Top Universities in Europe
The 2025 edition of the QS World University Rankings: Europe offers a detailed view of the academic landscape across Europe, highlighting the universities that have managed to distinguish themselves through a combination of academic excellence, innovation, and research output. The rankings reveal interesting shifts and developments in the higher education sector, especially for institutions in Europe. In this year’s rankings, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) claims the top spot, dethroning the University of Oxford, which fell to third place after holding the coveted position last year. Imperial College London, which had ranked fourth in the previous year, has risen to second place. Meanwhile, Italian universities, including the highly regarded Politecnico di Milano, have experienced positive shifts in their rankings, contributing to a broader improvement in Italy's academic standing within Europe.
ETH Zurich’s achievement in taking the top position in Europe is not just a reflection of its academic rigor and world-class research but also signifies Switzerland’s strong reputation in the global academic sphere. ETH Zurich has long been recognized as a leader in engineering and technology, and its dominance in the QS rankings is a testament to its significant contributions to fields such as physics, computer science, and life sciences. By climbing to first place, ETH Zurich has surpassed Oxford, a symbol of the institution's ongoing global excellence. Oxford, which has historically been a fixture at the top of global university rankings, now sits at third place, making way for both ETH Zurich and Imperial College London, two institutions that have shown remarkable growth and academic development in recent years.
Imperial College London’s improvement, moving from fourth place to second, is another remarkable outcome of the latest rankings. Imperial, known for its cutting-edge research and focus on science, engineering, and medicine, has solidified its position as one of Europe’s top institutions. The rise of Imperial College can be attributed to its emphasis on innovation, particularly in fields such as engineering, business, and natural sciences. The institution has consistently ranked among the world’s top universities, and this improvement in the QS rankings is indicative of its growing global influence and academic impact.
In contrast to the top universities in Europe, the rankings for Italian institutions reflect an encouraging trend. The Italian academic system, historically overshadowed by universities from the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, has seen some notable improvements in recent years. Of the 51 Italian universities included in the QS World University Rankings for Europe in 2025, 24 institutions have risen in the rankings, 2 have remained stable, and 25 have fallen in their respective positions. Despite the decline of a few institutions, the overall trend points toward progress, with Italian universities steadily gaining ground in both regional and global rankings.
Among the Italian universities, Politecnico di Milano stands out as the highest-ranked institution, securing the 38th position in Europe, up nine places from the previous year. Politecnico di Milano’s success is largely attributed to its focus on engineering, architecture, and industrial design, as well as its strong research output in technology and innovation. It has consistently been a leader in Italy, and its improvement in the rankings reflects its growing international presence. The university’s rise to 38th place positions it as one of the top universities in Europe and indicates the increasing recognition of Italy’s academic strengths, particularly in the fields of engineering and design.
Following Politecnico di Milano is the University of Bologna, which saw the most significant improvement among Italian universities. Climbing 30 places to reach 48th position, Bologna has firmly established itself as Italy’s second-best university in the European rankings. This improvement is particularly significant, as it marks the first time the University of Bologna has entered the top 50 in Europe. Bologna is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Italy and has consistently been a hub for research, particularly in the humanities, law, and social sciences. Its rising position in the rankings demonstrates that the university’s continued emphasis on research quality and academic collaboration has paid off, allowing it to compete with other European giants.
The University of Salento, another Italian institution, has seen an impressive improvement in its rankings, jumping a remarkable 65 places to reach 419th. While the University of Salento’s position is still far from the top of the rankings, this surge in its ranking underscores the dynamic changes happening within Italy’s higher education system. This could be an indication of an institutional drive to enhance its research output, teaching quality, and global visibility, all of which are crucial for climbing in global rankings.
Another notable Italian university is the University of Rome La Sapienza, which ranks third in Italy at 66th place in Europe. While it remains an academic powerhouse, La Sapienza experienced a slight drop of one place compared to the previous year. Nonetheless, it continues to hold a strong position in both Italy and Europe, with its diverse range of programs in fields like engineering, medicine, humanities, and social sciences, along with its robust research infrastructure. La Sapienza remains a central figure in Italy’s academic landscape and continues to contribute significantly to global scholarship.
The Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) in Milan has also seen significant progress, moving up 18 places to 140th in Europe. This improvement places the university firmly within the top 150 European institutions, highlighting its rising academic reputation and the growing recognition of its strengths in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and health. This upward movement is indicative of a broader trend among Italian universities to improve their standing by focusing on research, quality of teaching, and internationalization.
