Top 5 Countries with Best Education

World education rankings are based on a global survey conducted by UpGrad educational center. The company is a leader in the Asian educational market and it has divisions in the UK, the USA, the Middle East, India, Singapore, Vietnam, and a number of European countries. Future applicants, students and university graduates participated in the survey. 

Respondents under the age of 45 believe that some of the best universities are located in the US, UK, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands. In addition to the quality of education, the rankings reflect the living standards in the country, its cultural heritage, and opportunities for leisure and recreation. 

The criteria by which countries are ranked for the educational opportunities that they offer

It would be hard to claim that a certain country is the best one as far as educational opportunities are concerned. Every student chooses the university in accordance with his/ her personal preferences and financial capacities. The ethnic and religious factors together with the cultural specifics also play an important role in the choice of the university.   

IN any case, however, the following two criteria are of utmost importance for those choosing the university that they are going to attend and the country where they are going to live at least for a few years:

• Global Opportunity Index – it helps future applicants to objectively assess the economic, institutional and financial aspects of studying at a particular place; 
• Quality Index – in addition to the quality of education, the Index reflects the overall indicators of life quality in the country in terms of the healthcare system, unemployment, economic, and physical security.   

Best country education rankings according to UpGrad:

Country	Opportunity Index	Quality Index
Great Britain	69.79	78.2
United States	68.74	72
Australia	67.52	70.5
Netherlands	67.21	70.3
Canada	61.01	69.8

Let us consider each country with the highest educational rankings in some detail. We will also point out the most popular universities in each of the countries.

Reputable Universities in the UK

The United Kingdom is a country with a multicultural and highly pluralistic society.  Соединенное Королевство выгодно отличается своим мультикультурным обществом, где собраны практически все религии и вероисповедания. Racial, ethnic, and religious differences are irrelevant there, and the country is always open to new traditions and cultures. This fact is especially important for students from other countries. They hit the ground running when the training courses start and they don’t feel as if they did not belong there. Rather, they feel at home.   

Great Britain is one of the most popular places for acquiring a Master’s degree, in the opinion of foreign students. The country is widely known throughout the world for a high quality of education that it offers and well-thought-out and well-structured curricula. Besides, acquiring a degree in Great Britain may take less time than acquiring a degree in the United States, for example. At the same time, this is not the primary reason why a great number of young people from foreign countries wish to attend UK universities. 

The most prominent universities in the United Kingdom:

1. Oxford University. A world famous university founded in 1096. The oldest university museum can be found there as well as the largest mass media student corporation and a system of academic libraries. 28 Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom have attended Oxford University in addition to numerous presidents and head of states from other countries.
2. Cambridge University. The university started student training in 1209 and after 22 years of operations only, it was granted a King’s Charter by Henry III. Cambridge University is the second oldest English-speaking university and the fourth oldest university in the world. The reputation of the university and the quality of its educational programs have remained at the highest level since its foundation. Many outstanding scientists, politicians, writers, actors, and even members of foreign royal families have attended Cambridge. 
3. University of Edinburgh. The university obtained a Royal Charter from King James VI in 1582 and started offering educational courses in 1583. It is the sixth oldest English-speaking university and one of the four oldest universities in Scotland. The University of Edinburgh has five main campuses where a great number of architectural monuments of high significance for the UK can be found. 
4. King’s College London is one of the apexes of the ‘golden triangle’ of British universities together with Oxford and Cambridge. It was founded in 1829 by George IV and Duke Wellington. The College has 60 sports clubs and about 300 other specialized communities and groups serving the purpose of complex student development. 

Higher education in the United States of America

Many students consider the USA the educational center of the world. More than 4 thousand universities specializing in different areas can be found in the country. The USA has been at the top of educational rankings for years thanks to the high quality of education, strong faculty, and the use of the most advanced digital technologies.   

The United States is known as a melting pot as a great variety of peoples and cultures are integrated there. The country welcomes talented scholars and scientists who work as instructors in American universities turning them into world-class educational institutions. American university diplomas are recognized in all countries. Besides, the USA is the leader in many research areas including research in education technologies and staff training.

Some of the most prominent universities in the United States:

1. University of California Berkeley (UCB). Founded in 1868, the UCB was the first university in the state to obtain land grants. This is the oldest university in California and it has amazing faculty. Many top-rank professors teach there and they work in more than 130 academic departments and 80 interdisciplinary institutions.
2. Columbia University previously known as King’s College and then Columbia College. It is a private research institution, an Ivy League member, and the oldest university in New York. It is also among the oldest universities in the United States.
3. University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Founded in 1919 as a state education and research center. The university consists of six colleges, seven vocational schools, and four medicine departments each specializing in certain areas of medicine.

