World University Rankings 2023 by subject: physical sciences

The physical sciences subject ranking uses the same trusted and rigorous performance indicators as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023, but the methodology has been recalibrated to suit the individual fields.

It highlights the universities that are leading across the following disciplines: mathematics and statistics, physics and astronomy, chemistry, geology, environmental sciences, and earth and marine sciences.

This year’s table includes 1,307 universities, up from 1,227 last year.

View the World University Rankings 2023 by subject: physical sciences methodology

In a US-dominated top 10 (American institutions hold the top six, and Columbia University, having risen three spots, occupies 10th place), Princeton University claims the top spot. It has swapped places with the University of California, Berkeley, which now shares second with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Meanwhile, Switzerland’s ETH Zurich maintains its position in the top 10 for the eighth consecutive year, ranking once again at ninth place.

Both of Singapore’s universities on the list have moved up the table since last year. The National University of Singapore is now 14th, up from 16th, and Nanyang Technological University has risen eight spots to 27th.

Mainland China maintains the record it set last year, with seven entrants in the top 100. All of these had previously appeared, but some have improved, such as Fudan University, which has risen five spots to 25th, and Zhejiang University, up 25 to 75th.

Read our analysis of the subject rankings 2023 results

View the full results of the overall World University Rankings 2023

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