Top Universities/College to study Abroad
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Chetna Sharma

Updated on - Jan 25, 2026

Studying abroad has become a popular goal for many Indian students seeking quality education, global exposure, and enhanced career opportunities. Today, choosing the right university is not only about reputation but also about course quality, affordability, and future outcomes. Global university rankings help students understand which institutions consistently perform well across academics and research.

According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Imperial College London, Stanford University, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University continue to rank among the world's best. These universities are known for strong academics, advanced research facilities, and high graduate employability, making them top choices for Indian students.

  • Countries like Germany and Canada offer more affordable education options, with tuition fees starting from €600 (INR 63.7 L) in Germany and CAD 9,883 (INR 6.49 L) in Canada.
  • Studying in the UK, Australia, or the USA requires higher financial planning, where annual tuition fees for graduate programs can range from £35,400 to £51,000 (INR 53.2 L to INR 62.4 L) in the UK and $45,120 to $93,834 (INR 41.0 L to INR 85.4 L) in the USA.
  • Scholarships and funding options can help reduce this financial burden. MIT offers a need-based financial aid program which provides upto 100% financial assistance. Gates Cambridge Scholarship in the UK covers the full course load for international students.

This article covers the Top 20 Universities Abroad for Indian Students in 2026, along with country-wise university lists, popular courses, tuition fees in INR, eligibility requirements, and scholarship opportunities. Whether you plan to pursue undergraduate studies, a master’s degree, an MBA, or medical programs, this article will help you compare your options and plan your study abroad journey with confidence.


Top 20 Universities Abroad for Indian Students in 2026

Based on the QS World University Rankings 2026, here are the shortlisted top 20 universities abroad that continue to stand out for academic excellence and global reputation.

University Name Country QS World Rankings 2026
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) United States #1
Imperial College London United Kingdom #2
Stanford University United States #3
University of Oxford United Kingdom #4
Harvard University United States #5
University of Cambridge United Kingdom #6
ETH Zurich Switzerland #7
National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore #8
University College London (UCL) United Kingdom #9
California Institute of Technology United States #10
The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong #11
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) Singapore #12
University of Chicago United States #13
Peking University China #14
University of Pennsylvania United States #15
Cornell University United States #16
Tsinghua University China #17
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) United States #17
The University of Melbourne Australia #19
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) Australia #20

Students can read the Study Guide for Students to Study Abroad


Top 5 Universities in the UK

As per QS World Rankings 2026, the table lists the top universities in the United Kingdom with their popular course, fees, duration, and other details:

University Name Popular Course Course Duration Fees in GBP Fees in INR
Imperial College London MSc Finance 1 year £51,000 62.4 L
University of Oxford MSc Advanced Computer Science 1 year £43,730 53.5 L
University of Cambridge PhD Computer Science 3 years £41,304 50.5 L
University College London (UCL) Master of Architecture 2 years £35,400 53.2 L
King's College London LLM Master of Laws 1 year £38,300 46.8 L

Explore more courses & Universities in the UK


Top 5 Universities in the USA

Below are some of the most well-known universities in the USA, along with their popular courses, course duration, and fee details.

University Name Popular Courses Course Duration Fees in USD Fees in INR
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Master of Finance 18 months $93,834 85.4 L
Stanford University MSc Computer Science Artificial Intelligence 18 months $45,120 41.0 L
Harvard University LLM Master of Laws 1 year $80,760 73.5 L
California Institute of Technology MS Civil Engineering 2 years $65,622 59.7 L
University of Chicago MS Financial Mathematics 15 months $75,600 68.8 L

Indian Students can also explore more courses & Universities in the USA


Top 5 Universities in Canada

Here is a list of famous universities in Canada, including their popular courses, tuition fees, and program duration.

University Name Popular Courses Course Duration Fees in CAD$ Fees in INR
McGill University MS Computer Science 2 years $31,269 20.5 L
University of Toronto MS Computer Science 2 years $36,650 24.0 L
University of British Columbia MS Computer Science 2 years $9,883 6.49 L
University of Alberta MS Computing Science 2 years $10,518 6.90 L
University of Waterloo MS Data Science and Artificial Intelligence 16 months $37,260 24.4 L

Explore more courses & Universities in Canada for more options


Top 5 Universities in Australia

Explore some of the top universities in Australia, including their popular courses, tuition fees, and course duration.

