Top-ranked global universities by subject
Students seeking research opportunities in specialized fields can find them at top universities around the world. While many institutions excel across disciplines, others are recognized for their leadership in subjects ranging from engineering and space science to clinical medicine and arts and humanities. This list highlights the top-ranked school in each of the 51 subjects included in the 2026-2027 U.S. News Best Global Universities rankings in the six world regions: Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, Latin America and North America.
Agricultural sciences
Africa: Cairo University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 88
Asia: China Agricultural University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland (Australia)
Subject rank: 23
Europe: Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands)
Subject rank: 4
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Subject rank: 19
North America: University of Massachusetts Amherst (United States)
Subject rank: 8
See the full agricultural sciences rankings.
Artificial intelligence
Africa: Mansoura University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 122
Asia: Tsinghua University (China)
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney (Australia)
Subject rank: 15
Europe: ETH Zurich
Subject rank: 19
Latin America: N/A
North America: Carnegie Mellon University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 39
See the full artificial intelligence rankings.
Arts and humanities
Africa: Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
Subject rank: 190
Asia: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 9
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne (Australia)
Subject rank: 20
Europe: University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Subject rank: 1
Latin America: Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Subject rank: 212
North America: Harvard University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 3
See the full arts and humanities rankings.
Biology and biochemistry
Africa: Al Azhar University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 90
Asia: Peking University (China)
Subject rank: 13
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland
Subject rank: 48
Europe: University of Cambridge (U.K.)
Subject rank: 6
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 76 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full biology and biochemistry rankings.
Biotechnology and applied microbiology
Africa: Cairo University
Subject rank: 226
Asia: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Subject rank: 3
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland
Subject rank: 19
Europe: University of Cambridge
Subject rank: 5
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 74 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full biotechnology and applied microbiology rankings.
Cardiac and cardiovascular systems
Africa: University of Cape Town (South Africa)
Subject rank: 129 (tie)
Asia: National University of Singapore
Subject rank: 37
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University (Australia)
Subject rank: 83 (tie)
Europe: University of Glasgow (Scotland)
Subject rank: 2
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 106
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full cardiac and cardiovascular systems rankings.
Cell biology
Africa: N/A
Asia: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Subject rank: 9
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 43 (tie)
Europe: University of Oxford
Subject rank: 10
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 188
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full cell biology rankings.
Chemical engineering
Africa: University of Johannesburg (South Africa)
Subject rank: 251
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: Adelaide University (Australia)
Subject rank: 34
Europe: Imperial College London (U.K.)
Subject rank: 39 (tie)
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 272
North America: Georgia Institute of Technology (U.S.)
Subject rank: 69
See the full chemical engineering rankings.
Chemistry
Africa: Assiut University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 157 (tie)
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland
Subject rank: 61
Europe: University of Cambridge
Subject rank: 20
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 136 (tie)
North America: Stanford University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 9
See the full chemistry rankings.
Civil engineering
Africa: Mansoura University
Subject rank: 107
Asia: Tongji University (China)
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney
Subject rank: 18
Europe: Delft University of Technology (Netherlands)
Subject rank: 36
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 238
North America: University of British Columbia (Canada)
Subject rank: 42
See the full civil engineering rankings.
Clinical medicine
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 104 (tie)
Asia: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 26
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 31
Europe: University of Oxford
Subject rank: 14
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 76
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full clinical medicine rankings.
Computer science
Africa: Zagazig University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 267 (tie)
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney
Subject rank: 31
Europe: ETH Zurich
Subject rank: 9
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 246 (tie)
North America: Stanford University
Subject rank: 8
See the full computer science rankings.
Condensed matter physics
Africa: N/A
Asia: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Wollongong (Australia)
Subject rank: 20
Europe: University of Cambridge
Subject rank: 46
Latin America: N/A
North America: Georgia Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 27
See the full condensed matter physics rankings.
Ecology
Africa: Stellenbosch University
Subject rank: 98
Asia: Peking University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland
Subject rank: 12
Europe: University of Gottingen (Germany)
Subject rank: 2
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 33 (tie)
North America: University of British Columbia
Subject rank: 11
See the full ecology rankings.
Economics and business
Africa: University of Johannesburg
Subject rank: 112
Asia: Peking University
Subject rank: 6
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University
Subject rank: 14
Europe: London School Economics and Political Science (U.K.)
Subject rank: 10
Latin America: Getulio Vargas Foundation (Brazil)
Subject rank: 268 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full economics and business rankings.
Education and educational research
Africa: N/A
Asia: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University
Subject rank: 4
Europe: University College London (U.K.)
Subject rank: 8
Latin America: N/A
North America: Michigan State University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 11
See the full education and educational research.
Electrical and electronic engineering
Africa: Menoufia University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 268
Asia: Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney
Subject rank: 12 (tie)
Europe: Queen Mary University of London (U.K.)
Subject rank: 11
Latin America: University of Chile
Subject rank: 380 (tie)
North America: Princeton University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 15 (tie)
See the full electrical and electronic engineering rankings.
