World University Rankings^® 2021

This year’s QS World University Rankings reveals the top 1,000 universities from around the world, covering 80 different locations. There are 47 new entrants in this year’s top 1,000 while over 5,500 universities were evaluated and considered for inclusion. For more information on this process, consult our methodology.

While the Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT) continues its record-breaking streak at number one - the ninth year in a row it’s achieved this feat - the big story this year is the impressive gains made by Asian universities. 26 institutions from the continent now feature in the global top 100, more than ever before.

This year’s rankings are launched at a challenging time for the whole world, with COVID-19 impacting universities and students alike. For the latest information on COVID-19 for students, please visit our dedicated COVID-19 page. We are also contacting universities to learn more about how the pandemic is impacting applications, and this information can be found on our COVID-19 admissions page.

Want to share your thoughts on this year’s ranking? Has this helped you make your mind up about where to apply? Tweet us @TopUnis or use the #QSWUR hashtag and let us know!