Top universities for medicine and life sciences

Australia has 24 institutions included among the world’s best for life sciences and medicine, including four in the top 50: The University of Melbourne (20th), The University of Sydney (25th), The University of Queensland (32nd) and Monash University (33rd). 

Four more universities for this subject area are found in the neighbouring New Zealand, led by the University of Auckland at 91st which scored well in academic reputation and citations per paper. 

A substantial number of the world’s most prestigious schools for life sciences and medicine are found in Asia. Mainland China has 25 medicine and life science universities this year, including its top-ranked, Peking University (37th), which scored well for its academic reputation. Japan has 15 institutions with The University of Tokyo (46th) leading the rankings closely followed by Kyoto University (66th). 

South Korea also has 15 of the world’s top schools for life sciences and medicine, including two in the top 100: Seoul National University (28th) and Yonsei University (61st). 

Taiwan has seven entrants in the rankings led by National Taiwan University (85th). Thailand has five universities in the rankings with Mahidol University (125th) ranked the highest in the country. 

Hong Kong SAR has four top universities for life sciences and medicine, including The University of Hong Kong (29th) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (51st). 

Of Malaysia’s four representatives, its leading university in this subject area, Universiti Malaya (148th), scores highly in the academic reputation indicator. 

Singapore may only have two entries, but both feature in the global 150 for life science and medicine: National University of Singapore (33rd) and Nanyang Technological University (136th). 

Elsewhere in Asia, India has four universities for the subject area with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (229th) leading the rankings. Indonesia has two schools: Universitas Indonesia (354th) and Airlangga University (501-520). The Philippines has one: University of the Philippines (401-450). 

In the Middle East, Israel is home to five of the world’s top universities in medicine and life sciences, with Tel Aviv University (217th) the highest-ranked of these. 

Saudi Arabia and Turkey have four representatives in the rankings each, with Saudi Arabian universities, King Abdulaziz University (68th) and King Saud University (139th), ranked the highest, followed by Turkey’s Hacettepe University (278th). 

Iran has four universities in this year’s rankings, the best of which is Tehran University of Medical Sciences (209th). Lebanon has two universities: American University of Beirut (229th) Lebanese University (451-500). 

Of the 21 Latin American institutions featured in the life sciences and medicine rankings, nine are based in Brazil – including the highest-ranked university in the region for this subject area, Universidade de São Paulo (51st). Also ranked in the global 200 is Universidade Estadual de Campinas (177th). 

Mexico and Colombia have three universities each in the subject ranking with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (122nd) earning the title of being the top university in Mexico and Universidad Nacional de Colombia (321st) the best in Colombia. 

Chile and Argentina both have two medicine and life sciences universities with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (128th) and Universidad de Buenos Aires (155th) topping the rankings in their respective countries. 

South Africa is represented by five top universities in life sciences and medicine, led by University of Cape Town (113th). Egypt has four entrants in the rankings with Cairo University (163rd) as its highest ranked. 

Uganda also features in the life sciences and medicine rankings with one university entry: Makerere University (451-500). This year’s new African entrant is from Nigeria, University of Ibadan (401-450) which scored highly for H-index citations.

What are life sciences and medicine?

Life sciences and medicine include a variety of science-based subjects that students may choose to study at university. These can include different positions within the medical field as well as animal care.

What is a degree in life sciences?

Undergraduate life science degrees include subjects such as: biology, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, psychology, pharmacology, veterinary science, zoology and agriculture.

At postgraduate level, there are many options available for biology, medicine, public health and psychology.

What are the benefits of a life sciences degree?

A degree in life sciences can be very beneficial because they direct students to a very specific career path. Employability is very high within medical field internationally and so life sciences degrees are a great option for prospective students who value stable and well-paid career prospects at the end of their studies. Furthermore, there are plenty of opportunities within the umbrella of life sciences degrees for students to explore other topics within the field or specialise in a specific subject postgraduate.

To learn more about medicine and life sciences degrees, click here.