University Name Popular Courses Course Duration Fees in AUD Fees in INR
The University of Melbourne MS Data Science 2 years $60,883 37.3 L
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) Master of Information Technology [MIT] 2 years $59,000 36.1 L
The University of Sydney MS Data Science 18 Months $57,900 35.4 L
Australian National University (ANU) MS Applied Data Analytics 18 months $53,700 32.9 L
Monash University Master Business Analytics 2 years $59,900 36.7 L

Also check: Explore more courses & Universities in Australia


Top 5 Universities in Germany

According to QS World Rankings 2026, the following are the popular universities in Germany with their famous programs, fee structure, and course duration:

University Name Popular Courses Course Duration Fees in EUR Fees in INR
Technical University of Munich MSc Computational Science and Engineering 2 years €12,000 12.7 L
Ludwig Maximilian University Master Computer Science 2 years €600 63.7 L
Heidelberg University MS Applied Computer Science 2 years €3000 3.18 L
Free University of Berlin BS Computer Science 3 years €8,200 8.70 L
KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology MS Computer Science 2 years €3000 3.18 L

Also check: Explore more courses & Universities in Germany


Best MBA Universities Abroad

Explore some of the best universities abroad for MBA programs, along with details on course duration and tuition fees.

QS World Rankings 2026 University Name Course Course Duration Annual Fees Fees in INR
#1 Penn (Wharton) MBA 2 years $87,970 80 L
#2 Harvard Business School MBA 2 years $78,700 71.6 L
#3 MIT (Sloan) MBA 2 years $89,000 81 L
#4 Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA 2 years $85,755 78 L
#5 HEC Paris MBA 16 months €102,000 1 CR
#6 London Business School MBA 21 months £22,507 27.5 L
#7 Cambridge (Judge) MBA 1 year £92,428 1.13 CR
#8 INSEAD MBA 10 months $84,311 76.7 L
#9 Northwestern (Kellogg) MBA 1 year $86,370 78.6 L
#10 Columbia Business School MBA 20 months $91,172 82.9 L

Best Medicine Universities Abroad

A Medical degree from top universities abroad has a course duration of 1 to 6 years. Here are the best universities abroad with their top medical programs, course duration, and fees:

QS World Rankings 2026 University Name Course Name Course Duration Annual Fees Fees in INR
#1 Harvard University  MD Doctor of Medicine  4 years  £73,847 67.6 L
#2 University of Oxford MBBS 6 years £49,400 60.4 L
#3 Stanford University Master's in Epidemiology & Clinical Research 2 years $61,308 30.2 L
#4 Johns Hopkins University Master of Science in Nursing 2 years $70,428 64.0 L
#5 University of Cambridge MBBS 6 years £70,554 86.3 L
#6 University of California, San Francisco Doctor of Dental Surgery 4 years $33,238 30.2 L
#7 Imperial College London MSc Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology 1 year £38,600 47.2 L
#8 UCL BS Medicine MBBS 6 years £73,300 89.7 L

Also check: Student Visa Requirements to Study Abroad


Best Universities Abroad for Master’s Programs

Check out the popular PG courses of the best universities abroad, with the course duration of 18 months to 2 years, and their fees:

University Name Course name Course Duration Annual Fees Fees in INR
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MS Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 2 years $83,405 75.9 L
Imperial College London MS Finance 1 year £47,500 58.1 L
Stanford University MSc Computer Science 18 months $65,820 59.9 L
University of Oxford MSc Advanced Computer Science 1 year £43,730 53.5 L
Harvard University MS Data Science 2 years $65,536 59.6 L
University of Cambridge Master of Finance 1 year £57,850 70.8 L
ETH Zurich MS Computer Science 2 years CHF1,812 2.7 L
National University of Singapore (NUS) MSc Data Science and Machine Learning 2 years S$51,000 36.1 L

Best Universities Abroad for Undergraduate Programs

The table below highlights leading universities abroad offering undergraduate programs, with details on popular courses, course duration, and fees.

University Name Course name Course Duration Annual Fees Fees in INR
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) BS Computer Science and Engineering 4 years $64,310 58.5 L
Imperial College London BS Physics 3 years £41,650 51 L
Stanford University BA Psychology 4 years $62,484 56.8 L
University of Oxford BA English Language and Literature 3 years £43,600 53.4 L
Harvard University BS Psychology 4 years $59,320 53.9 L
University of Cambridge BA Mathematics 3 years £30,144 36.9 L
ETH Zurich BS Computer Science 3 years CHF 1,812 2 L
National University of Singapore (NUS) BBA 3 years S$21,550 24.7 L

Students must check out: How to Write a Statement of Purpose.


General Eligibility Criteria for the Best Universities Abroad

Fulfilling a dream of studying at top universities abroad requires meeting specific academic and application standards. Every program has its own criteria; applicants need to maintain a strong academic performance, relevant experience, and a good score on the English proficiency test.

