TOP 10 MASTER-CLASS UNIVERSITY’S IN THE WORLD

                 TOP 10 MASTER-CLASS UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD

1. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) -UNITED STATES

“Mind and Hand” is the Massachusetts Institute of technology's thought-provoking motto, also known as MIT. This motto enigmatically encapsulates this famous institution’s mission to advance knowledge in science, technology, and scholarship areas that can help make the world a better place.

         A vibrant arts culture also permeates college life. There are 12 museums and galleries on campus, with the MIT       Museum drawing nearly 125,000 visitors each year. Students participate in more than 60 music, theatre, writing, and dance groups, and faculty members of MIT even include Pulitzer Prize winners and Guggenheim fellows.

MIT is set in 168 acres of grounds that extend for more than a mile along the Cambridge side of the Charles River basin. The campus features stunning landmarks designed by the likes of architects Alvar Aalto, Frank Gehry, and Steven Hollin and buildings in a range of architectural styles, from neoclassical to modernist and brutalist. 

1. UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD - UNITED KINGDOM 

The University of Oxford is the oldest in the English-speaking world. It is actually so ancient that its founding date is unknown – though it is thought that teaching took place there as early as the 11th century. The University of Oxford does not have a main campus; its buildings and facilities are scattered around the medieval city center. Its colleges each have a distinctive character and traditions often dating back centuries. Colleges are self-governing institutions to which students usually apply directly. There are four academic divisions within Oxford University: Humanities, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences; Medical Sciences; and Social Sciences. The university’s particular strength is the sciences, and it is ranked number one in the world for medicine.

Students can choose to spend their time studying or avail themselves of the many extracurricular activities available. Oxford has a strong musical life, with clubs and societies spanning all genres, from jazz to classical and folk. Oxford is also ranked highly for sport, with its top rowers taking part every year in the world-famous boat race with the University of Cambridge on the River Thames. Drama lovers are also well catered for, with one of the country's largest and most vibrant university drama scenes.

1. STANFORD UNIVERSITY - UNITED STATES   

Stanford University was founded in 1885 by California senator Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane, to “promote the public welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization.” The couple’s only child had died of typhoid, and their decision to build a university on their farm was intended as a memorial. From the start, the university was non-sectarian, co-educational, and affordable, teaching both the traditional liberal arts and the technology and engineering shaping the new America at the time.  

Fast forward more than a century, and Stanford counts 19 Nobel laureates within its community and is regularly ranked among the top three universities in the world. Nicknamed “The Farm” from the days when horses roamed there, Stanford’s campus is now a thriving community of more than 11,000 creative and accomplished people from around the world. Nearly all undergraduate and 60 percent of graduate students live on campus, so it is hardly surprising that student life is rich and diverse, with over 625 organized student groups. 

     Stanford has a rich tradition of fostering creativity and the arts: a vibrant campus arts district and two world-class museums host regular exhibitions.  Eight dining halls, a teaching kitchen, and organic gardens provide the campus community with healthy, sustainable meals. The close-knit communal nature of life on campus has even given rise to “Stanford speak”, a special language only spoken on campus. 

1. UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE - UNITED KINGDOM 

Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge’s 800-year history makes it the fourth-oldest university globally and the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. , Its notable buildings give the city of Cambridge a unique character. They include King's College Chapel, the history faculty building designed by James Stirling, and the Cripps Building at St John's College. Cambridge students make up 20 percent of the town's population, and most of the older colleges are situated near the city center.

 Cambridge is widely acknowledged as a vibrant place to be a student. On the academic side, the university is home to over 100 libraries, which hold more than 15 million books in total. There are also nine world-renowned arts, scientific and cultural museums such as Kettle’s Yard and the Fitzwilliam Museum, open to the public throughout the year, and a botanical garden. 

Extracurricular activities give you the chance to get involved with anything from the university’s renowned student drama societies, which spawned the likes of the comedy group Monty Python, to music, politics, and hundreds of other clubs and societies. The sports scene at Cambridge is huge too, with state-of-the-art facilities and over 80 sports on offer with teams for novices and experts alike. 

With its reputation for academic excellence and traditional scholarly values, the University of Cambridge often ranks among the top universities globally for teaching, research, and international outlook. The university has educated eminent mathematicians, scientists, politicians, lawyers, philosophers, writers, actors, and heads of state.

1. HARVARD UNIVERSITY – UNITED STATES

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, three miles northwest of Boston, Harvard’s 209-acre campus houses 10 degree-granting schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, two theaters, and five museums. It is also home to the largest academic library system globally, with 18 million volumes, 180,000 serial titles, an estimated 400 million manuscript items, and 10 million photographs. 

As freshmen, students live in one of the dormitories in Harvard Yard, a prime location, and eat in the historic and picturesque Annenberg dining hall. Harvard students are active around and beyond campus, with over 400 official student societies including extracurricular, co-curricular, and athletic opportunities. Whether playing on the field in Harvard Stadium, fostering entrepreneurial activities at the Harvard innovation lab, or writing and editing at the daily newspaper, the Harvard Crimson, student life is a rich and rewarding experience. 

1. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Caltech) – UNITED STATES

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution located in Pasadena, California, around 11 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. 

    Caltech has a high research output and many high-quality facilities such as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (owned by NASA), the Caltech Seismological Laboratory, and the International Observatory Network.  It’s among a small group of institutes of technology in the United States primarily devoted to teaching technical arts and applied sciences, and its fiercely competitive admissions process ensures only a small number of the most gifted students are admitted.  The balance at Caltech between a rigorous academic curriculum and activities that promote personal development ensures time spent there for students is both formative and an invaluable staging post to a successful career.  Although it may lack the reputation of Ivy League universities or the likes of Oxford and Cambridge, Caltech is undoubtedly one of the best universities in the world, a fact reflected in all the university rankings, which regularly single out technology and engineering as the school’s key academic strengths. 

1. IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF LONDON – UNITED KINGDOM

Imperial is based in South Kensington in London, in an area known as ‘Albertopolis,’ Prince Albert and Sir Henry Cole’s 19th-century vision for an area where science and the arts would come together. As a result, Imperial’s neighbors include several world-leading cultural organizations, including the Science, Natural History, and Victoria and Albert museums; the Royal Colleges of Art and Music; the English National Ballet; and the Royal Albert Hall, where all of their students also graduate.

One of the most distinctive elements of an Imperial education is joining a community of world-class researchers. The cutting edge and globally influential nature of this research is what Imperial is best known for. The focus on the practical application of their research – particularly in addressing global challenges – and the high level of interdisciplinary collaboration makes their research so effective.

Imperial is one of the most international universities in the world, with 59% of its student body in 2018-19 being non-UK citizens, and more than 140 countries are currently represented on campus. Meanwhile, the College’s staff, like their students, are diverse in their cultural backgrounds, nationalities, and experiences. 

1. ETH ZURICH (Swiss federal institute of technology ) – Switzerland

ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities in science and technology and is known for its cutting-edge research and innovation. It was established in 1855 as the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School. A century and a half later, the university can count 21 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists, 2 Pritzker Prize winners, and 1 Turing Award winner as alumni, including the great Albert Einstein himself.

ETH students like to exercise their bodies and minds, and there is a wealth of various sports on offer on campus. The largest annual event is the SOLA relay race, taking place in 14 sections over 140 kilometers. More than 900 teams have been known to take part at once in the annual spectacle.

Since the 1880s, students have also shown off their best moves at the Polyball, a classic ball event featuring live music by several orchestras and bands. Every November, 10,000 dancers, music-lovers, and partygoers descend on ETH’s extensively decorated main building for what is usually an unforgettable night.

1. UCL(university college London ) – UNITED KINGDOM

UCL sits at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic cities, meaning you are perfectly placed to take advantage of everything London has to offer. We were the first university in England to welcome women to university education and the first university in England to welcome students of any religion or social background. UCL has 18,000 students from outside the UK, with over 150 countries represented, providing a truly global perspective.

At the very heart of UCL’s mission is our research. We have rated the top university in the UK for research strength in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014). We offer over 675 postgraduate taught, research, and initial teacher education programs across various disciplines and encourage our community to work across traditional subject boundaries. UCL's research-based teaching methodology means that research is integrated into many of our degrees, and students have the opportunity to make an original contribution to their field of study. 

UCL is 10th in the world in the “QS World University Rankings 2020.”  There have been 30 Nobel laureates among its former staff and students, a winner in every decade since the Prize started.

1. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO – UNITED STATES

Established in 1856, the University of Chicago is a private research university based in the urban center of Chicago, the third most populous city in the United States. Chicago is one of America’s top universities and holds top-ten positions in various national and international rankings outside of the Ivy League.

Beyond the arts and sciences, Chicago has a glowing reputation for its professional schools, including the Pritzker School of Medicine, the Booth School of Business, and the Harris School of Public Policy Studies. University of Chicago alumni are responsible for developing many academic disciplines, such as sociology, economics, law, and literary criticism. 

Students run more than 400 clubs and societies, consisting of a typical mix of sports teams, arts, cultural and religious groups, academic and political groupings, and societies that promote eclectic common interests. Among the more famous examples is the University of Chicago bowl team, which has won 118 tournaments and 15 national championships. In contrast, the university's competitive Model United Nations team was the top-ranked team in North America in 2013–14 and 2014–2015.

Notable faculty members past and present include 29 Nobel laureates and former US president Barack Obama. Illustrious alumni come in practically every field, including the novelists Philip Roth and Saul Bellow, political movers and shakers such as pollster Nate Silver and Obama strategist David Axelrod, pioneering balloonist Jeannette Piccard, and the fictional archaeologist Indiana Jones.