Top 10 Universities in Europe for International Students 2023

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking 2021 includes representation from more than 30 European countries. With 50 institutions, Spain is the next most represented European nation after the UK. However, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) surprisingly places in the top five of THE 2021. Swedish, Dutch, German, and French universities are among the other well-known European universities and institutes that rank among the best universities in Europe. Italy has 49 universities and institutions in the THE list, but neither its top institution nor those in the top 50 universities in Europe or the top 100 universities worldwide.

The table below provides information on the top 10 universities in Europe ranked according to QS World Rankings and the country they are located in.

ETH Zurich is one of the most important technical and scientific institutions in Europe and the world. The university courses specialise in science or technology. It offers more than 20 undergraduate and around 40 postgraduate courses. A good German command is a requirement to get admission to the university. You can study courses like physics, biology, architecture, mathematics, engineering and medicine.

Do you also wish to study in Switzerland, living in the scenic views of the country?  The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne is among Europe's top universities. It is acclaimed to be the best university in Switzerland. It is considered the European centre of excellence in Science and technology. One of the main admission requirements of the university is a good command of the French language. You can check the other admission requirements on the university's official website.

France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Many students wish to study in France. PSL Research University is one of the top public universities in the country.

For 17,000 students and 4,500 researchers from all over the world, PSL offers a unique scientific and cultural environment with 181 laboratories, artist workshops, Fab Labs and incubators, and advanced training for PhDs and postdocs.

With 38% of the total population being international students, the Technical University of Munich is one of the best universities in Europe. The institute offers 69 English-taught courses. The university courses specialise in diverse fields like engineering, medicine, applied and natural sciences and technology. The institute is ranked 19th worldwide in engineering and technology, 28th in natural sciences, and 29th in computer science. All these rankings are indicators of academic excellence. The university is also ranked 49th by QS World Rankings.

Have you wondered what it is like to study in Netherlands? The University of Amsterdam can be on your list of colleges. The University of Amsterdam ranks 58th in the world by QS World Rankings. It is also ranked in the top 20 universities in Europe. Students from over 100 countries study a different range of subjects, from media, business, artificial intelligence and psychology, at the university. The university also offers one of Europe’s largest English Taught degree programmes.

The university is one of the first universities in Europe. Sorbonne University was established in 1257 by Robert de Sorbon as Sorbonne College. The university is known for its selectivity and is one of the most sought-after universities in Europe by international students and researchers. It is ranked 60th in the 2023 QS World University Rankings. Sorbonne remains an attractive study destination for international students being host to a population of 53,400 students, 10,200 being international students, and 4,400 being in doctoral programs. It also offers exchange programs for its students in partnership with other high-ranking universities, making it one of the best options for international students.

The university was founded in 1472 in Ingolstadt, Germany. LMU Munich is Germany’s sixth-oldest university and is continuously operational. It is Europe’s one of best universities for international students. The university is ranked 59th by QS World Rankings. The institute is reach driven and is particularly known to provide excellent innovative research and an inspiring environment for learning for emerging researchers. The university’s name is associated with 43 Nobel laureates. International students make up 15% of the total population of the university.

The university was established in 1368 and is the oldest institute in Germany. The university is ranked 65th by QS World Rankings. Three major campuses separate the different areas of study lie humanities, natural sciences, medicine and social sciences. This provides students with a more immersive experience. International students account for more than 20% of the university's total student body, and students from more than 130 countries join the university to study in Germany.

KU Leuven is one of the most highly-ranked Catholic research universities in Belgium. The country is amongst the top study-abroad destination for international students. The university is ranked 76th by QS World Rankings. It is continuously named Europe’s most innovative university due to the high number of collaborations, citations and publications. International students from over 140 countries constitute 20 per cent of the total students in the university.

Trinity College Dublin is a leading university for pursuing higher studies from and study in Ireland. It is ranked as the top university in the country. The university is also ranked 98th in the world by QS World Rankings. The institute was founded in 1592. It has a reputation for academic excellence, research and innovation. Trinity has over 18,000 graduates and undergraduate students across the three faculties of Arts, Social sciences and Humanities, engineering, health sciences, mathematics, and science. The university ranks in the top 100 in 18 subjects.

The students who wish to study in Europe can contact our expert counsellors at any branch of Meridean Overseas Education Consultant (MOEC). Our expert counsellors will guide you for admission and Europe visa support. You can also take free counselling sessions through our website. For more information or queries, mail us at application02@meridean.org or 1800-1230-00011.