Check out the general eligibility requirements for Master’s, MBA, and Undergraduate programs at the top global universities abroad.

Requirements Master’s Programs MBA Programs Undergraduate programs
Academic requirements(course-specific) 60 to 90% in 3-4 years of a bachelor’s degree 90% in 3-4 years of a bachelor's degree 85 to 95% in Senior Secondary Education
Application requirements(course-specific) Resume | Portfolio | Letter of Recommendation | 2 years of work experience | SOP | Interview | Copy of passport | Essay Resume | Interview | Personal statement | Online assessment | passport | LOR | GMAT/GRE LOR | Portfolio | Essay | Interview | Financial records | Personal statements | Passport copy
English language/test scores (course-specific) IELTS: 6.5 to 7.0 | TOEFL: 90 to 100 IELTS: 7.0 to 7.5 |TOEFL: 90 to 110 IELTS: 6.5 to 7.0 |TOEFL: 90 to 115

Note: GMAT/GRE scores are not mandatory at every University Abroad. Therefore, candidates are advised to check the official websites of the universities to stay updated about the application requirements.

Also, check How to Write a Letter of Recommendation to strengthen your application. 


Popular University Scholarships Abroad for Indian Students

The well-known universities abroad from the developed countries like the US, UK, Germany, Australia, and Canada offer a wide range of Scholarships to international students and 100% financial aid as well.

Check out the valuable scholarships provided by the top institutions with their eligibility criteria and award amount:

Country Name University Name Scholarship Name Course Eligibility Criteria Award Amount
USA Massachusetts Institute of Technology Need-based financial aid program For UG & PG students International Student CSS Profile and parental income verification through IDOC. 100% financial aid
US Stanford university Knight Knessey Scholarship Program Graduates For the students applying to a full-time PG course Financial support for 3 years
UK Oxford University Clarendon Fund scholarships Graduates Strong academic records Covers full cost fees & cost of living
UK Cambridge University Gates Cambridge Scholarship Graduates Candidates must be non-UK residents Cover a full course load
Germany Alexender von Humboldt Foundation German Chancellor Fellowship Postgraduates Must be an Indian with a Bachelor’s degree, leadership experience in Politics, Business, and Culture 2,246 to 143.75 USD
Germany German Academic Exchange Service DAAD Scholarships Postgraduates and Doctoral students Minimum 85% in Bachelor’s, IELTS: 6.5, 2 years working experience, SOP 934 to 2,400 USD
Australia DEFAT Australia Award Scholarships Postgraduates & Graduates Must be a citizen of the participating country, and fulfill Visa requirements 34,500 USD
Australia The Australian Government Endeavour PG Scholarship Awards Postgradutes Must be a citizen of the participating country, have a UG degree, and have academic transcripts 272,500 USD
Canada University of Toronto Ontario Graduate Scholarships Postgradutes Merit based 15,000 USD a year

Also check: External Scholarships to Study Abroad

Choosing a top university to pursue your dream of studying abroad opens a door for good education, better career opportunities, and global exposure. Universities such as Oxford, Stanford, and MIT are identified as the globally ranked universities as per the data of QS World and THE rankings 2026. Studying abroad can be a bit expensive, but students can avail fully funded scholarships to complete their studies abroad. With the help of strong academic scores, an excellent approach, and an outstanding application, Indian students can easily fulfil their dream of studying abroad.

Also check: How to study abroad for free?


FAQs

Ques: Which University is considered the best to study abroad?

Ans: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, being ranked #1 in the QS World Rankings 2026, is considered the top university to study abroad.

Ques: What is the acceptance rate of the top universities in Australia?

Ans: The popular universities in Australia have different acceptance rates. However, the estimated acceptance rate varies from being highly competitive 30% to a moderate 70%.

Ques: Can I take admission in the top universities abroad even with lower academic marks?

Ans: Yes, you can get a chance to study in the top universities abroad by showing your strong test results, like GMAT or SAT, work experience, and a strong personal statement.

