The world's top 10 universities, 2010

Name: University of Cambridge
Score: 100.00
Location: Trinity Lane, Cambridge CB2 1TN United Kingdom
History
The University of Cambridge (informally Cambridge University, or simply Cambridge) is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second oldest university in both England and the English-speaking world and the seventh oldest university globally.
Academically, Cambridge ranks as one of the world's topmost universities, as well as the leading university in Europe, and contends with Oxford for first place in UK league tables. Affiliates of the University have won more Nobel Prizes than those of any other institution in the world - with 88 Nobel Laureates as of October 4, 2010 - the most recent one being Robert G. Edwards for the prize in physiology or medicine. The University is a member of the Russell Group of research-led British universities, the Coimbra Group, the League of European Research Universities and the International Alliance of Research Universities. It forms part of the 'Golden Triangle' of British universities.
Courses offered
There is a variety of options for studies at Cambridge - undergraduate studies, graduate studies, conferences and part-time courses for adult learners and executive education and training are just some of the numerous learning opportunities available here.
Most well known for/Specialises in
Although diversified in its research and teaching interests, Cambridge today maintains its strength in mathematics.
Famous Alumni
Among the most famous of Cambridge polymaths is Sir Isaac Newton, who spent the majority of his life at the university and conducted many of his now famous experiments within the grounds of Trinity College. Sir Francis Bacon, responsible for the development of the Scientific Method, entered the university when he was just twelve, and pioneering mathematicians John Dee and Brook Taylor have also studied at this prestigious university.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Graduate students operate on the basis of the academic year which extends beyond the end of the Easter Term. The Academic year commences on 1st October and finishes on 30th September each year. Dates for General Admission (the degree ceremony mainly for undergraduate awards) and other degree ceremonies are listed separately. Graduands should check with their College's Praelector to find on which of the dates their College will be represented.
Tentative cost of courses
£3,290 per year. Details of the costs expected are available from the University Graduate Studies Prospectus.
Scholarships offered
The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Overseas Trust offer part-cost and a limited number of full-cost awards to overseas (non-EU) students, including affiliated students, who have been accepted for admission by a Cambridge College. To apply for funding through the Trusts, you must have been offered a place at one of the Colleges, at which point the College will ask you to complete an application form. All awards are allocated based on academic merit, and are means-tested.

Name: Harvard University
Score: 99.18
Location: 1350 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge 02138 United States
History
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. It was named after its first benefactor, John Harvard. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation (officially The President and Fellows of Harvard College) chartered in the country.
Harvard employs over 2,000 faculty to teach and advise approximately 6,700 undergraduate and 13,600 graduate and professional students. Eight U.S. Presidents have graduated from Harvard and 75 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the university as students, faculty, or staff. Harvard is also the alma mater of sixty-two living billionaires, the most in the country. The Harvard University Library is the largest academic library in the United States, and the second largest library in the country.
Courses offered
Harvard's searchable catalog lists over 8,000 courses offered at Harvard University from over 100 departments.
Most well known for/Specialises in
Although it covers nearly all conceivable courses under its roof, Harvard is primarily known for its law and business degrees.
Famous Alumni
Notable graduates of Harvard include Theodore Roosevelt, George W. Bush, Benazir Bhutto, Al Gore and Michael Crichton, to name just a few. Seventy-five Nobel Prize winners are affiliated with the university.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Harvard's academic programs operate on a semester calendar beginning in early September and ending in mid-May. Detailed information on their admission procedures can be found at Harvard's website.
Tentative cost of courses
$53,950 - $56,750. Financial aid is awarded to help with all of these expenses, including an additional standard allowance for travel expenses. In addition, health insurance coverage is required at a cost of $1,788 unless the student is covered under the family's health plan.
Scholarships offered
Harvard does not award merit scholarships. However, students last year brought with them to Harvard more than $13 million in scholarships from outside resources, thus enhancing their own financial flexibility during their college years.

