Top 10 Best Countries for Education

How is the quality of education determined?

There are several types of education rankings. The most well-known is the Education Index by Country.

This is a composite indicator that can be found in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). To calculate it, they sum:
the adult literacy rate index (⅔ of the score)
and the index of the overall enrollment ratio of students receiving education (⅓ of the score). School education is not taken into account.

The data comes from population census results and is analyzed by UN statistical centers.

The TOP countries with the best education look like this:

1	Germany	0.943
2	Norway	0.930
3	United Kingdom	0.928
4	Finland	0.927

Nevertheless, the Index has its downsides. For example, it emphasizes the importance and accessibility of education but cannot assess its quality, average duration, or expected length of study. It also does not take into account data on foreign students.

Currently, there is a ranking that provides an up-to-date list of countries by education level. And we’re happy to tell you about it.

Best Countries Report: an overview of the world’s top education systems

Best Countries Report — an annual report jointly produced by US News, World Report, BAV Group, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. One of its sections explains which countries have the best education.

The report’s distinctive feature is that it is based on a survey of thousands of people in 78 countries. Education is assessed based on three equally weighted criteria:

a good public education system (universities only, school education not considered)
the opportunity to attend university
the provision of high-quality education.

In our opinion, this ranking is more objective, so we will use it as our basis. Let’s take a look at the TOP 10 countries by education quality.

10th Place. Netherlands

The Netherlands developed “Problem Based Learning”, where the teacher explains the theory, and students, through brainstorming, look for solutions to practical problems, practicing the application of knowledge in real-life scenarios.

The Netherlands offers a list of 2000+ English-language programs. During studies, students can work no more than 16 hours per week, and full-time during holidays. A bachelor’s degree lasts 3 years, and under the Orientation Year for Graduates Seeking program, each graduate can stay for a year to find permanent work in the country.

Tuition here costs about $12,000 — $18,000 per year, and is paid. However, students with top scores (80-90%) can apply for scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per year.

University of Amsterdam	Located in Amsterdam, it trains students in applied sciences. Average tuition — €9,000–€10,000 per year. Many programs are in English. Most in-demand majors — humanities, law, business, biology, medicine.
Delft University of Technology	The first university in the Netherlands, located in Delft. One of the top 5 technical universities in Europe. Average tuition — €10,000–€15,000, with free Dutch language courses offered. Top faculties — astrophysics, architecture, engineering, and computer science.
Erasmus University Rotterdam	Located in Rotterdam. Out of 20,000 students, 3,000 are international. Most courses are in English, with tuition starting at...

9th Place. Sweden

The economic center of Scandinavia, ranked 11th in the world by wage levels. Student working hours are unlimited. The average hourly rate is over $170. Average tuition is $10,000–$15,000 per year. EU citizens can attend Swedish universities for free.

One of the main features of Swedish universities is the focus on the individual development of each student. Professors are open to informal communication, actively develop creative thinking, and encourage innovative approaches.

The country has about 50 universities, one-third of all programs are taught in English. A bachelor’s degree takes 3 years, a master’s 1–2 years, and doctoral studies several more years. After graduation, as in the Netherlands, students can stay in the country for a year to look for a job.

A point of pride is the special education programs (Yrkeshögskolan, HVE). Partner companies actively participate in the educational process, provide internships, and offer jobs to students.

Top 3 universities in Sweden

Karolinska Institute	One of the best medical universities in the world and the top medical university in Europe. It houses Sweden’s leading research center. Tuition from €19,000 to €22,000, with grants available. English-language programs are offered.
Uppsala University	One of Sweden’s oldest universities. Home to a Disaster Research Center and with a strong focus on saving the planet. Offers a wide range of natural and humanities faculties. Tuition from €15,000 per year.
Lund University	One of Sweden’s top research centers, with its own synchrotron radiation lab and advanced Biomedical Center. Like the previous university, offers a wide choice of specialties. Tuition from €12,000 per year.

8th Place. Australia

A country with an extremely low crime rate and perfect climate. Even in winter, temperatures rarely drop below 16°C.

Australia’s relatively young higher education system was built on the British model, with high-quality teaching and a strong emphasis on research and student independence. Today, 9 Australian universities are in the TOP 200 worldwide, and many scientists have won Nobel Prizes. The government generously supports scientific research.

Australian university students can work up to 20 hours per week. Moreover, after completing 2 years of study, they can obtain a 1.5-year residence permit to search for a job. After 5 years, they can apply for citizenship. This is both an advantage and a challenge, as visa applicants must convince the consul that immigration is not their main goal.

