View the World University Rankings 2023 methodology
The University of Oxford has been named the best university in the world for a record seventh consecutive year in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023. The rankings, announced at the THE World Academic Summit in New York, rate more than 1,600 universities from around 100 countries globally.
Harvard is ranked second in National Universities, first in Global Universities by U.S. News, and first by the Round University Ranking, while Oxford is ranked first in Best Global Universities in Europe, fifth in Best Global Universities by U.S. News, and second by the QS World University Rankings.
As a modern, research-driven university, Oxford has numerous strengths but cites particular prowess in the sciences, having recently ranked number one in the world for medicine (if its medical sciences division was a university in its own right, it would be the fourth largest in the UK) and among the top ten ...
Both schools offer a broad range of programs led by acclaimed, highly knowledgeable faculty members. While both have a low student-to-faculty ratio, Harvard's classes are slightly more intimate at 9:1 compared to Oxford's 11:1 ratio. If athletics are a priority, then Oxford is the clear winner.
Rankings will, of course, differ between other tables and this is shown in the 2023 QS World University Rankings which have placed Cambridge in 2nd overall and Oxford in 4th after Stanford University.
The University of Oxford has an outstanding global reputation for its teaching, research and contributions to society. We combine rich history and tradition with the innovative and forward-thinking approach of a modern university.
Despite its fame and reputation, Oxford University, located in the U.K., is not counted as an Ivy League university. The top eight schools in the USA are collectively known as the Ivy League. Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Brown, Pennsylvania, Cornell, Harvard, and Yale make up the Ivy League.
QS World University Rankings® 2023
In the latest results, Cambridge comes out second in the world for both academics and employers. Oxford, meanwhile, claims the world's third-highest ratings from graduate employers and academics.
Not only does the University of Oxford also has a better global reputation, but the number of graduate programs offered at Oxford is also more. You can consider studying at Oxford as: The cost of pursuing an education from Oxford is lower than Yale's.
Oxford and Cambridge are highly competitive, and unfortunately, you can only apply to one per year. According to these acceptance numbers, Cambridge appears to be the easier to get accepted.
Acceptance Rates
As of 2023, Harvard's acceptance rate is 4%. Half of the applicants that get accepted at Harvard have an SAT score between 1480 and 1580. On the other hand, Oxford's acceptance rate of about 17.5% is appealing.
The most obvious reason for Oxford's fame is the university. It's the second oldest in the world (allegedly), educator of 28 Nobel Prize winners, and often cited as the best university on the planet. But the reason the university, in England, became so famous isn't simply because it's a great university.
Harvard, Stanford and Princeton, unsurprisingly, are America's toughest colleges to get into in 2023, according to Niche's most recent rankings.
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.
Trinity College, Cambridge, is the wealthiest of the individual colleges with published assets worth £1.3bn in its latest accounts. In Oxford, St John's College tops the table with close to £600m in assets.
1. Merton College. Merton College is one of the most popular Oxford colleges and sits at the top of Oxford's Norrington Table with a score of 82.9%.
The British Russell Group and the American Ivy League are well-known associations of prestigious research universities.
An Oxford education gives its graduates the tools needed for success in the City, business and a whole load of other walks of life, and subsequently they get rich. What is this? One of the main reasons we're apparently so employable is our ability to churn out coherent thoughts in a relatively short space of time.
They have consistently ranked among the top 10 institutes in the global rankings. According to the world university rank 2023, Oxford University ranked top and Harvard University ranked second in the list, whilst in the QS world university list Oxford University ranked fourth and Harvard University ranked fifth.
Hardest universities to get into in the UK:
As the best university in the UK, it is no surprise that the University of Oxford has the highest entry standards among all institutions in the country.
An Oxford degree costs the same as most UK universities. The exact course fee depends on whether your child is a UK (Home fee status) or international (Overseas fee status) student. A UK student's annual course fees are £9,250 for 2023-24. For more details, go to our fees pages.
Entry requirements
Range from A*A*A-AAA, depending on the course. Total score of 38-40 points (depending on the course) including core points, with 6s and 7s in subjects taken at the higher level. An average of 85% or above, with scores of between 8 and 9 in subjects specified at A level or equivalent.
A small city where almost a fifth of the population are students and the centre is dominated by the University; it could be the place for you if you're after a small town feel. Cambridge is more laid-back than Oxford and arguably prettier, with a river flowing through the city centre and countryside surroundings.