Name: Yale University
Score: 98.68
Location: P.O. Box 208236, New Haven 06520 United States
History
Yale University is a private Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States.
Incorporated as the Collegiate School, the institution traces its roots to 17th-century clergymen who sought to establish a college to train clergy and political leaders for the colony.
The University's assets include a US$16.3 billion endowment, the second largest of any academic institution, as well as the second largest academic library in the world, with some 12.5 million volumes held in more than two dozen libraries. 49 Nobel Laureates have been affiliated with the University as students, faculty, or staff.
Courses offered
Yale University comprises three major academic components: Yale College (the undergraduate program), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the professional schools. In addition, Yale encompasses a wide array of centers and programs, libraries, museums, and administrative support offices.
Most well known for/Specialises in
The undergraduate school, Yale College, is the heart of the University. More than 2,000 undergraduate courses in the liberal arts and sciences are offered each year by over sixty-five departments and programs, forming a curriculum of remarkable breadth and depth. The faculty is dedicated to undergraduate teaching, and many of Yale's most distinguished professors teach introductory-level courses.
Famous Alumni
Yale has produced many notable alumni, including five U.S. Presidents, nineteen U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and several foreign heads of state.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
To be accepted to study at Yale, interested applicants must apply directly to the school, college, or program where the degree will be awarded: Yale College for undergraduate degrees; the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for doctoral programs and some master's degrees; or one of the professional schools.
Tentative cost of courses
Tuition and fee rates vary for each school, and are established annually. The actual rates are generally available in the spring from a financial aid office.
Scholarships offered
Most financial aid is in the form of grants and scholarships that do not need to be paid back to the University, and the average scholarship for the 2006-2007 school year was $26,900.
Option 1: While Yale does not award merit-based awards, its students often qualify for merit awards from other organizations. Check out the new CAPFAA scholarship for undergrad and graduate students, as well as other opportunities, on the university website. Yale admits students for their academic and personal promise without regard to ability to pay. Its new financial aid policies increase the number of families who qualify for aid. Yale maintains that concern about cost should not keep students from applying. 100% of demonstrated need will be met.
Option 2: Procedures for applying for financial assistance are set by the individual schools. Refer to the university's website for details on your school of preference.

Name: University College London
Score: 98.54
Location: University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
History
UCL was established in 1826 in order to open up education in England for the first time to students of any race, class or religion. The idea was bold, radical, and responsive to the needs of the world -- three qualities that the college believes passionately in to this day. Its founding principles of academic excellence and research, aimed at addressing real-world problems, inform the university's ethos to this day.
Although UCL voluntarily remains a constituent college of the University of London, it is in most ways comparable with free-standing, self-governing and independently funded universities, and it awards its own degrees.
Located in one of the most metropolitan cities in the world, the college has always believed that excellence should go hand-in-hand with enriching society.
Whether designing the iconic parks or buildings of tomorrow, or grappling with issues such as global health or climate change, the challenges of daily life inspire each generation of UCL students and academics.
Courses offered
UCL offers degree programmes at undergraduate and graduate (postgraduate) level. It also has short courses for adult learning and professional development. UCL's departments offer a growing range of programmes designed to meet both specific professional development and more general interest. Attendance may be through short courses, summer schools or evening seminars. Stand-alone modules, for which academic credit may be awarded, can be taken from certain graduate degrees and Postgraduate Diplomas.
Most well known for/Specialises in
UCL is a major centre for biomedical research, besides offering a variety of regular courses.
Famous Alumni
There has been at least one Nobel Laureate from the UCL community every decade, Rabindranath Tagore being one of them, since the establishment of the Nobel Prizes in 1901. There are currently 21 Nobel prizewinners amongst UCL's alumni and former staff.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
For graduate courses, applications are made direct to UCL. There are three options to apply -- online, through a downloadable application form (pdf format), or through a graduate application package (which will be sent to you on request). Applicants who need to meet funding deadlines should submit their applications in good time and certainly no later than five weeks before a funding deadline or 1 March, whichever is the earlier. Although UCL does not have a general deadline for the receipt of applications for graduate study, closing dates are specified for a limited number of programmes (details of which can be found at the college's website).
All undergraduate applications to UCL are made online through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. In order to ensure that all applicants are treated equally UCL asks that, regardless of where you are applying from, you submit your application to UCAS by 15 January 2011 at the latest (if applying for Medicine, apply by 15 October 2010). Applications made after these deadlines cannot be guaranteed equal consideration, and will be considered at the discretion of individual departments.
Tentative cost of courses
The fees vary according to the course selected. A detailed break-up on costs that can be expected, including tuition fees, can be found at the college website.
Scholarships offered
Funding schemes include scholarships, awards, prizes, medals, bursaries, and loans.
UCL defines scholarships, awards, prizes and medals as schemes which award funding on the basis of applicants' academic achievements and potential; scholarships will normally be of a higher value than prizes and medals. Prizes and medals are usually awarded to current students only.
Bursaries, grants and loan schemes take account of applicants' financial circumstances.

