For many of the world’s most prestigious universities, the biological sciences are one of the most competitive areas of study – with huge sums dedicated to improving the services and learning environments. Here we have a look at the very best institutions for the biological sciences, thanks to data from QS Top Universities – and the UK is quite well represented.
- Harvard University
Topping the table for biological sciences is the world famous Ivy League institution, Harvard University. Closing in on its 400th anniversary, the university is one of the most prestigious learning centres in the world and has an alumnus which includes eight presidents of the US, 62 living billionaires and 150 Nobel laureates.
The school’s science departments include a number of notable members of faculty, including biologist E.O Wilson, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker and chemist Elias Corey amongst many others.
- University of Cambridge
Romanticised to within an inch of its life, the University of Cambridge is renowned around the world for the high quality education and prestige that it offers. Founded over 800 years ago, the university can boast a strong alumnus, and still attracts the top scholars from around the world. Some of history’s great scientific minds studied and worked at the University of Cambridge, including Charles Darwin, Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking.
- University of Oxford
The oldest university in the English speaking world and the fierce competitor of Cambridge, the University of Oxford boasts a fantastic array of ex-students including 26 British prime ministers, 27 Nobel laureates and a huge number of global luminaries. The impressive scientific alumni includes Erwin Schrödinger, Richard Dawkins and, of course, Albert Einstein.
Despite closing in on a millennium of education – the University of Oxford continues to maintain the highest levels of excellence throughout all endeavours.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
One of the younger entries on this list, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is scarcely a century and a half old. Founded in 1861 at a time of mass industrialisation in the US, the school places heavy focus on science and engineering. Amongst those who have been affiliated with the university are 85 Nobel laureates, 52 recipients of the National Medal of Science and an impressive 34 astronauts.
- Stanford University
Located in Stanford, California; Stanford University has made a huge impact in the age of technology and consumerism. Alumni have gone on to found a huge number of companies including Google, Yahoo!, Hewlett-Packard, Nike, Instagram and Snapchat. A whopping 30 living billionaires and 17 astronauts have also been educated in the famous halls.
- California Institute of Technology
Originally founded as a preparatory and vocational school in the 19th century, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) soon attracted influential scientists such as George Ellery Hale, Arthur Amos Noyes and Robert Andrews Millikan.
The university continues to contribute massively to our scientific understanding of the world and beyond, thanks to the close links between Caltech and NASA.
- University of California, Berkeley
Completing a hat trick of entries for the State of California, Berkley is the flagship campus of the University of California. Chemistry, physics and computer science are perhaps the three subject areas in which the university truly prospers – routinely topping ranking tables for these disciplines.
Notable alumni includes the co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak – who created the company’s first computer just a few short years after enrolling at the university.
- National University of Singapore
Founded just over 100 years ago, the National University of Singapore is regularly awarded the title of Asia’s top university, and has progressed significantly to supersede a number of much older institutions.
Alumni of the university includes a number of Singapore prime ministers, presidents and Margaret Chan, the current Director-General of the World Health Organisation.
- Yale University
Another Ivy League university from the states, Yale was founded over 300 years ago and has educated five US presidents, 52 Nobel laureates and 13 living billionaires. Yale established itself as an important institute for biological research in the 20th century – and the former dean, Milton Winternitz, adopted the Yale System of teaching in the 1920s which helped drive modern understanding of medicine and human nature.
- ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Specialising in engineering and the sciences, ETH Zurich was founded by the Swiss Federal Government in 1854 with the sole purpose of educating students in these principle disciplines. Perhaps the most famous son of the University is Albert Einstein – who had a long relationship with the institute.
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