Top Universities for Physics & Astronomy in 2016

**Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019. 

The QS World University Rankings by Subject includes a ranking of the top 400 universities in the world for physics and astronomy, based on a methodology which considers academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact.

Read on to view the top 10 in this field and get an overview of the best physics schools in each world region, or click here to view the full interactive table.

Top universities for physics in the US & Canada 

The US boasts a total of 80 of the world’s 400 top physics schools, including six entries in the top 10 (above). Not far behind those top six representatives are the University of Chicago (12^th),  the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA, joint 13^th), Columbia University (15^th) and  Yale University (joint 19^th).

Meanwhile, 15 top universities for physics can be found in Canada, including three within the top 100: the University of Toronto (joint 32^nd), the University of British Colombia (46^th) and McGill University (51-100).

Top universities for physics in Europe

Germany leads the way in Europe with 35 representatives in the physics ranking, of which six are in the top 50, including Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (joint 13^th), Technische Universität München (TU Munich, 17^th) and Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (28^th).

A further 32 top physics schools can be found in the UK, with Imperial College London just missing a top 10 position at 11^th for physics. The other UK universities appearing in the top 50 are UCL (University College London, 37^th), the University of Manchester (joint 40^th) and the University of Edinburgh (49^th).

Also performing well is Italy, with 20 top universities for physics, five of which achieve top 100 positions. The highest ranked Italian university for physics and astronomy is Sapienza - Università di Roma at joint 32^nd. France has 19 representatives in the physics ranking this year, including Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech and Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris (ENS Paris) in the top 50.

Another 10 top universities for physics are claimed by Russia, including three new entries this year. Lomonosov Moscow State University is the highest-ranked Russian university for physics and astronomy, in 27^th place. 

Spain is next with nine of the world’s best physics schools, three of which are in the top 100:  Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and Universitat de Barcelona. The Netherlands has eight top physics schools, with Delft University of Technology the highest ranked at joint 47^th.

Belgium has seven top physics schools, including Katholieke Universiteit Leuven at 101-150. Elsewhere, Sweden and Switzerland each have six representatives in the physics ranking. For Switzerland, ETH Zurich boasts a top 10 position. whilst Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is placed 16^th. Two Swedish universities are ranked within the top 100 for physics: KTH, Royal Institute of Technology and Lund University.

Finland offers five of the world’s best physics schools, the highest ranked of which is the University of Helsinki at 101-150. Austria, Denmark, Greece and Poland are each home to four top physics schools, with the Danish University of Copenhagen leading the way at 51-100, while Austria’s Universität Innsbruck also performs well as 101-150. Ireland has three representatives in the physics ranking, with Trinity College Dublin the highest ranked at 101-150.

Elsewhere in Europe, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway and Portugal each have two top physics schools in the ranking. Of these, the Czech Technical University In Prague is the highest ranked at 151-200. Finally, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia have one representative each in the physics ranking, the highest ranked of which is Slovenia’s University of Ljubljana at 251-300.

Top universities for physics in Asia 

China claims the largest share of Asia’s best physics schools with 18, including four new entries this year. The highest-ranked Chinese universities for physics and astronomy are Peking University and Tsinghua University, which share 30^th place.

Japan is next with 15 top physics schools, including the University of Tokyo in the top 10.  Kyoto University and the Tokyo Institute of Technology achieve joint 19^th and 25^th places in the ranking, with three more Japanese universities joining them in the top 100.

Also with 15 of the world’s best physics schools is South Korea, with Seoul National University in joint 35^th place and three more universities in the top 100. India claims 10 of the world’s top universities for physics, the highest ranked of which is Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) at 101-150.

Eight more top physics schools can be found in Taiwan, with National Taiwan University leading the way at joint 47^th place. Hong Kong is home to five top physics schools, with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in the top 100 and the University of Hong Kong in the top 100.

Singapore may only have two universities in the physics ranking, but they both achieve positions in the top 50: the National University of Singapore (NUS) is 18^th, while the Nanyang Technological University places 42^nd.  Malaysia also has two representatives, both placed 301-400. Finally, Pakistan has one top physics school: Quaid-i-azam University (ranked 301-400).

Top universities for physics in Australia & New Zealand 

A total of 11 Australian universities are featured among the top 400 for physics and astronomy, with the University of Melbourne leading the way at 44^th place, while Australian National University and the University of Sydney both rank in the top 100.

Three more of the world’s best physics schools can be found in New Zealand, of which the University of Auckland is the highest ranked at 151-200.

Top universities for physics in Latin America

Heading to Latin America, Brazil claims the most top universities for physics in the region with nine entries, of which Universidade de São Paulo (USP) ranks highest at 51-100, while two more Brazilian universities are in the top 150 for physics.

Four more of the world’s best physics schools can be found in Chile, the highest ranked of which is Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile at 101-150. Mexico has three representatives in the physics ranking, with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) leading at 101-150. Argentina and Colombia each have two top physics schools, with the Argentinian Universidad de Buenos Aires in the top 150. 

Top universities for physics in Africa & the Middle East 

Israel claims four of the world’s top universities for physics and astronomy, including Technion – Israel Institute of Technology at 101-150. Turkey has three more top physics schools, including Middle East Technical University at 251-300.

Africa, South Africa is the only African country to feature, with two entries in the physics ranking: the University of Cape Town at 251-300 and the University of the Witwatersrand at 301-400.