Endocrinology and metabolism
Africa: N/A
Asia: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 19
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University
Subject rank: 10
Europe: University of Copenhagen (Denmark)
Subject rank: 3
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 95 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full endocrinology and metabolism rankings.
Energy and fuels
Africa: Tanta University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 62 (tie)
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Wollongong
Subject rank: 29
Europe: Imperial College London
Subject rank: 20
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 340 (tie)
North America: Georgia Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 22 (tie)
See the full energy and fuels rankings.
Engineering
Africa: Tanta University
Subject rank: 229 (tie)
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney
Subject rank: 30
Europe: ETH Zurich
Subject rank: 14
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 221 (tie)
North America: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (U.S.)
Subject rank: 12
See the full engineering rankings.
Environment/ecology
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 148
Asia: Peking University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland
Subject rank: 11
Europe: ETH Zurich
Subject rank: 3
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 36
North America: University of California, Berkeley (U.S.)
Subject rank: 4
See the full environment/ecology rankings.
Environmental engineering
Africa: N/A
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: Adelaide University
Subject rank: 10
Europe: ETH Zurich
Subject rank: 86
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 231
North America: Georgia Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 82 (tie)
See the full environmental engineering rankings.
Food and science technology
Africa: Cairo University
Subject rank: 66
Asia: Jiangsu University (China)
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland
Subject rank: 36
Europe: University of Vigo (Spain)
Subject rank: 11
Latin America: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Brazil)
Subject rank: 38
North America: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Subject rank: 5
See the full food science and technology rankings.
Gastroenterology and hepatology
Africa: N/A
Asia: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 2
Australia/New Zealand: University of Sydney (Australia)
Subject rank: 50
Europe: University of Barcelona (Spain)
Subject rank: 4
Latin America: Pontificia University Catolica de Chile
Subject rank: 63 (tie)
North America: University of California San Diego (U.S.)
Subject rank: 1
See the full gastroenterology and hepatology rankings.
Geosciences
Africa: University of Witwatersrand (South Africa)
Subject rank: 220 (tie)
Asia: China University of Geosciences
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of New South Wales Sydney (Australia)
Subject rank: 35
Europe: ETH Zurich
Subject rank: 2
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 105 (tie)
North America: California Institute of Technology (U.S.)
Subject rank: 5
See the full geosciences rankings.
Green and sustainable science and technology
Africa: University of Johannesburg
Subject rank: 95
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney
Subject rank: 21
Europe: Technical University of Denmark
Subject rank: 31
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 140 (tie)
North America: University of British Columbia
Subject rank: 65
See the full green and sustainable science and technology rankings.
Immunology
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 69 (tie)
Asia: University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 19 (tie)
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 24 (tie)
Europe: Imperial College London
Subject rank: 12
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 83
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full immunology rankings.
Infectious diseases
Africa: University of Witwatersrand
Subject rank: 12
Asia: University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 6
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University
Subject rank: 18
Europe: University of Oxford
Subject rank: 1
Latin America: Federal University of Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Subject rank: 45
North America: Johns Hopkins University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 3
See the full infectious diseases rankings.
Marine and freshwater biology
Africa: N/A
Asia: Ocean University of China
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Tasmania (Australia)
Subject rank: 2
Europe: Aarhus University (Denmark)
Subject rank: 7
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 26
North America: University of California, Santa Cruz (U.S.)
Subject rank: 11
See the full marine and freshwater biology rankings.
Materials science
Africa: Al Azhar University
Subject rank: 239
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Wollongong
Subject rank: 49
Europe: Ecole Polytechnique Federale of Lausanne (Switzerland)
Subject rank: 33 (tie)
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 243 (tie)
North America: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 10
See the full materials science rankings.
Mathematics
Africa: Mansoura University
Subject rank: 25
Asia: Peking University
Subject rank: 6
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University
Subject rank: 102 (tie)
Europe: University of Oxford
Subject rank: 3
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 133
North America: Stanford University
Subject rank: 1
See the full mathematics rankings.
Mechanical engineering
Africa: N/A
Asia: Northwestern Polytechnical University (China)
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney
Subject rank: 11 (tie)
Europe: Imperial College London
Subject rank: 28
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 180
North America: University of British Columbia
Subject rank: 39
See the full mechanical engineering rankings.
Meteorology and atmospheric sciences
Africa: N/A
Asia: Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (China)
Subject rank: 5
Australia/New Zealand: University of New South Wales Sydney
Subject rank: 29
Europe: University of Paris-Saclay (France)
Subject rank: 2
Latin America: N/A
North America: Columbia University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 1
See the full meteorology and atmospheric sciences rankings.
Microbiology
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 75 (tie)
Asia: University of Hong Kong
Subject rank: 4
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 34
Europe: University of Oxford
Subject rank: 3
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 29 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full microbiology rankings.
