casablanca, Kuala Lumpur and Geneva. When I'm not writing for QS, you'll usually find me sipping espresso(s) with a good paperback.
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