QS Europe University Rankings 2026: Oxford Takes Top Spot
Global higher education consultancy QS Quacquarelli Symonds has published the third edition of the QS World University Rankings: Europe.
This year, the University of Oxford secures the top position, returning to #1 for the first time since 2024. ETH Zurich slips to second place, while UCL and Imperial College London share third.
The 2026 rankings assess more than 950 universities across Europe, including around 290 institutions appearing for the first time.
Top 10 Universities in Europe (2026)
This year, the University of Oxford secures the top position, returning to #1 for the first time since 2024. ETH Zurich slips to second place, while UCL and Imperial College London share third.
The 2026 rankings assess more than 950 universities across Europe, including around 290 institutions appearing for the first time.
Top 10 Universities in Europe (2026)
- University of Oxford – UK
- ETH Zurich – Switzerland
- University College London (UCL) – UK
- Imperial College London – UK
- University of Cambridge – UK
- The University of Edinburgh – UK
- King’s College London – UK
- Université PSL – France
- The University of Manchester – UK
- EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne – Switzerland
Commenting on the release, Ben Sowter, Senior Vice President at QS, highlighted that the Europe rankings continue to play a vital role in measuring academic performance and guiding students, researchers, and institutions worldwide.
Key Highlights
Key Highlights
- United Kingdom: The most represented nation overall, claiming seven of the top ten spots, with Oxford reclaiming first place.
- France: Université PSL moves up to eighth place and performs strongly in Papers per Faculty and International Research Network indicators.
- Germany: Twelve universities place in the top 50 for Faculty-to-Student Ratio, with TUM leading improvements; LMU Munich returns to the top 20 and KIT enters the top 50.
- Switzerland: Despite ETH Zurich dropping to second, Switzerland remains a standout performer, trailing only the UK in top-10 representation. The University of Geneva joins the top 50, and the country leads Europe in International Faculty.
- Ireland: One of the fastest-improving countries alongside Portugal, with six of eight institutions rising year-on-year and four new entrants. University College Dublin breaks into the top 50.
- Italy: The fourth most represented country overall, recording 14 new entries and four universities maintaining top-100 positions.
- Spain: Seven out of ten institutions improve in Academic Reputation, supported by strong results in Exchange Students.
- Netherlands: Ten universities feature in the top 100—surpassed only by the UK and Germany—while Delft University of Technology climbs to 11th place.
- Nordic countries: Sweden is among six nations with a top-20 university, with Lund ranked 12th. Denmark sees Aarhus University re-enter the top 50 for the first time since 2024.
- Czechia: The sole Eastern European country represented in the top 100, with Charles University ranked 92nd.
- Turkey: The second most represented country overall, with Koç University rising to 143rd place.
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