Name: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Score: 98.19
Location: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
History
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research institute located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded by William Barton Rogers in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, the institute adopted the European polytechnic university model and emphasized laboratory instruction from an early date. Its current 168-acre campus opened in 1916 and extends over 1 mile along the northern bank of the Charles River basin. MIT was elected to the Association of American Universities in 1934 and researchers were involved in efforts to develop computers, radar, and inertial guidance in connection with defense research during World War II and the Cold War. In the past 60 years, MIT's educational disciplines have expanded beyond the physical sciences and engineering into fields like biology, economics, linguistics, political science, and management.
Courses offered
Spanning five schools -- architecture and planning; engineering; humanities, arts, and social sciences; management; and science -- and more than 30 departments and programs, an education at MIT covers more than just science and technology.
Most well known for/Specialises in
MIT is known best for a strong emphasis on scientific and technological research.
Prominent faculty (including Indians)
MIT faculty members, including ones in the past, have won a total of 27 Nobel Prizes, the majority in Economics or Physics. Among current faculty and teaching staff, there are 80 Guggenheim Fellows, 6 Fulbright Scholars, and 29 MacArthur Fellows.
Famous Alumni
Many of MIT's over 120,000 alumni and alumnae have had considerable success in scientific research, public service, education, and business. 76 MIT alumni have won the Nobel Prize, 44 have been selected as Rhodes Scholars, and 55 have been selected as Marshall Scholars.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Students normally enter the Graduate School in September, but some departments allow students to enter in February or June. Notification about admission for September is sent as soon as action is taken (normally before April 1). For February and June applicants, notification is usually sent as soon as the application is complete. The deadlines for the institute's different departments, along with the entrance dates, can be found at the MIT website.
Tentative cost of courses
The estimated average budget for a single graduate student enrolled at MIT for the academic year of nine months is approximately $66,276. A calendar year budget is about $87,692. These figures include tuition (nine months), books and supplies, hospitalization and accident insurance fees, with an allowance for a reasonable standard of living.
The estimated living expenses assume that a student will live frugally. Little is allowed for clothing, travel, and incidental expenses. The budget does not include the purchase or maintenance of an automobile or other such major items. It may be possible with careful budget planning to reduce the allowances for housing and food, but not by more than two or three hundred dollars. Round trip transportation costs and travel insurance are not included.
Scholarships offered
Scholarships, grants and fellowships are types of funding you receive that do not have to be paid back. The main differences lie in the criteria used to award this gift aid and which students are eligible to receive them. In general, scholarships and fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and grants on financial need, although MIT refers to need-based grant money awarded to undergraduates as a scholarship. Scholarships can be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students, grants are awarded primarily to undergraduates, and fellowships primarily to graduate students. The most important thing for you to know about gift aid is how to apply for it.
MIT provided 76 per cent of all aid to its undergraduates in 2008-2009. Of this MIT financial aid, 92 percent took the form of scholarships, less than1 percent was loans, and about 7 percent employment. The average amount per student in 2008-2009 was $29,891.

