Best Physics Universities in the World [2026 Rankings]

1

Australia | Sydney

University of New South Wales

#1 in Oceania #1 in Australia

60% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1949 Founded

2

Brazil | Sao Paulo

University of Sao Paulo

#1 in Latin America #1 in Brazil

9% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1827 Founded

3

Australia | Sydney

University of Sydney

#2 in Oceania #2 in Australia

71% Acceptance

63,602 Enrollment

1850 Founded

4

Australia | St Lucia

University of Queensland

#3 in Oceania #3 in Australia

70% Acceptance

48,771 Enrollment

1909 Founded

5

Australia | Canberra

Australian National University

#4 in Oceania #4 in Australia

71% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1946 Founded

6

Australia | Melbourne

University of Melbourne

#5 in Oceania #5 in Australia

77% Acceptance

77,162 Enrollment

1853 Founded

7

Australia | Clayton

Monash University

#6 in Oceania #6 in Australia

73% Acceptance

78,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

8

Brazil | Campinas

State University of Campinas

#3 in Latin America #2 in Brazil

15% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1966 Founded

9

Australia | Adelaide

University of Adelaide

#7 in Oceania #7 in Australia

73% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1874 Founded

10

Australia | Crawley

University of Western Australia

#8 in Oceania #8 in Australia

72% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1911 Founded

11

New Zealand | Auckland

University of Auckland

#9 in Oceania #1 in New Zealand

73% Acceptance

21,240 Enrollment

1883 Founded

12

Brazil | Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo State University

#4 in Latin America #3 in Brazil

35% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1976 Founded

13

Australia | Wollongong

University of Wollongong

#10 in Oceania #9 in Australia

67% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1975 Founded

14

Australia | Brisbane

Queensland University of Technology

#11 in Oceania #10 in Australia

77% Acceptance

38,747 Enrollment

1989 Founded

15

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

#5 in Latin America #4 in Brazil

10% Acceptance

67,329 Enrollment

1920 Founded

16

Australia | Perth

Curtin University

#12 in Oceania #11 in Australia

56% Acceptance

58,607 Enrollment

1966 Founded

17

Australia | Sydney

University of Technology Sydney

#13 in Oceania #12 in Australia

71% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1965 Founded

18

South Africa | Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

#1 in Africa

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

19

Brazil | Porto Alegre

Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

#6 in Latin America #5 in Brazil

18% Acceptance

67,329 Enrollment

1934 Founded

20

Australia | Melbourne

RMIT University

#14 in Oceania #13 in Australia

69% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1887 Founded

21

South Africa | Cape Town

University of Cape Town

#2 in Africa

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

22

Australia | Sydney

Macquarie University

#15 in Oceania #14 in Australia

72% Acceptance

38,747 Enrollment

1964 Founded

23

Egypt | Giza

Cairo University

#3 in Africa #1 in Egypt

90% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1908 Founded

24

Brazil | Belo Horizonte

Federal University of Minas Gerais

#7 in Latin America #6 in Brazil

17% Acceptance

45,038 Enrollment

1927 Founded

25

Australia | Brisbane

Griffith University

#16 in Oceania #15 in Australia

65% Acceptance

37,426 Enrollment

1971 Founded

26

Australia | Callaghan

University of Newcastle

#17 in Oceania #16 in Australia

80% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1965 Founded

27

Argentina | Buenos Aires

University of Buenos Aires

#8 in Latin America #1 in Argentina

64% Acceptance

262,932 Enrollment

1821 Founded

28

Chile | Santiago

University of Chile

#10 in Latin America #1 in Chile

46% Acceptance

33,971 Enrollment

1842 Founded

29

Australia | Geelong

Deakin University

#18 in Oceania #17 in Australia

69% Acceptance

34,616 Enrollment

1974 Founded

30

New Zealand | Dunedin

University of Otago

#19 in Oceania #2 in New Zealand

73% Acceptance

21,240 Enrollment

1869 Founded

31

Brazil | Sao Carlos

Federal University of Sao Carlos

#11 in Latin America #7 in Brazil

9% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1968 Founded

32

Australia | Hawthorn

Swinburne University of Technology

#20 in Oceania #18 in Australia

74% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1908 Founded

33

Brazil | Florianopolis

Federal University of Santa Catarina

#12 in Latin America #8 in Brazil

15% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1960 Founded

34

South Africa | Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

#4 in Africa

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

35

South Africa | Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

#5 in Africa

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

36

Egypt | Cairo

Ain Shams University

#6 in Africa #2 in Egypt

73% Acceptance

220,000 Enrollment

1950 Founded

37

Australia | Adelaide

University of South Australia

#21 in Oceania #19 in Australia

74% Acceptance

34,616 Enrollment

1991 Founded

38

South Africa | Pretoria

University of Pretoria

#7 in Africa

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

39

New Zealand | Christchurch

University of Canterbury

#22 in Oceania #3 in New Zealand

72% Acceptance

17,299 Enrollment

1873 Founded

40

Australia | Hobart

University of Tasmania

#23 in Oceania #20 in Australia

72% Acceptance

33,879 Enrollment

1890 Founded

41

Chile | Santiago

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

#13 in Latin America #2 in Chile

45% Acceptance

33,971 Enrollment

1888 Founded

42

Egypt | Mansoura

Mansoura University

#8 in Africa #3 in Egypt

70% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1972 Founded

43

Egypt | Alexandria

Alexandria University

#9 in Africa #4 in Egypt

60% Acceptance

197,278 Enrollment

1942 Founded

44

Argentina | La Plata

National University of La Plata

#14 in Latin America #2 in Argentina

70% Acceptance

178,288 Enrollment

1905 Founded

45

New Zealand | Palmerston North

Massey University

#24 in Oceania #4 in New Zealand

70% Acceptance

10,537 Enrollment

1963 Founded

46

Australia | Melbourne

La Trobe University

#25 in Oceania #21 in Australia

71% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1964 Founded

47

New Zealand | Wellington

Victoria University of Wellington

#26 in Oceania #5 in New Zealand

70% Acceptance

21,833 Enrollment

1897 Founded

48

South Africa | Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

#10 in Africa

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

49

Australia | Adelaide

Flinders University

#27 in Oceania #22 in Australia

73% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1966 Founded

50

Brazil | Brasilia

University of Brasilia

#15 in Latin America #9 in Brazil

10% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1962 Founded

51

Colombia | Bogota

National University of Colombia

#16 in Latin America #1 in Colombia

10% Acceptance

54,284 Enrollment

1867 Founded

52

Brazil | Curitiba

Federal University of Parana

#17 in Latin America #10 in Brazil

15% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1912 Founded

53

Brazil | Recife

Federal University of Pernambuco

#18 in Latin America #11 in Brazil

17% Acceptance

23,744 Enrollment

1946 Founded

54

Tunisia | Sfax

University of Sfax

#11 in Africa #1 in Tunisia

8% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

55

Brazil | Niteroi

Fluminense Federal University

#19 in Latin America #12 in Brazil

15% Acceptance

67,329 Enrollment

1960 Founded

56

Australia | Penrith

Western Sydney University

#28 in Oceania #23 in Australia

75% Acceptance

37,426 Enrollment

1989 Founded

57

Argentina | Cordoba

National University of Cordoba

#21 in Latin America #3 in Argentina

70% Acceptance

178,288 Enrollment

1613 Founded

58

Egypt | Zagazig

Zagazig University

#12 in Africa #5 in Egypt

75% Acceptance

117,299 Enrollment

1974 Founded

59

South Africa | Potchefstroom

North-West University

#13 in Africa

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

60

Brazil | Fortaleza

Federal University of Ceara

#22 in Latin America #13 in Brazil

10% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

1954 Founded

61

Chile | Concepcion

University of Concepcion

#23 in Latin America #3 in Chile

43% Acceptance

33,971 Enrollment

1920 Founded

62

Brazil | Santa Maria

Federal University of Santa Maria

#24 in Latin America #14 in Brazil

11% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1960 Founded

63

Australia | Townsville

James Cook University

#29 in Oceania #24 in Australia

74% Acceptance

33,879 Enrollment

1970 Founded

64

Egypt | Asyut

Assiut University

#14 in Africa #6 in Egypt

74% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1957 Founded

65

Brazil | Sao Paulo

Federal University of Sao Paulo

#25 in Latin America #15 in Brazil

16% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1933 Founded

66

Brazil | Joao Pessoa

Federal University of Paraiba

#26 in Latin America #16 in Brazil

10% Acceptance

23,744 Enrollment

1955 Founded

67

