Top universities for engineering & technology subjects

The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 reveal the top degree programmes in 55 different subjects across five broad subject areas. 

Seven of these subjects fall within the engineering & technology subject area, covering a range of engineering specialisations and computer science. Below is a look at the top-ranked universities for each of these seven subjects, as well as for the overall engineering & technology subject ranking which assesses institutions at a faculty level. 

Interested in technology but looking for a degree other than the seven listed below? Many postgraduate degree programmes in business and other areas now have a technological focus, such as digital transformation and marketing analytics. These more niche degree options aren't currently included in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. 

What are the top universities for engineering & technology? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for engineering & technology
Rank	University	Location
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States
2	Stanford University	United States
3	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
4	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
5	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States
6	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
7	ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland
8	Harvard University	United States
9	Tsinghua University	China
10	California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	United States

An internationally diverse selection of universities sits at the top of the engineering & technology ranking, with MIT leading the way. Apart from the US and the UK, the only two countries included in the top 10 colleges for engineering are China and Switzerland. 

What are the top universities for chemical engineering? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for chemical engineering
Rank	University	Location
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States
2	Stanford University	United States
3	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
4	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States
5	ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland
6	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore
7	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
8	Delft University of Technology	Netherlands
9	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
10	Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore)	Singapore

MIT dominates in many of the engineering & technology subjects including this one. Two universities from Singapore are featured in the top 10, making it the next-best-represented study destination with best colleges for chemical engineering after the US and UK.  

What are the top universities for civil & structural engineering? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for civil & structural engineering
Rank	University	Location
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States
2	Delft University of Technology	Netherlands
3	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States
4	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore
5	ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland
6	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
7	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
8	Stanford University	United States
9	Nanyang Technological University (NTU)	Singapore
10	EPFL	Switzerland

Delft University of Technology has a notably impressive performance for civil & structural engineering this year, ranking second in the world and first in Europe. EPFL, based in Switzerland, takes the 10th and final spot in the top 10. 

What are the top universities for computer science & information systems? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for computer science & information systems
Rank	University	Location
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States
2	Carnegie Mellon University	United States
3	Stanford University	United States
4	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States
5	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
6	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore
7	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
8	Harvard University	United States
9	ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland
10	EPFL	Switzerland

The United States dominates the very top of the computer science ranking, taking all of the top four spots. The UK and Switzerland also have two universities each, with Oxford ranking ahead of Cambridge and ETH Zurich ahead of EPFL. 

What are the top universities for electrical and electronic engineering? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for electrical & electronic engineering
Rank	University	Location
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States
2	Stanford University	United States
3	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States
4	ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland
5	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
6	EPFL	Switzerland
7	Harvard University	United States
8	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
9	Nanyang Technological University (NTU)	Singapore
=10	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
=10	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore

MIT ranks as the top university in the world for electrical engineering, the fourth subject so far in this article where that's happened. EPFL, which was 10th last year, has made significant progress, improving by four places and now securing an impressive sixth position in the electrical & electronic engineering rankings. 

What are the top universities for petroleum engineering? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for petroleum engineering
Rank	University	Location
1	University of Texas at Austin	United States
2	Stanford University	United States
3	Texas A&M University	United States
4	King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals	Saudi Arabia
5	University of Alberta	Canada
6	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
7	The University of Adelaide	Australia
8	Khalifa University	United Arab Emirates
9	Colorado School of Mines	United States
10	Middle East Technical University	Turkey

Petroleum engineering tends to be one of the more specialist engineering subjects, which means there are lots of universities in the above top 10 which don't feature that highly for the other engineering programmes. It's clear that Texas is the top place in the US for studying petroleum engineering, with two Texan universities in the world's top five. 

What are the top universities for mechanical engineering? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for mechanical engineering
Rank	University	Location
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	United States
2	Stanford University	United States
3	Delft University of Technology	Netherlands
4	Cambridge University	United Kingdom
5	ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology	Switzerland
6	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States
7	Politecnico di Milano	Italy
8	Imperial College London	United Kingdom
9	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
10	National University of Singapore (NUS)	Singapore

While there are two US universities in the top five for mechanical engineering this year, the top 10 rankings now boast greater geographical diversity, including representation from Singapore, Italy, Switzerland, as well as the UK and the Netherlands.  

What are the top universities for mineral & mining engineering? 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Top universities for mineral & mining engineering
Rank	University	Location
1	Colorado School of Mines	United States
2	Curtin University	Australia
3	Saint-Petersburg Mining University	Russia
4	University of New South Wales (UNSW)	Australia
5	University of Queensland	Australia
6	McGill University	Canada
7	The University of Western Australia	Australia
8	Universidad de Chile	Chile
9	King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals	Saudi Arabia
=10	University of Alberta	Canada
=10	University of British Columbia	Canada

The top ten list of universities for mineral & mining engineering is dominated by Australian and Canadian universities although a specialist US institution takes the top spot. The University of Alberta and the University of British Columbia share 10th position in the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject: Mineral & Mining Engineering, showcasing the strong representation of Canadian institutions in this field. 

FAQs 

What are best engineering colleges? 

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently holds the top position across various specialisations.  

Stanford University, University of Cambridge, and University of California, Berkeley (UCB), are also frequently featured in the top 10 across multiple specialisations. Moreover, specialised institutions like Colorado School of Mines, rank highly in specific subject areas such as petroleum engineering and mineral and mining engineering. 

Which engineering course is best? 

The ‘best’ engineering course can vary based on your preferences and career goals and the impact you want to make in the engineering field. Here's a brief overview of the most common engineering specialisations: 

Chemical engineering: Chemical engineering involves applying principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics to use, produce, design, transport, and transform energy and materials. 

Civil & structural engineering: Civil and structural engineering focuses on designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure, including buildings, bridges, roads, dams, and other large-scale projects. 

Electrical and electronic engineering: Electrical and electronic engineering revolves around the study of electrical systems, electronics, electromagnetism, telecommunications, and power generation, transmission, and distribution. 

Petroleum engineering: Petroleum engineering deals with the extraction of hydrocarbons like oil and gas from beneath the Earth's surface, as well as the techniques and technology to optimize the process. 

Mechanical engineering: Mechanical engineering focuses on designing, analysing, and manufacturing mechanical systems, including machinery, engines, robotics, thermal devices, and more. 

Mineral & mining engineering: Mineral and mining engineering involves the study of extracting valuable minerals and metals from the Earth, as well as techniques to ensure efficient and sustainable mining processes. 

What is the difference between B.Tech and B.E? 

B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) and B.E (Bachelor of Engineering) primarily differ in their academic approach. B.Tech emphasises practical application and technology, while B.E has a broader theoretical foundation. Both offer engineering specialisations and similar career opportunities, with the distinction varying by country and institution. 

Which type of engineering should you study?  

Not sure which is the best engineering course for you?Opt for chemical engineering for processes involving chemicals and materials; civil & structural engineering for construction and infrastructure; electrical & electronic engineering for electrical systems and electronics; mechanical engineering for machinery and mechanics; mineral & mining engineering for resource extraction; and petroleum engineering for the oil and gas industry.