Study Abroad 2026: The QS World University Rankings, compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluate universities on key metrics such as academic reputation, student-faculty ratio, research citations, and employer perception. The June 2026 edition ranked over 1,500 institutions across 100+ countries, signalling notable shifts in global higher education.
The 2026 regional rankings spotlight universities across fast-growing academic hubs, including Latin America & the Caribbean, Asia, the Arab region, and Europe. Each regional list follows a tailored methodology, designed to reflect local priorities and institutional challenges.
QS says its rankings also factor in student experience, international collaboration, research output, and teaching quality. Here are the top 10 universities in Europe, according to the 2026 rankings.
1. University of Oxford
Rank: 1
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Overall Score: 100
2. ETH Zurich
Rank: 2
Location: Zürich, Switzerland
Overall Score: 98.3
3. Imperial College London
Rank: 3
Location: London, United Kingdom
Overall Score: 97.8
4. UCL
Rank: 3
Location: London, United Kingdom
Overall Score: 97.8
5. University of Cambridge
Rank: 5
Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Overall Score: 97.5
6. The University of Edinburgh
Rank: 6
Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Overall Score: 97.1
7. King's College London
Rank: 7
Location: London, United Kingdom
Overall Score: 96.8
8. Universite PSL
Rank: 8
Location: Paris, France
Overall Score: 96.5
9. The University of Manchester
Rank: 9
Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Overall Score: 95.6
10. EPFL - École polytechnique federale de Lausanne
Rank: 10
Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Overall Score: 95.1
According to Quacquarelli Symonds' official website, they use reliable research and feedback from students, academics, and employers to rank universities.
