For many international students, Europe is a prime educational destination since the Old Continent’s universities are academically sound, offer numerous programs and can be less financially taxing than their American or Canadian counterparts. However, while Europe has no shortage of incredible educational institutions, according to the Times Higher Education Rankings, the continent boasts roughly 500 of the world’s finest universities, a few universities in it particularly stick out due to their academic excellence, history and famous alumni. So, without further ado, let us present our list of the five leading universities for study in Europe.

1) University of Oxford, UK

One of Britain’s oldest and most iconic universities, Oxford was founded sometime at the start of the 11th century, although it did not gain a royal charter till 1248.Currently, the university is considered to be one of the most reputable institutions in the world with more than twenty four thousand students, a mind-bogglingly massive budget of over 2 billion pounds and hundreds of graduate courses with new programs opening up every year. In recent years Oxford has taken steps to increase its number of international students and presently 45% of the university’s total student body comes from abroad.

2) University of Cambridge, UK

Founded in 1209, Cambridge is England’s second oldest university and has, over the centuries, contributed extensively to nearly every major educational field. The University boasts a truly impressive list of notable alumni such as Sir Isaac Newton, Alan Turing and Sylvia Plath. It is also excessively wealthy with the total worth of its assets valued at billions of dollars. Presently, Cambridge has thirty undergraduate courses, covering over sixty five subject areas, and more than 300 postgraduate ones for its roughly twenty four thousand students. From a financial standpoint, the institution is considered to be a much more affordable place to study than Oxford, its main competitor, and offers need-based financial aid for deserving students as well as academic scholarships.

3) Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany

Considered to be one of the top educational institutions in Europe, LMU was founded roughly 550 years ago and was known as the University of Ingolstadt until 1802.Currently, the university offers multiple combinations of minors and majors in more than a hundred areas of study. LMU also holds the distinction of being the second largest university in Germany by student population and currently has over fifty thousand students enrolled in it, including around 9000 international students. While LMU’s world ranking has fluctuated over time, it has consistently retained its position as one of the top five universities in Germany. The institution is also notable for its numerous Nobel laureates and currently ranks sixteenth in the world by number of Nobelists.

4) ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Famous for being known as the alma mater of Albert Einstein, ETH Zurich is one of Europe’s most reputable universities. Founded more than 150 years ago, the university currently offers numerous degrees and programs in various educational fields. It also has an impressive student population of over twenty two thousand and has, in recent years, taken concrete steps to increase the number of female and international students. While ETH Zurich offers Social Science degrees as well, it is most well-known for its various science and engineering programs, making it an ideal choice for international students who want to pursue such fields.

5) Imperial College London, UK

As the name implies, Imperial College London is a public research university located in the United Kingdom’s capital. The university is relatively new, at least by British standards, and was established in 1907 by royal charter. Throughout its history, the university has produced numerous famous alumni, including Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists and Fellows of the Royal Society. Currently, the institution has a budget of over a billion pounds and offers multiple programs in nearly every major educational field. Imperial’s reputation for academic excellence has enabled it to become one of the most sought after universities in the UK with thousands of British and international students applying for admission in the    institution’s various programs every year.

In conclusion, Europe has some of the finest educational institutions in the world. However, most of the universities mentioned above can be a bit difficult to get into if you do not meet certain academic standards. So if you envision getting your Bachelors from Cambridge or doing post study work at LMU, then it may be time to sleep or party less and hit the books a lot more.