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Found 1867 universities

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RankingCollege InfoTop CoursesFees & Cost of Living
#1/3118 THE Ranking 2026

University of Oxford, Oxford

8.7(Based on 11 User Reviews)England, UK
MBA
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
TOEFL110
View 81 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(£43,309/Yr)$58.5K/Yr
Living
(£13,680/Yr)$18.5K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#2/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Massachusetts, USA4.52%Acceptance Rate
MS Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
TOEFL100
View 113 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$69.2K/Yr
Living
$21.3K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#3/3118 THE Ranking 2026

University of Cambridge, Cambridge

7.7(Based on 7 User Reviews)England, UK21%Acceptance Rate
MBA
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
TOEFL100
View 217 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(£40,840/Yr)$55.1K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#3/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Princeton University, Princeton

8.3(Based on 1 User Reviews)New Jersey, USA5%Acceptance Rate
MFin
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo125TOEFL108
View 36 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$66.3K/Yr
Living
$21.2K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#5/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Harvard University, Cambridge

7.7(Based on 6 User Reviews)Massachusetts, USA3%Acceptance Rate
LLM
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo125TOEFL100PTE70
View 100 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$58.1K/Yr
Living
$13.6K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#5/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Stanford University, Stanford

7.2(Based on 4 User Reviews)California, USA4%Acceptance Rate
MBA
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
GMAT738TOEFL5.5PTE68
View 154 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$64.1K/Yr
Living
$34.3K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#7/3118 THE Ranking 2026

California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

8.3(Based on 3 User Reviews)California, USA3%Acceptance Rate
MS Computer Science
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo120TOEFL100
View 55 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$63.9K/Yr
Living
$21K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#8/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Imperial College London, London

6.7(Based on 27 User Reviews)England, UK15%Acceptance Rate
MSc Statistics Data Science
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo125TOEFL100PTE69
View 153 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(£43,205/Yr)$58.3K/Yr
Living
(£3,686/Yr)$5K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#9/3118 THE Ranking 2026

UC-Berkeley, Berkeley

7.3(Based on 11 User Reviews)California, USA11.7%Acceptance Rate
MS Computer Science
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
IELTS7
View 84 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$20.6K/Yr
Living
$7.8K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#10/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Yale University, New Haven

8.2(Based on 3 User Reviews)Connecticut, USA4.6%Acceptance Rate
MBA
Course duration:
2 years
View 100 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$65.7K/Yr
Living
$19.9K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#11/3118 THE Ranking 2026

ETH Zurich, Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland27%Acceptance Rate
MS Computer Science
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
TOEFL100
View 73 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(CHf1,934/Yr)$2.5K/Yr
Living
(CHf2,085/Yr)$2.6K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#14/3118 THE Ranking 2026

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

7.3(Based on 6 User Reviews)Pennsylvania, USA5%Acceptance Rate
MBA
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo130TOEFL100
View 148 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$53.4K/Yr
Living
$19K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#15/3118 THE Ranking 2026

University of Chicago, Chicago

7.3(Based on 5 User Reviews)Illinois, USA
MS Financial Mathematics
Course duration:
15 months
Exams Accepted:
TOEFL90
View 75 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$69.7K/Yr
Living
$29K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#16/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

8.7(Based on 10 User Reviews)Maryland, USA6%Acceptance Rate
MS Computer Science
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo130TOEFL100PTE68
View 101 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$67.2K/Yr
Living
$15.4K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#17/3118 THE Ranking 2026

National University of Singapore, Singapore

5.7(Based on 8 User Reviews)Singapore, Singapore10%Acceptance Rate
MBA
Course duration:
17 months
Exams Accepted:
GMAT670TOEFL100
View 147 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(S$38,946/Yr)$30.4K/Yr
Living
(S$8,000/Yr)$6.2K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#18/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Cornell University, Ithaca

5.7(Based on 11 User Reviews)New York, USA8%Acceptance Rate
MBA
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo120IELTS7.0
View 211 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$50.9K/Yr
Living
$18.6K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#18/3118 THE Ranking 2026

UC-Los Angeles, Los Angeles

7.3(Based on 11 User Reviews)California, USA9%Acceptance Rate
MS Computer Science
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
GMAT703IELTS7
View 73 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$37K/Yr
Living
$27.4K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#20/3118 THE Ranking 2026

Columbia University, New York City

7.0(Based on 22 User Reviews)New York, USA4%Acceptance Rate
MS Data Science
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo135TOEFL100
View 92 Other Programs
Tuition:  
$72.3K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#21/3118 THE Ranking 2026

University of Toronto, Toronto

6.0(Based on 82 User Reviews)Ontario, Canada43%Acceptance Rate
MS Computer Science
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
TOEFL93
View 178 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(CA$56,025/Yr)$40.9K/Yr
Living
(CA$13,491/Yr)$9.8K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#22/3118 THE Ranking 2026

University College London, London

8.3(Based on 13 User Reviews)England, UK25%Acceptance Rate
MArch
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
TOEFL4.5PTE76
View 273 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(£37,181/Yr)$50.2K/Yr
Living
(£20,058/Yr)$27.1K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements