World University Rankings 2021 by subject: physical sciences

The physical sciences subject table uses the same trusted and rigorous performance indicators as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021, 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 1,149 universities, up from 1,054 last year.

View the World University Rankings 2021 by subject: physical sciences methodology

A Californian trio top the ranking this year: the California Institute of Technology leads the list for the first time since 2016; the University of California, Berkeley is second after rising seven places; and Stanford University holds on to third. Princeton University, which topped the table last year, is now fourth.

Yale University is the only new entry in the top 10, after climbing two places to 10^th, displacing the University of Chicago, which is now 11^th.

China’s top two representatives have both risen three places: Peking University is now ranked 14^th, while Tsinghua cements its position in the top 20 at 17^th, overtaking the National University of Singapore, which rises one place to 18^th.

The top newcomer in the table is Paris-Saclay University, which places 61^st.

View the full results of the overall World University Rankings 2021

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