The world’s best small universities 2024
Does size matter? Apparently not, according to the students and faculty at the world’s outstanding small universities
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While many prospective students will crave large campuses and the anonymity of a bustling student body, others will be attracted to the experience that a smaller institution can offer.
Times Higher Education has once again revealed the best small universities across the globe – from the US, China and South Korea to India, Japan and France.
To be eligible for the ranking, universities must appear in THE’s World University Rankings 2024, teach more than four subjects and have fewer than 5,000 students.
The average number of students at institutions in the 2024 best small universities ranking is 3,215. In contrast, the average number of students at an institution in THE’s main global ranking is 25,000.
Top 20 small universities in the world 2024
1. California Institute of Technology (Caltech), United States
Despite its tiny size, Caltech’s credentials are impressive. Not only has it managed to defend its position as the best small university in the world for another year, but it’s also seventh in the overall World University Rankings. Not bad for an institution with just over 2,200 students.
Caltech offers a range of science and technology programmes taught by world-renowned scholars, as well as high-end facilities such as its Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Attending Caltech provides the opportunity to join a group of award-winning alumni that includes 39 Nobel laureates.
Caltech: ‘uniquely difficult but a wonderful place to study’
2. Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea
POSTECH was established in 1986 to provide advanced education for prospective engineers.
The university also offers courses and opportunities for students to become entrepreneurs, such as taking part in clubs, start-up prep groups, training on patents and leaves of absence to create a new venture.
3. Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Italy
Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa is one of the smallest universities on this list, with under 700 students.
It was founded in 1810 and has seen many eminent figures pass through it, including poet Giosuè Carducci, Nobel prizewinner in physics Carlo Rubbia, physicist Enrico Fermi, former Italian prime minister Carlo Ciampi and mathematician Alessio Figalli.
The university focuses on teaching in the humanities, the sciences and the political and social sciences.
A small university steeped in history and culture
4. Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology was established in 2009, making it one of the youngest universities in this table.
It may be small but it has bold ambitions to be ranked among the top 10 science and technology universities by 2030.
All the courses are taught in English and there is a strong push towards internationalisation of the student body and academic staff.
5. Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies – Pisa, Italy
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies counts some of Italy’s finest scientific and political minds among its alumni, including former Italian prime minister Giuliano Amato and neuroscientist Giuliano Tononi.
To attend the university, students must achieve top marks in their entrance exam and demonstrate proficiency in two languages. On achieving that, and gaining entry, students can attend the university free.
6. Indian Institute of Science, India
The Indian Institute of Science was founded in 1909 and is located in Bangalore, the capital of India’s southern Karnataka state.
It comprises six main departments: biological sciences, chemical sciences, electrical sciences, interdisciplinary research, mechanical sciences, and physical and mathematical sciences.
7. École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France
This high-achieving small university is located in the beautiful city of Lyon.
École Normale Supérieure de Lyon maintains its high student grades in part by recruiting its students from preparatory schools around France. Students from other countries may attend the university, but only if they pass the rigorous entrance exams.
8. Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi University is the largest private university in Abu Dhabi.
It has three campuses – Khalifa City, Al Ain and Dubai – and six colleges: arts and sciences, business, engineering, health sciences, law and academic programmes for military colleges.
9. Università della Svizzera Italiana, Switzerland
Università della Svizzera Italiana was established in 1995 with campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio and Bellinzona. It is the only university in Switzerland whose official language is Italian.
The university has a 1:8 teacher-to-student ratio. There is also a student newspaper called L’universo.
10. Brandeis University, US
Brandeis University is a new entry into this year’s top small universities list.
Located in Massachusetts, it is one of the largest universities in this list with just under 5,000 students. Pulitzer Prize winners, leading authors and a Nobel laureate can be found among the university’s alumni, as well as the creators of the television series Friends, David Crane and Marta Kauffman.
11. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
There are just over 4,000 students at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and they are spread over several campuses around Sweden, with the largest campus in Uppsala.
The university offers far more than just courses in the agricultural sciences. Its remit also incudes architecture, engineering and economics.
A strong emphasis is placed on research, and the institution produces about 1,500 papers a year.
Why is going to a small university beneficial?
12. Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea
Another new entry this year, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology is located in Daegu, South Korea.
The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The university focuses on six majors including emerging materials science, information and communication engineering, robotics engineering, energy systems engineering, brain and cognitive sciences and new biology.
13. Sabancı University, Turkey
Sabancı University was set up in 1994 by the Sabancı group.
The university offers a range of academic programmes including languages, natural sciences, engineering and business.
It also runs several exchange programmes for students to study abroad, including in the UK, the US, Spain, Japan, Germany and Canada.
14. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
Sometimes called the “Diamond in the Dolomites”, the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano has three campuses: in Bolzano, Brixen and Bruneck.
Multilingualism is one of the university’s defining characteristics, with lectures conducted in German, Italian and English. The university also strongly encourages students to spend time abroad to further these language skills.
16. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), South Korea
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is a research-oriented university that focuses on the fields of applied science and engineering.
This institution was founded in 1993 by the Korean government to meet the nation’s demand for advanced research and to enhance the development of higher education in science and engineering
=17. École des Ponts ParisTech, France
École des Ponts ParisTech is one of the oldest and most prestigious grandes écoles (a group of prestigious universities in France dedicated to science and engineering research).
Upon its founding, the university’s primary focus was to train engineers, but now it has expanded to offer programmes in computer science, mathematics, finance, economics, urban studies and environment, and transport engineering.
=17. University of Vaasa, Finland
The University of Vaasa is one of the largest providers of business education in Finland, with just under 4,000 students.
Every academic year the university welcomes roughly 200 international students from across the globe as part of its academic exchange programme.
19. SOAS University of London, UK
SOAS University of London is a research university based in the heart of central London – in Bloomsbury – and a member college of the University of London.
With roots dating back to 1916, the university is known for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
20. IMT Atlantique, France
IMT Atlantique was established in 2017 through the merger of two smaller institutions. It is one of France’s grandes écoles and has three campuses: in Brest, Nantes and Rennes.
Best small universities 2024
Editor’s note: As part of our THE statement on Ukraine published on 2 March 2022, Russian universities have been given less prominence in our rankings. Russian universities that met the criteria for this ranking are not displayed in the table above.