There are about 40 universities in Australia. Bachelor’s degrees take 3–4 years, master’s 1–2 years.

Top 3 universities in Australia

Australian National University	Ranked 20th among the best universities in the world, located in Canberra, and 1st in the country for graduate employment. Offers a wide range of faculties for both humanities and technical disciplines. Provides scholarships, some fully covering tuition. Bachelor’s tuition — $25,000–$34,000 per year.
University of Melbourne	Melbourne’s oldest university, chosen by those seeking top humanities education. Student population — 40,000+. Supports student startups, with popular fields including pedagogy, medicine, law, dentistry, computer science, finance, accounting, and IT. Tuition — $27,000–$38,000 per year.

7th Place. Japan

Japan’s unemployment rate is among the lowest in the world — 2%. One of the main reasons is the high quality of education. All universities are equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and help students hone practical skills. Two qualities most valued in students here are perseverance and discipline.

There are almost no scholarships in Japan, but students can work 20 hours a week. Bachelor’s programs last 4 years, master’s 2 years. Some accelerated universities allow completion in 2–3 years (social work, economics, pedagogy, literature, foreign languages).

In 2008, the “300,000 Foreign Students Plan” was launched, which led to more subjects being taught in English. There are also short-term programs (1 semester to 1 year) to quickly master fields like Japanese language, culture, or social studies.

Tuition in Japan is relatively affordable (about $8,000 per year), but dormitories are paid, typically $900–$2,000 per month.

Top 3 universities in Japan

University of Tokyo	Ranks 28th among the best universities in the world. Has about 30,000 students, modern labs, and research centers. Produced 17 prime ministers, 3 Pritzker Prize winners, 9 Nobel laureates, and 3 astronauts. Tuition from $4,200 per year.
Kyoto University	The second-oldest university in the country, located in Kyoto. Educates over 20,000 students with many English-language programs. Offers a broad range of majors from law to pedagogy and agriculture. Tuition from $4,300 per year.
Tokyo Institute of Technology	The most popular university among those who prefer...

6th Place. Switzerland

Eight universities in Switzerland are immediately included in the ranking of the best universities in the world, four of them leading in the share of international students. Getting into a public university is challenging: you need to wait until you are 18, pass exams in five subjects on Swiss territory, and prove your German or French proficiency at C1 level. Bachelor's programs in public universities have almost no English-taught courses. However, if everything goes well, you can study at a public university almost for free: the annual fee is just over €1,000.

Private universities offer more English-taught courses and accept students right after high school, but tuition is high—starting from $15,000. Living in the country costs between €1,500 and €2,500 per month, and students can work from the second semester, no more than 20 hours per week. After graduation, you can apply to stay in the country for six months to look for work.

Top 3 Universities in Switzerland

Glion Institute of Higher Education	Ranks in the TOP 3 worldwide for training specialists in the hospitality industry. Most students receive at least 2 job offers even before graduation. 65% of graduates become managers. Tuition from $35,000 per year.
Les Roches International School of Hotel Management	Another university in the TOP 3 global ranking of hospitality schools. 89% of graduates start working immediately after studies, and students can intern on campuses in Spain and China. Tuition from $27,000 per year.
Institute of Finance and Management	The most well-known business school in the country. Lecturers include representatives from Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, EasyJet, WTO, Philip Morris. Tuition from $30,000.

5th Place. France

More than 12% of all students in France are international. At the same time, 9 out of 10 students fully consider the quality of education good, and every fourth international student receives a scholarship.

The French education system includes three types of institutions: specialized schools, universities, and grandes écoles. Grandes écoles are small institutions famous for teaching narrow disciplines at a high level and typically enroll about 50 students per year.

Tuition in France is affordable; EU students can study for free. Living costs range from $200 to $1,000 per year. Students can work 20 hours a week, and after graduation, they can stay in the country for six months to look for work.

Top 3 Universities in France

Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres)	A center for research activity in Paris. Hosts main exhibitions, startup competitions, and debates. Wide choice of majors: from arts to management. Tuition from $5,000 per year.
École Polytechnique	The leader in technical education in France. Graduates occupy positions in government and major companies. Popular majors: engineering, mathematics, natural sciences, economics. Tuition from €4,000.
Sorbonne University	The university combines Paris-Sorbonne and Marie Curie Universities. It combines an innovative approach to education and research.

4th Place. Canada

In addition to being in the TOP 10 best countries to live in, Canada's education system is a leader in scientific research. Two out of five university professors in Canada have international degrees.