Education in Australia

Australia is also highly popular with foreign students. The local universities offer a wide range of educational programs, academic degrees, and types of diplomas. For this reason, any student can find an educational institution in Australia that specializes in his/ her area of interest. An outstanding feature that Australian universities possess is focus on practical research and practical studies. 

The most prominent universities in Australia:

1. Monash University is a state research institution, the second oldest university in the state of Victoria. The university has several campuses in Australia and Malaysia as well as research facilities in Prato, Italy, in Mumbai, India, and in a few cities in China. The educational programs are adapted to the needs of international students in Monash University. 
2. University of Sydney was founded in 1850 and it is one of the oldest universities in Australia and one of the leading universities of the world. According to the Daily Telegraph, the university campus is among the most beautiful and the most comfortable campuses on the globe. The university has been among the top 25 universities in the world for more than 50 years now. Its graduates are among the top 5 most in-demand specialists on the labor market.
3. University of Queensland – is a state educational institution founded in 1909. It is located in Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland. The university has three main campuses: Saint Lucia where most of the students attend classes, Glutton, the center of agricultural and veterinary studies, and Herston where medical schools are located. Other facilities that the university has include marine research stations, a hospital where students of medicine undergo internships, and an underground shaft. These facilities are located in different parts of the state of Queensland.  
4. Deakin University. It was founded in 1974 and named after the second Prime Minister of Australia Alfred Deakin. The faculty conduct active scientific research and some of the research results enjoy universal recognition. The university consists of four departments: education and arts, business and law, science and medicine, and construction and engineering.

Higher education in the Netherlands

Even though the Netherlands are not as rich in natural resources as some other European countries are, the Dutch have great experience in international trade and international cooperation. More than 200 nationalities live in the Netherlands and the country is well known for its cultural diversity. Since times immemorial, Dutch universities have been marked for their advanced educational systems, loyalty, and hospitality towards foreign students. 

Almost all colleges and universities in the Netherlands have English as the language of instruction (or a one of the languages of instruction). The research institutions are focused on independent student practice and work in an academic or industrial environment. Similarly to Anglo-Saxon countries, the Netherlands have a three-level university degree system: bachelor, master, and doctor. More than half of Dutch universities are international educational institutions attended by students from various countries.

The most prominent universities in the Netherlands:

1. Utrecht University is located in the fourth largest city in the Netherlands – Utrecht. It was founded in 1636 and it is a state education and research institution. The University consists of seven departments: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Law, Economics and Management, Geosciences, Medical Sciences, and Department of Natural Sciences.
2. University of Amsterdam is a state university founded in 1632. The academic buildings are located in Amsterdam while the students’ dormitories are located in the suburbs, quiet and peaceful districts of the city. Modern educational systems are applied in Amsterdam. A lot of research is going on and advanced research technologies are used. The University of Amsterdam was the third university to open in the Netherlands in the middle ages. Today, it is the largest university in the country as far as the number of students is concerned.
3. Maastricht State University was founded in 1976. It is the second youngest university among the 13 Dutch universities. Around 54% of all students are from foreign countries. Most master and doctorate courses are taught in English and the training programs are focused mainly on practical research and the use of modern technologies.
4. University of Twente is located in the eastern part of the Netherlands in the province of Overijssel. The university is composed of five departments each of them having several chairs. The State University was founded comparatively recently, in 1961 but the number of academic buildings has grown by four times since that year. It is at the top of many educational ranking lists.  

Education and students’ life in Canada

Canada applies rather liberal rules as far as education for foreign students is concerned. It is a friendly and multicultural country with unique natural wonders. In addition to their studies, foreign students can enjoy various kinds of outdoor activities while in Canada. Living and studying in the country is fun.  

The most prominent universities in:

1. University of Toronto is located in the province of Ontario and it is 193 years old, which is indeed old by the North American standards. It was founded in 1827 and it is the oldest university in Canada. It consists of 11 colleges and each college is an educational institution independent in financial and organizational matters. Each college has its own history and applies its own educational technologies. In addition, there are two campuses in the suburbs, one in Scarborough and one more in Mississauga.
2. University of British Columbia is a state research institution that was founded in 1908. It was the first higher education institution to open in the province of British Columbia. The university is among the top three Canadian universities and it has one of the largest academic libraries in the world. The library holds around 10 million books.
3. McGill University was founded in 1821. Its main campus is located in the province of Quebec, the city of Montreal. Students can major in around 300 different areas. Arts, natural sciences, technical specialties – everything is available at McGill University. Around 30% of all students are foreigners. Most of them attend classes in the departments of arts, sciences, medicine, engineering, and management.  

The educational systems in the countries that we have discussed above offer great opportunities to university graduates. Their university diplomas allow them to work for leading global corporations and build successful careers in their areas of specialization. After graduating, many foreign students manage to find jobs or open companies in the countries where they have studied and stay there for good, as a job contract or company registration often entitles the foreign person for a residence permit.