Molecular biology and genetics
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 257
Asia: Fudan University (China)
Subject rank: 14 (tie)
Australia/New Zealand: University of Queensland
Subject rank: 54 (tie)
Europe: University of Cambridge
Subject rank: 4
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 165 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
molecular biology and genetics rankings
Nanoscience and nanotechnology
Africa: N/A
Asia: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Wollongong
Subject rank: 39 (tie)
Europe: University of Cambridge
Subject rank: 64
Latin America: N/A
North America: Georgia Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 27
See the full nanoscience and nanotechnology rankings.
Neuroscience and behavior
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 131
Asia: National University of Singapore
Subject rank: 48
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 24
Europe: University College London
Subject rank: 9
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 130
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full neuroscience and behavior rankings.
Oncology
Africa: Cairo University
Subject rank: 333 (tie)
Asia: Seoul National University (South Korea)
Subject rank: 22 (tie)
Australia/New Zealand: University of Sydney
Subject rank: 41 (tie)
Europe: University College London
Subject rank: 7
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 234
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full oncology rankings.
Optics
Africa: Ain Shams University (Egypt)
Subject rank: 101
Asia: National University of Singapore
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: Australian National University
Subject rank: 25
Europe: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
Subject rank: 5
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 215 (tie)
North America: Stanford University
Subject rank: 3
See the full optics rankings.
Pharmacology and toxicology
Africa: Cairo University
Subject rank: 13
Asia: Fudan University
Subject rank: 2
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University
Subject rank: 15
Europe: University College London
Subject rank: 5
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 48
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full pharmacology and toxicology rankings.
Physical chemistry
Africa: Al Azhar University
Subject rank: 193 (tie)
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: Adelaide University
Subject rank: 28 (tie)
Europe: University of Cambridge
Subject rank: 56
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 443 (tie)
North America: Georgia Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 28 (tie)
See the full physical chemistry rankings.
Physics
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 220 (tie)
Asia: Tsinghua University
Subject rank: 6
Australia/New Zealand: Australian National University
Subject rank: 89
Europe: University of Cambridge
Subject rank: 13
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 115 (tie)
North America: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 1
See the full physics rankings.
Plant and animal science
Africa: Cairo University
Subject rank: 59
Asia: China Agricultural University
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: The University of Western Australia
Subject rank: 21 (tie)
Europe: Wageningen University & Research
Subject rank: 3
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 18
North America: University of California, Davis (U.S.)
Subject rank: 4
See the full plant and animal science rankings.
Polymer science
Africa: Al Azhar University
Subject rank: 26
Asia: Nanjing Forestry University (China)
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: Deakin University (Australia)
Subject rank: 88 (tie)
Europe: University of the Basque Country (Spain)
Subject rank: 56
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 110
North America: University of British Columbia
Subject rank: 65
See the full polymer science rankings.
Psychiatry/psychology
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 182 (tie)
Asia: Peking University
Subject rank: 32
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 11
Europe: University of Oxford
Subject rank: 3
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 78 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full psychiatry/psychology rankings.
Public, environmental and occupational health
Africa: University of Cape Town
Subject rank: 48
Asia: King Saud University (Saudi Arabia)
Subject rank: 18
Australia/New Zealand: Monash University
Subject rank: 14 (tie)
Europe: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (U.K.)
Subject rank: 2
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 65
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full public, environmental and occupational health rankings.
Radiology, nuclear medicine and medical imaging
Africa: N/A
Asia: Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China)
Subject rank: 25
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 71
Europe: Radboud University (Netherlands)
Subject rank: 5
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 157 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full radiology, nuclear medicine and medical imaging rankings.
Social Sciences and public health
Africa: University of Johannesburg
Subject rank: 69 (tie)
Asia: Peking University
Subject rank: 5 (tie)
Australia/New Zealand: University of Melbourne
Subject rank: 20
Europe: University of Oxford
Subject rank: 2
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 108
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full social sciences and public health rankings.
Space science
Africa: University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
Subject rank: 143 (tie)
Asia: The University of Tokyo (Japan)
Subject rank: 7
Australia/New Zealand: Australian National University
Subject rank: 32 (tie)
Europe: Leiden University (Netherlands)
Subject rank: 9
Latin America: Universidad de Antofagasta (Chile)
Subject rank: 107 (tie)
North America: California Institute of Technology
Subject rank: 1
See the full space science rankings.
Surgery
Africa: Mansoura University
Subject rank: 239 (tie)
Asia: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Subject rank: 82
Australia/New Zealand: University of Sydney
Subject rank: 60 (tie)
Europe: University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Subject rank: 3
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 166 (tie)
North America: Harvard University
Subject rank: 1
See the full surgery rankings.
Water resources
Africa: Mansoura University
Subject rank: 38
Asia: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Subject rank: 1
Australia/New Zealand: University of Technology Sydney
Subject rank: 11
Europe: Delft University of Technology
Subject rank: 16
Latin America: Universidade de Sao Paulo
Subject rank: 124 (tie)
North America: Texas A&M University (U.S.)
Subject rank: 29
See the full water resources rankings.
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