Top 10 universities for education degrees 2025
Explore the top 10 universities for education worldwide, ranked using the latest Times Higher Education World Subject Rankings data.
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Insights into the top 10 universities in the world for education 2025
| Education rank 2025 | Education rank 2024 | University | Country/region |
| 1 | 2 | Stanford University | United States |
| 2 | 1 | University of California, Berkeley | United States |
| 3 | 3 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
| 4 | 4 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
| 5 | 5 | Harvard University | United States |
| 6 | 6 | University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| 7 | 7 | Tsinghua University | China |
| 8 | 12 | Peking University | China |
| 9 | 9 | University of Toronto | Canada |
| 10 | 11 | UCL | United Kingdom |
Explore the full table for the best education degrees in the world here
An education degree can open doors to working and teaching in schools as well as carrying out research into how we learn.
Times Higher Education has ranked the best universities for education degrees to help you decide on the best institution for you.
Three UK institutions feature in the top 10 which are the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and UCL. The University of Toronto is the only Canadian university to feature in the top 10.
US universities are well represented in the subject ranking for education, with 130 universities. A total of 73 universities are from the UK and 96 are from Asia.
Canada and Australia are also represented in the ranking, with 23 and 36 universities, respectively.
Times Higher Education subject rankings are based on the same 18 performance indicators used in the overall World University Rankings 2025. However, the methodology is carefully recalibrated for each subject, with the weightings adjusted to suit the individual fields. The full methodology for the education ranking can be found here.
Top 10 universities for education degrees
1. Stanford University
The Stanford University Graduate School of Education is one of seven schools at the institution, which also include business, law, engineering and medicine. It has a reputation as one of the best education schools in the US.
The school provides seven master’s programmes, 21 doctoral programmes and three joint programmes. There are also undergraduate programmes for students wishing to pursue a minor in education or take part in the honours programme.
The doctoral programmes aim to promote research in education, looking at the psychology behind how we learn as well as curriculum studies and teacher training.
2. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley offers MA and PhD programmes across a wide range of topics in the field of education, such as the impact of race, class and gender, and the influence of politics and policy on education.
Undergraduates also have the option to take a minor in education, and it is one of the university’s most popular minors.
At Berkeley, there are also courses that will prepare students for a teaching career, from classroom teaching to district-level leadership.
3. University of Oxford
Research at the University of Oxford’s department of education is centred around three key themes: language, cognition and development; economy, policy and society; and knowledge, pedagogy and design. Within each of these areas are several research groups and centres.
As well as research into education, the department provides teacher training for primary and secondary school teachers.
The department regularly hosts seminars and public lectures by nationally distinguished speakers in the field of education.
4. University of Cambridge
Education is offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of Cambridge.
The three-year undergraduate education degree accepts only 42 students per year.
The undergraduate course consists of three possible tracks: education, psychology and learning; education, policy and international development; or education, English, drama and the arts.
Postgraduates wishing to study education can choose a PGCE, master’s or doctorate. The PGCE course is taken as a specialism in primary or secondary (high school) education. Both options include significant placement time, with secondary PGCE students spending at least 120 days of the course in schools.
5. Harvard University
Harvard University offers 13 master’s programmes and a number of doctoral programmes in education.
The master’s courses cover many aspects of the subject, including arts and education, higher education, international education policy, and human development and education.
Among the faculty are experts in wide-ranging aspects of education, including bilingual education, adult learning, economy and education, and social services and schools.
6. University of Hong Kong
The Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong provides teaching in Chinese-language education and English-language education. There is also a division for mathematics and science education, speech and hearing sciences and information and technology studies.
There are seven research centres, including the centre for educational leadership, the centre for communication disorders and the centre for the advancement of Chinese-language education and research.
7. Tsinghua University
Education programmes are delivered through the Institute of Education at Tsinghua University. There are five faculties within the institute including educational policy and management, engineering education, higher education research, educational technology and basic education research.
There are six research divisions covering technology, engineering and educational policy among other areas.
8. Peking University
Peking University has been offering teacher training since 1902. Today the Graduate School of Education offers master's and PhD programmes.
The Graduate School of Education contains four departments, two institutes, and seven research centres. The departments are the Department of Education and Human Development, the Department of Educational Economics and Administration, the Department of Educational Technology, and the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy.
9. University of Toronto
The University of Toronto offers two teacher training programmes, a master of teaching and a master of child studies and education.
The master of teaching is designed for those looking to work in education, and it can be taken in three different fields: primary, junior or senior. The child studies and education master’s focuses on practice-based work. After completing either one, students can apply to the Ontario College of Teachers for certification.
Other master’s courses include the master of adult education and community development, which focuses on how adults learn in different environments. You can also study the following specialisations at master’s or doctorate level: curriculum and pedagogy; developmental psychology and education; language and literacies education; educational leadership and policy; higher education; school and clinical child psychology; and social justice education.
10. UCL
UCL offers a range of education degrees, including an undergraduate education studies bachelor’s, several master’s and doctoral programmes, as well as PGCEs in early years, primary and secondary.
The education bachelor’s degree is three years in duration. During their third year, students can conduct research in areas they are interested in. To achieve Qualified Teacher Status, students can apply for a one-year teacher training programme after their studies.
Both research and taught degrees are offered to postgraduate students, including education and technology (MA), early years education (MA), and education and child psychology (DEdPsy). PGCE teacher training is also offered, where students can select one subject for specialist study.