Education is quite expensive: from $11,000 to $33,000 per year for most programs, and up to $45,000 per year for an MBA. Graduates can work in the country for three years. In Quebec, education is in French; in the rest of Canada, it's in English. Out of 100 universities in the country, 7 are in the global top university rankings, and 4 are in the top 50 worldwide for graduate employability.

Top 3 Universities in Canada

University of Toronto	The birthplace of insulin, stem cell research, and the electron microscope. Its library network is the largest in North America. Films such as "The Incredible Hulk" and "Hannibal" were shot here. Wide range of majors. Average tuition: $29,000 per year.
University of Waterloo (UW)	Ranked among the top 5% universities worldwide and highly valued by employers. Popular fields: humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, chemistry, economics, and business. Average tuition: $17,500.
University of Alberta	Located in the scenic province with Alberta's snowy mountains. Ranks in the top 100 universities in the world.

3rd Place. Germany

The German education system combines ancient traditions with cutting-edge scientific research. The good news is that you can get a quality education for free, except for a student fee of €150-300 per semester. Educational programs are divided into four profiles: G – Humanities, M – Medicine, Biology, Chemistry, T – Natural, Exact, and Engineering Sciences, W – Economics, Business, and Social Sciences.

The cost of living in Germany is quite affordable: from €400 to €700 per month. It takes 6-7 semesters to get a bachelor's degree and an additional 2-4 semesters for a master's degree.

Top 3 Universities in Germany

RWTH Aachen	A prestigious technical university. The leader in the country for teaching electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial construction, and natural sciences. Located in the cozy city of Aachen.
Uni Mannheim	Located in a baroque-style city castle. The best economic university in the country. In addition to economics, information technology is also in demand here.
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie	A leader in the field of information technology. In 2005, it received the status of a research university and, after 4 years, merged with the Karlsruhe Center for Nuclear Research.

2nd Place. United Kingdom

The quality education system, the birthplace of Oxford and Cambridge. A total of 18 universities are in the top 100 worldwide, which is why every year half a million students from all over the world come to study in the UK.

Tuition here ranges from £18,000 to £45,000 per year, and living expenses are an additional £14,000 per year. 90% of universities require a preparatory program (Foundation) before entering, but bachelor's programs last 3 years instead of 4. The good news is that graduates can stay in the UK for two years to search for work. Often, between the second and third years, students have a year of internships, known as the Sandwich Year.

Top 3 Universities in the UK

University of Oxford	The top university in the UK, ranked fifth in the world and eighth worldwide for graduate employability. Popular programs: English language and literature, geography, archaeology, anatomy and physiology, arts, and humanities. Tuition starts from $22,000 per year.
University of Cambridge	Another top-19 university worldwide. It has six distinct schools: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering & Technology. Tuition starts from $23,000 per year.
Imperial College London	The bronze medalist in the list of the best universities in the UK.

1st Place. United States

The best education system in the world. The USA has 38 universities in the top 150 worldwide. Students intern at leading companies in the country during their studies. Every year, over a million international students come to study in US institutions. However, not everyone can afford to study in the USA: tuition costs range from $20,000 to $50,000 per year. At colleges, where you can only get a bachelor's degree, tuition starts from $10,000 per year.

If desired, you can pass the preparatory Pathway program and guarantee admission to a partner university. However, the price of such a program is high and can be compared to the cost of a bachelor's degree. In most universities, there is no clear study plan: students can choose their courses.

Top 3 Universities in the USA

Massachusetts Institute of Technology	The best university in the world. Tuition starts from $55,000 per year. This is where 3D printing, bionic prosthetics, the "black box," electronic ink, radar, and the concept of the expanding universe were born. Tuition from $55,000 per year.
Harvard University	Located in Massachusetts. According to statistics, its graduates most often become billionaires. The campus covers 145 hectares. Tuition ranges from $29,000 to $73,000 per year.
Stanford University	Tuition starts from $55,000 per year. Out of 44,000 applicants, the university admits only 2,000 students (the competition is even higher than at Harvard). Every year, the university invests more than $1.5 billion in student research.

P.S. HOW TO GET A HIGH LEVEL OF EDUCATION IN EUROPE WITHOUT SPENDING A FORTUNE?

As you can see, many European countries are in the TOP 10 of the best education systems. First of all, diplomas from one European country grant the right to work in the entire EU. Secondly, most European countries allow citizens of EU countries to study for free, both at school and university levels.

If you're considering sending your child to a prestigious university, think about residence programs through investments. These can help you educate your child for free while also allowing you to purchase property in Europe.

And remember: a good education is one of the best gifts a parent can give their child!

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