It’s always worthwhile to contact the university directly — or better yet, attend their next Open Day. What better excuse for a family trip!
Top 10 by QS World University Rankings
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
2. University of Oxford, UK
3. Stanford University, USA
4. University of Cambridge, UK
5. ETH Zurich, Switzerland
6. University of California, Berkeley (UCB), USA
7. Tsinghua University, China
8. Imperial College London, UK
9. Harvard University, USA
10. EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Top 10 by Times Higher Education
1. Harvard University, USA
2. Stanford University, USA
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
4. University of Oxford, UK
5. University of California, Berkeley (UCB), USA
6. University of Cambridge, UK
7. California Institute of Technology, USA
8. Princeton University, USA
9. National University of Singapore
10. ETH Zurich, Switzerland
SPOTLIGHT ON FIVE UNIVERSITIES RANKED BY BOTH
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
MIT is a private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just 15 minutes from Boston. It is renowned for its contributions to global research and development. MIT alumni and faculty include 101 Nobel laureates, 26 Turing Award winners and 8 Fields Medalists.
MIT is organised into the following schools:
– School of Architecture and Planning
– School of Engineering
– School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Science
– Sloan School of Management
– School of Science
– MIT Schwarzman College of Computing
Visitors can also explore the surrounding neighbourhoods such as Harvard Square, Cambridgeport and Inman Square, each offering unique character and history.
The University of Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university in the world. It has nurtured extraordinary STEM minds such as Stephen Hawking, Sir Martin Ryle and Dame Cicely Saunders. Oxford has nine departments across a wide range of STEM disciplines, while also excelling in the Humanities.
Notably, 31 British Prime Ministers studied at Oxford, including William Ewart Gladstone, Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher.
When visiting Oxford, don’t miss the History of Science Museum. Highlights include Einstein’s blackboard and a remarkable collection of scientific instruments from the Middle Ages through the 19th century.
Hear the exciting news from Sam, Westbourne alumni, about studying at University of Oxford.
Stanford University, USA
Stanford University’s proximity to Silicon Valley underscores its motto that location matters. As one of the world’s leading research universities, Stanford allows undergraduates to integrate real-world research into their studies through extensive outreach programs. Students benefit from hands-on experience at the heart of global technological innovation.
Stanford’s School of Medicine is particularly renowned, credited with numerous biomedical breakthroughs including:
– First use of a linear accelerator to treat cancer in the Western Hemisphere
– World’s first successful combined heart/lung transplant
– First synthesis of DNA in a test tube
– Development of the DNA microarray
Walking through Cambridge, one is immersed in history, with landmarks such as the Corpus Clock standing as iconic symbols. The University has been home to some of the brightest STEM minds, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Jane Goodall.
Cambridge continues to push the boundaries of research. Professors Rachel Oliver and Silvia Vignolini were recently awarded Royal Academy of Engineering Chairs in Emerging Technologies, worth £2.5 million over ten years, to advance innovation that delivers social and economic benefits. Students at Cambridge have unparalleled opportunities to learn from leading experts.
Westbourne alumni, Anthony, and his mentee Huyen embraced life in Cambridge after graduating from the IB Diploma at Westbourne School UK.
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
ETH Zurich combines the vibrancy of a big city with the charm of a small town, making it one of Europe’s most attractive universities. Graduates of ETH Zurich have earned multiple Nobel Prizes, particularly in chemistry, mathematics and physics.
Famous achievements include:
– Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity was developed during his time there as a student
– Maurice Koechlin, an alumnus, was the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower
– ETH Zurich researchers co-developed the world’s first machine that allows human livers to be kept viable outside the body for an entire week
