QS Europe Rankings 2026: Oxford tops list

The QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026 have been released, with the University of Oxford ranked #1 in Europe, ahead of ETH Zurich at #2. QS said Oxford scored a perfect reputation score among academics and employers, and noted that seven UK universities feature in Europe’s top 10 this year.

The new edition ranks 950+ institutions across 42 countries and territories, and the UK takes seven spots in the top 10—an outcome that matters for Indian applicants because the UK remains one of the largest study destinations in Europe.

What changed in the QS Europe 2026 table

QS’s Europe ranking is a region-focused table that ranks eligible institutions across Europe, published as part of QS’s regional rankings portfolio. The QS listing shows the Europe 2026 table was published on 28 January 2026 on TopUniversities.

For Indian students, this ranking is most useful when you are comparing employer reputation, international mix, and research strength across countries—especially for courses where European job outcomes vary widely by city and labour market.

QS said Oxford moved to No. 1 after improvements in its Sustainability and International Student Ratio indicators, while ETH Zurich fell on exchange-student metrics and faculty-student ratio, and Imperial saw declines on research and exchange indicators.

QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026 – Top 10 Universities

The top universities as per QS Europe 2026 Rankings are as follows:

Quick facts for Indian applicants

• Ranking: QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026
• Published by QS on: 28 January 2026
• #1 in Europe: University of Oxford
• #2 in Europe: ETH Zurich
• Top 10 concentration: QS notes 7 UK universities in the top 10

How QS ranks universities in Europe?

QS uses 12 indicators across lenses such as research, employability, global engagement, learning experience, and sustainability. The QS support documentation lists indicator weightings such as Academic Reputation (30%), Employer Reputation (15%), International Research Network (10%), and Sustainability (5%), among others.

QS also defines eligibility for Europe ranking participation, including requirements such as being based in a Council of Europe member location, offering degree programmes at both UG and PG levels, and meeting a research publication threshold.

What this means for Indian students planning Europe in 2026 intakes?

For Indian applicants comparing Europe options beyond the global QS list, the Europe ranking can help shortlist universities on employability outcomes, exchange opportunities, and research impact, depending on your course and career plan. QS also publishes sub-regional views (e.g., Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western Europe, and Western Asia), which can be useful if you’re targeting specific countries for language, cost, or post-study pathways.

Here’s what to do next:

• Shortlist by country + city, not only rank: job outcomes, language requirements, and post-study work conditions differ sharply across Europe even among similarly ranked universities.
• Use “Employer Reputation” signals for ROI: if your goal is employment, prioritise universities and cities where industries hire international graduates at scale.
• Cross-check the programme page: intake deadlines, English/German/French language requirements, and tuition/fee structures are programme-specific.