In modern society, technology has been one of the great enablers of progress. Behind every innovation, you possibly could think of is the idea of the engineers. Their ability to think outside the box is what separates them from the herd.
Henceforth, with the growing population coupled with constant changes in technology, it has become crucial that students who aspire to become engineers choose the right institute. Selecting the best engineering college in the world can provide the resources and opportunities to hone creativity and relevant skills.
Earning a globally recognized engineering degree will equip you with the right set of skills and practical knowledge you need to bring revolutionary ideas to the industry.
If you aspire to pursue a degree in engineering, you might seek guidance to find out the best country for this field. However, before we learn about the best engineering colleges, let's know what an engineering college implies.
What is an Engineering College?
The engineering college is an institute that offers various courses and majors in applied sciences and mathematics. Engineering programs focus on scientific and mathematical knowledge to apply to real-life problems.
With ample engineering colleges globally, there can be intense competition for the top programs. Therefore, studying at the best engineering colleges can be one of the excellent starting points to shape your career in the engineering industry.
If you are also planning to pursue an engineering degree and are going through the problem of deciding the appropriate study destination, do not worry. Every country with engineering colleges has its own set of perks to offer.
For example, some of the institutes offer research-oriented courses while others may avail of comprehensive programs like Masters in Engineering or Masters in Engineering Management.
To help you decide on some of the best engineering colleges worldwide, we've compiled a list of the best countries around the world for engineering courses. It will help you explore options before forming an opinion.
Categorizing the Best Engineering College in the World
In this article, we focused on the quality of engineering programs to decide on the best engineering school in the world. We concluded by comparing the ranking from various sources, including College Factual and Niche (a student satisfaction-heavy ranking).
The rankings also consider several other factors like the popularity of the engineering degree at that particular college/university, student satisfaction, and students' salaries after placement and projected gains in the future.
The rankings also consider several other factors like the popularity of the engineering degree at that particular college/university, student satisfaction, and students' salaries after placement and projected gains in the future.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Home to leading engineering colleges, the USA becomes a natural choice for several engineering students. The country is known for its STEM courses and is the educational epicenter for the best technical specializations in the world.
The research exposure, funding, and career opportunities present within the engineering courses in the USA are unparalleled. Engineers working in the US are likely to earn more compared to the engineers working in other countries.
These factors, coupled with the multi-cultural diversity, make it one of the best countries in the world for engineering courses. Hence, most students aspire to pursue an engineering degree at prestigious universities in the USA.
The bachelor-level engineering programs range from four years in the US and two years to earn a master's degree. There are numerous engineering bachelor's and master's degree engineering courses offered by the universities of the USA.
While the most popular engineering branches available in most universities would be Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace, and Aeronautical Engineering.
Some of the universities offer other varied specializations in the engineering field such as Chemical, Environmental, and Optical Sciences, and so on.
You must explore all of the courses available and opt for the engineering branch that best suits your interest. Here is the list of some of the world-renowned universities for an engineering programs in the USA:
UNIVERSITY'S | QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston | 1 |
Stanford University, San Francisco | 12 |
California Institute of Technology, Caltech, Los Angeles | 15 |
University of California, Los Angeles | 21 |
Princeton University | 25 |
UNITED KINGDOM (UK)
Home to one of the oldest academic colleges globally, the United Kingdom is a desirable destination for international students seeking academic excellence.
The country has long been a hub of innovators. Henceforth, the courses offer industrial exposure and hands-on experience to budding innovators in engineering colleges. The UK also has a high employability rate in the case of engineering graduates.
As one of the preferred study destinations, the engineering universities in the United Kingdom offer a degree in Bachelor in Technology (B.Tech) or a Bachelor in Engineering (BE) program at the undergraduate level, while the post-graduation level offers similar variants.
The degrees offer a plethora of specializations from Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Software Engineering, Chemical Engineering, etc. According to the recent QS World University Rankings by Subject, the UK holds the best 37 out of the top 502 engineering and technology schools worldwide.
Here, we have compiled the university rankings using four indicators: employer reputation, academic reputation, research citations per paper, and the H-index (which is a way of measuring the impact and productivity of published work).
Let's take a look at the few top-notch universities in the UK that offers engineering courses:
UNIVERSITY | QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021 |
University of Oxford | 5 |
University of Cambridge | 7 |
Imperial College London | 8 |
University College London | 10 |
University of Edinburgh | 20 |
The University of Manchester | 27 |
GERMANY
Germany is one of the best countries to nurture some of the greatest inventors and scientists in the world. As a result, German engineering has flourished as a brand over the years and attracted myriad international students who put their efforts to earn a German degree and work experience.
For this reason, Germany has become synonymous with engineering and has earned a worldwide reputation.
The top-notch universities in Germany offer a wide range of engineering programs with extensive research opportunities.
Some of the most popular specializations here are Mechatronics, Automation, IT, and Mechanical engineering. Apart from these specializations, there are many other sought-after engineering fields like Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, etc.
German Universities offer intensive practical training to their students, which is in great demand worldwide. The leading engineering and technical schools here lay more emphasis on practical knowledge rather than theory-based knowledge.
Germany is also regarded as an international hub for several automotive giants and prominent IT companies, making it easy for technical schools to have close ties with the industry. The wide networks help students get exposure to real-life experiences.
It also allows you to discover colossal industrial opportunities in Germany by working with global names like BMW, SAP, Siemens, etc. Another appealing factor about the country is that you can avail free education by opting for engineering courses offered by public universities.
Here's a list of a few leading German Universities that you can consider your under graduation master's, or even a doctoral program in the field of engineering:
UNIVERSITY | QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021 |
Technical University of Munich | 50 |
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | 131 |
RWTH Aachen University | 145 |
Technical University of Berlin | 148 |
AUSTRALIA
Australia is globally acclaimed for its world-class education system. However, Australia deserves a prominent mention for its research-oriented engineering courses offered at economical costs for the best engineering colleges.
The country predominantly focuses on practical learning and possesses the drive, expertise, and infrastructure to teach its engineering students a thorough understanding of technology and its applications in the ever-changing tech environment.
The engineering courses are regularly updated to stay relevant to technological advancements. This entrepreneurial and realistic approach gives the engineering students a cutting edge over others in the standing.
According to the recent QS World University Rankings by Subject, Australia holds the best 20 out of the top 502 engineering and technology schools worldwide.
The engineering Schools of Australia rank high in civil, Electrical & Electronic, Mechanical Engineering, and Mineral & Mining. Apart from these, there are other engineering fields you can pursue your specializations in, such as Environmental Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, etc.
We have compiled the university rankings using four indicators: employer reputation, academic reputation, research citations per paper, and the H-index (a way of measuring the impact and productivity of published work). Here are a few top-notch universities in Australia offering the best engineering courses:
UNIVERSITY | QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021 |
McGill University | 31 |
Australian National University | 31 |
The University of Melbourne | 41 |
University of New South Wales | 44 |
Monash University | 55 |
CHINA
Over the years, China has become one of the preferred study destinations for international students. Despite having the largest population globally, China has established itself as one of the top key players in engineering and technology.
The education system in the country is well advanced, and the education cost is much more affordable than education in developed countries.
Therefore, many aspiring engineering students who can't afford to go overseas to pursue engineering due to financial constraints can easily find a university in China that delivers quality education.
For this reason, many students give preference to China to earn an engineering degree. Besides, a degree from China is recognized by most countries.
The Chinese government recently signed an agreement on mutual recognition of academic qualifications with some countries, including Britain, the United States, France, Japan, and 65 other countries, for a richer learning experience.
Being one of the fastest-growing economies globally, China has a lot to offer to its international candidates apart from its education. In addition, the country offers a rich cultural experience for its international students and provides work opportunities.
Furthermore, China is one of the key players in the world economy, generating ample employment opportunities in Engineering. Therefore, with an internship or full-time job in China, you can surely get hands-on experience and industrial exposure from top-notch companies in the field of engineering.