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro

#27 in Latin America #17 in Brazil

37% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

1941 Founded

68

Brazil | Natal

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte

#28 in Latin America #18 in Brazil

14% Acceptance

23,744 Enrollment

1958 Founded

69

Egypt | Tanta

Tanta University

#15 in Africa #7 in Egypt

72% Acceptance

220,000 Enrollment

1972 Founded

70

New Zealand | Hamilton

University of Waikato

#30 in Oceania #6 in New Zealand

71% Acceptance

10,537 Enrollment

1964 Founded

71

Egypt | Cairo

Al-Azhar University

#16 in Africa #8 in Egypt

77% Acceptance

207,853 Enrollment

1961 Founded

72

Brazil | Rio de Janeiro

University of the State of Rio de Janeiro

#29 in Latin America #19 in Brazil

23% Acceptance

15,000 Enrollment

1950 Founded

73

South Africa | Pretoria

University of South Africa

#17 in Africa

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

74

Morocco | Rabat

Mohammed V University

#18 in Africa #1 in Morocco

50% Acceptance

49,769 Enrollment

75

Tunisia | Monastir

University of Monastir

#19 in Africa #2 in Tunisia

51% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

76

South Africa | Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

#20 in Africa

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

77

Brazil | Uberlandia

Federal University of Uberlandia

#30 in Latin America #20 in Brazil

20% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1969 Founded

78

Tunisia | Tunis

Tunis University

#21 in Africa #3 in Tunisia

39% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

79

Australia | Murdoch

Murdoch University

#31 in Oceania #25 in Australia

72% Acceptance

22,475 Enrollment

1975 Founded

80

Australia | Toowoomba

University of Southern Queensland

#32 in Oceania #26 in Australia

70% Acceptance

17,576 Enrollment

1967 Founded

81

Chile | Valparaiso

Federico Santa Maria Technical University

#32 in Latin America #4 in Chile

30% Acceptance

33,971 Enrollment

1931 Founded

82

Australia | Melbourne

Victoria University

#33 in Oceania #27 in Australia

74% Acceptance

34,616 Enrollment

1990 Founded

83

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

Menoufia University

#22 in Africa #9 in Egypt

71% Acceptance

80,000 Enrollment

1976 Founded

84

Egypt | Benha

Benha University

#23 in Africa #10 in Egypt

90% Acceptance

88,016 Enrollment

1976 Founded

85

Chile | Santiago

University of Santiago de Chile

#33 in Latin America #5 in Chile

30% Acceptance

33,971 Enrollment

1849 Founded

86

Tunisia | Tunis

University of Tunis El Manar

#24 in Africa #4 in Tunisia

45% Acceptance

33,193 Enrollment

87

Brazil | Maringa

State University of Maringa

#35 in Latin America #21 in Brazil

23% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1970 Founded

88

Australia | Joondalup

Edith Cowan University

#34 in Oceania #28 in Australia

73% Acceptance

58,607 Enrollment

1991 Founded

89

Brazil | Salvador

Federal University of Bahia

#37 in Latin America #22 in Brazil

19% Acceptance

45,038 Enrollment

1946 Founded

90

Algeria | Algiers

University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

#25 in Africa #1 in Algeria

55% Acceptance

54,549 Enrollment

91

Brazil | Vicosa

Federal University of Vicosa

#38 in Latin America #23 in Brazil

15% Acceptance

12,000 Enrollment

1922 Founded

92

Australia | Canberra

University of Canberra

#35 in Oceania #29 in Australia

78% Acceptance

17,576 Enrollment

1967 Founded

93

New Zealand | Auckland

Auckland University of Technology

#36 in Oceania #7 in New Zealand

91% Acceptance

10,537 Enrollment

2000 Founded

94

Australia | Armidale

University of New England, Australia

#37 in Oceania #30 in Australia

70% Acceptance

38,747 Enrollment

1938 Founded

95

Brazil | Santo Andre

Federal University of ABC

#40 in Latin America #24 in Brazil

10% Acceptance

12,446 Enrollment

2005 Founded

96

Morocco | Marrakesh

Cadi Ayyad University

#26 in Africa #2 in Morocco

59% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

97

Brazil | Goiania

Federal University of Goias

#41 in Latin America #25 in Brazil

12% Acceptance

25,494 Enrollment

1960 Founded

98

Brazil | Vitoria

Federal University of Espirito Santo

#42 in Latin America #26 in Brazil

26% Acceptance

23,744 Enrollment

1954 Founded

99

Colombia | Medellin

University of Antioquia

#43 in Latin America #2 in Colombia

10% Acceptance

54,284 Enrollment

1803 Founded

100

Nigeria | Ibadan

University of Ibadan

#27 in Africa #1 in Nigeria

11% Acceptance

41,269 Enrollment

1948 Founded

100 Best Universities in the World for Physics

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