Top Universities for Psychology in 2019

The study of the human mind is a fascinating concept for many, and with the release of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019, you’ll find that there are 300 of the world’s top psychology schools to choose from.

Read on for an overview of some of the best universities for psychology, broken down by region, or click here to view the full table.

Top universities for psychology in the US and Canada

With 92 psychology universities ranked this year (including 24 in the top 50), the US dominates the ranking, with seven institutions in the global top 10 and a further 17 in the top 50.

New York University (NYU) just misses a place in the top 10 at 11^th, while Princeton University comes 12^th, having gone up four places from last year. Other US schools within the top 50 in the psychology ranking include Columbia University in 13^th place, the University of Pennsylvania (14^th), University of Chicago (up three spots to rank 15^th), and Northwestern University (20^th).

Canada is home to 18 more of the world’s best universities for psychology, led by the University of British Colombia in joint 16^th place, and followed by the University of Toronto (=18^th) and McGill University (=24^th). A further three Canadian universities feature in the top 100.

Top Universities for psychology in Europe

Europe boasts the highest number of top psychology schools, claiming a total of 39 in the global top 100 – 13 of which are in the top 50 with the UK being the only study destination to make the top 10.   

With the UK dominating the psychology ranking in Europe – boasting a total of 43 entrants –  a further six of its top psychology schools make the top 50 – King’s College London (KCL) in 22^nd place, the University of Edinburgh (=28^th), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), up three places to rank 32^nd, the University of Exeter (34^th), the University of Warwick (from 51-100 to =44^th) and the University of Manchester (=46^th).

Following the UK with the second-highest number of representatives in the psychology ranking is Germany, with 23 entrants, including three in the global top 100: Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.  

Nearby in the Netherlands, 10 institutions are ranked for psychology in the ranking this year, with the University of Amsterdam its highest-ranked in joint 16^th place. Also featured in the top 50 for psychology this year are Radboud University Nijmegen and Utrecht University in joint 46^th and joint 48^th places respectively, while all but one of its other entries make the top 100.

Of Italy’s seven representatives, Università degli Studi di Padova ranks the highest, sitting in the 51-100 range.

Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain all have six entrants each, with Belgium’s Katholieke Universiteit Leuven still ranking the highest, in 24^th place. Alongside Switzerland’s University of Geneva and University of Zurich, a further two of Belgium’s best universities for psychology rank in the global top 100 (Université Catholique de Louvain and the University of Ghent) while Sweden’s only entrant in the top 100 is the Karolinska Institute.

With under five entrants, France and Ireland are home to four institutions each in the psychology ranking, both claiming a university in the global top 100: Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres) in France, and Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.

Heading over to Scandinavia, Denmark and Norway each claim three of the best psychology universities each; three make up the top 101-150, of which two are based in Denmark (Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen), and one is found in Norway, the University of Oslo. Also following with three representatives are Finland and Portugal.

And finally, Russia has two entrants in the psychology ranking this year, while Austria and Romania each have only one – Austria’s Universität Wien ranking the highest, at 151-200.

Top universities for psychology in Australia and New Zealand

Australia claims 20 representatives in the psychology ranking, with the University of Melbourne the highest ranked at joint 18^th. A further six Australian institutions make the top 50 – the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in 21^st place; the University of Queensland (UQ), which went up four places to rank 23^rd; the University of Sydney (26^th); the Australian National University (ANU), up six spots to place 38^th; the University of Western Australia (UWA), from 51-100 to 42^nd place, and Monash University (=48^th).

Meanwhile, in nearby New Zealand, five more institutions are ranked among the world’s best for psychology, led by the University of Auckland at joint 50^th, while Victoria University of Wellington is in the 51-100 range.

Top universities for psychology in Asia

Asia is now home to 23 of the world’s best universities for psychology, with China dominating the ranking this year with the most representatives in the region (eight), its highest ranked being Peking University in the top 100, followed by Beijing Normal University in the top 150.

South Korea has five entrants this year, with the highest ranked – Seoul National University (SNU) – having climbed from 101-150 to 51-100.   

Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan all claim three top psychology schools each, with the highest-ranked, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), shooting up nine places this year to rank 27^th. Singapore follows with two out three of its representatives both making the top 40 after ranking in the 51-100 range last year: the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 33^rd place, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) at joint 40^th. Of Hong Kong’s two remaining representatives, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) ranks in the global top 100, as does Japan’s University of Tokyo.     

Taiwan’s only representative, the National Taiwan University (NTU), also features in the global top 150 for psychology degrees.

Top universities for psychology in Latin America

Overall in the Latin American region, there are six top psychology schools ranked this year: with Chile and Brazil claiming two institutions each, while Argentina and Mexico have one each.

The following Latin American institutions feature in the global top 150: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Universidade de São Paulo (USP) in Brazil.

Top universities for psychology in Africa & the Middle East

And finally, the highest-ranked institution for psychology courses in the Middle East this year is the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, at 101-150, one of Israel’s four entries. Meanwhile, Africa’s only entrant in the psychology ranking is the University of Cape Town, South Africa, ranked 151-200.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.