According to the recent QS Top University rankings, Tsinghua University of China is ranked 6th among "QS Top 50 Universities under 50 in Asia" and 9th in "QS World University Ranking," leaving behind several other top universities.
Here's a list of engineering universities in China that you can opt for without having a shadow of a doubt:
UNIVERSITY | QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021 |
Tsinghua University, Beijing | 9 |
Shangai Jaio Tong University, Shanghai | 26 |
Peking University, Beijing | 22 |
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou | 32 |
Fudan University, Shanghai | 50 |
JAPAN
Well-known as a high-tech nation, Japan is an ideal country if you plan to pursue an engineering degree overseas. According to the Global Competitiveness Report, Japan is ranked first for research and development in the world.
Moreover, the quality of research and development in Japan's engineering universities is advanced because of its thirst for innovation, technology, and engineering.
Japan boasts leading and world-renowned engineering and technology companies such as Sony, Honda, Hitachi, Nikon, Canon, etc. The comprehensive network makes it easy for engineering graduates in Japan to find a job in this country.
If you're considering pursuing an engineering degree in Japan, here are the top engineering universities you need to know:
UNIVERSITY | QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021 |
The University of Tokyo | 23 |
Osaka University | 67 |
Kyoto University | 35 |
Tohoku University | 77 |
Tokyo Institute of Technology | 58 |
INDIA
Home to s of the world-renowned engineers and scientists like M. Visvesvaraya and APJ Abdul Kalam, India is one of the best destinations in the world to pursue an engineering degree.
India is one of the fastest emerging countries with ample opportunities in engineering, be it computer engineering, petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, etc.
Students are attracted to the leading universities in India like the IITs and IISc for their longstanding tradition of imparting world-class education on, extraordinary commitment to teaching coupled with experiential learning.
The country prepares future engineers to attract lucrative opportunities and offers an opportunity to work closely with experts in various engineering fields.
Using indicators such as academic reputation, research citations per paper, the H-index (which is a way of measuring the impact and productivity of published words and k), and employer reputation, we have compiled a list of a few leading Indian Engineering universities for your consideration:
UNIVERSITY | QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKING 2021 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay | 172 |
Indian Institute of Science | 185 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi | 193 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras | 275 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur | 314 |
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur | 350 |
List of Top 100 Best Engineering Schools in the World
According to Times Higher Education World University rankings, here is a list of 100 top best engineering schools in the world for higher education.
- Stanford University
- California Institute of Technology
- University of Oxford
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of Cambridge
- Princeton University
- Peking University
- National University of Singapore
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
- Imperial College London
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of California, Berkeley
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
- the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- University of Michigan
- Delft University of Technology
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Cornell University
- Technical University of Munich
- Tsinghua University
- Northwestern University
- RWTH Aachen University
- Purdue University
- Columbia University
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Toronto
- University of Hong Kong
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- Seoul National University
- University of California, San Diego
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Tokyo
- UCL
- KU Leuven
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- University of Science and Technology of China
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Kyoto University
- Technical University of Berlin
- University of Washington
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Manchester
- Fudan University
- Sungkyunkwan University
- Rice University
- Zhejiang University
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Ohio State University
- Pohang University of Science and Technology
- Pennsylvania State University
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
- Texas A&M University
- Monash University
- Technical University of Denmark
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- City University of Hong Kong
- Tohoku University
- University of British Columbia
- University of Melbourne
- The University of Southern California
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Australian National University
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Brown University
- University of New South Wales
- University of California, Davis
- McGill University
- University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Queensland
- University of Minnesota
- University of Bristol
- University of Sydney
- University of Stuttgart
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute
- Chalmers University of Technology
- Nanjing University
- National Taiwan University
- École Polytechnique
- University of Waterloo
- University of Sheffield
- Aalborg University
- Norwegian University of Science & Technology
- University of Southampton
- University of Freiburg
- Indian Institute of Science
- Polytechnic University of Milan
- University of Colorado Boulder
- Tongji University
- North Carolina State University
- TU Dresden
- University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
- Lund University
- University of Wollongong
- Osaka University
- Aalto University