Name: University of Oxford
Score: 98.2
Location: University of Oxford, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD, United Kingdom
History
Oxford was the first University in the English-speaking world. Its aim is to remain at the forefront of centres of learning, teaching and research.
Students from more than a 140 countries and territories make up a student population of over 20,000, including 11,765 undergraduates and 8,701 postgraduates. Over a third of the student population comes from outside the United Kingdom.
But it is not just longevity and global reach that mark Oxford out and give the University its special character. There is also the distinctive college and tutorial system which underpins a culture of close academic supervision and careful personal support for its outstanding students. The colleges and halls of which there are more than 40 also help to foster the intense interdisciplinary approach that inspires much of the outstanding research achievement of the University and makes Oxford a leader in so many fields. It is an approach especially suited to confronting many of the hugely complex challenges in life.
Courses offered
Oxford offers a huge variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, which are alphabetically listed at its official website. Each year thousands of people take up lifelong learning opportunities through Oxford University. Oxford University also offers online and distance learning options.
Most well known for/Specialises in
Oxford is a world leader in science research and education, but 2010 is a particularly special year for science. It marks a number of key anniversaries that link the University of Oxford with major scientific milestones.
Famous Oxonians
Throughout its history, Oxford has produced gifted men and women in every sphere of human endeavor who have studied or taught at the University. Among these are 26 British Prime Ministers, including the current one, at least 30 international leaders; 47 Nobel Prize winners; 7 current holders of the Order of Merit; at least 12 saints and 20 Archbishops of Canterbury; and some 50 Olympic medal winners. Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was educated at Oxford.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Candidates must check to see if there is a written test for their subject and ensure that they have registered where required. Oxford starts accepting UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) applications for undergraduate courses from September 1 to October 15 every year.
The University requires online applications for the majority of postgraduate programmes. Paper applications are only acceptable where there is no option to make an online application to the course or in other exceptional cases where it is not possible to apply online. Courses that do not accept online applications are listed in the Oxford website. Application deadlines vary according to the course selected.
Tentative cost of courses
The Oxford website provides information and advice to prospective and current undergraduate and graduate students about fees payable for University tuition, to the college, living costs and sources of funding at the University of Oxford.
Scholarships offered
There are a limited number of undergraduate scholarships available to both UK and international students. More information including details on eligibility and how to apply are available on the official website. A wide range of graduate scholarships is offered by the collegiate University. Performing a search by answering simple questions in the website will yield results that link directly to relevant scholarship web pages containing full information about eligibility and how to apply.

Name: Imperial College London
Score: 97.8
Location: Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ
History
Consistently rated among the world's top university institutions, Imperial College London today is a globally positioned science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts 11,500 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.
At the heart of the College's strategic intent is the commitment that Imperial will continue to develop its academic activities to meet the changing needs of society, industry and healthcare.
Medical breakthroughs, scientific discoveries and new technologies conceived at Imperial College have helped shape the last 100 years. Imperial researchers are now tackling the issues of the next 100 years and beyond.
Courses offered
Imperial College offers over 110 undergraduate and 120 postgraduate courses.
Most well known for/Specialises in
Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
For all full-time undergraduate higher education courses, you must make an online application via UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). All applications which include choices for medicine must be submitted by October 15.
Applications for postgraduate taught programmes open on November 22. Only online applications are accepted.
Tentative cost of courses
The fees depend on the course selected. A detailed fee structure (course-wise) has been provided at the official website.
Scholarships offered
Imperial College offers undergraduate scholarships that reward academic excellence. The eligibility depends on the achievement. Scholarships available from the College do not have to be repaid.
The Student Financial Support team administers a variety of scholarships and award schemes to support postgraduate study. Details can be found at the official website.

Name: University of Chicago
Score: 97.5
Location: 5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637
History
Founded in 1890 by the American Baptist Education Society and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller, the University's land was donated by Marshall Field, owner of the legendary Chicago department store that bore his name. Rockefeller described the donation as "the best investment I ever made."
Located in the community of Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side, just 15 minutes from the city center, the University of Chicago is uniquely positioned to contribute to, and draw from, the strength and diversity of this world-class metropolis. It has also made an indelible mark on the world at large.
Courses offered
Besides offering undergraduate graduate courses, the university also has professional schools and continuing education options (for persons with a bachelor's degree).
Most well known for/Specialises in
The University of Chicago is a pioneer in economics, sociology, literary criticism, and legal education, and is the home to the country's largest university press.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
The University of Chicago accepts the Common Application for undergraduate courses. It also requires the University of Chicago Supplement, which can be found and submitted online. First-year applications can be sent starting from November 1, right through till January 3.
All of the graduate divisions accept applications through the Online Application for Graduate Studies. For more information on program-specific application deadlines, refer to the official website.
Tentative cost of courses
The average expense budget for an academic year is available at the university's website. Entering first-year and transfer students must also pay a College Class Fee in their first year.
Tuition for full-time graduate or professional study varies by academic unit. There are also several required fees. In addition, unless you have medical insurance comparable to the University's policy, you must carry the health insurance plan available through the University.
Scholarships offered
The University of Chicago awarded more than $75 million in grants and scholarships in 2009-10. The University of Chicago offers a number of its own merit scholarships to first-year applicants.
Graduate students at the University receive various levels of financial support and a wide range of student privileges. For more information, visit the university's website.

Name: Princeton University
Score: 96.0
Location: Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
History
Princeton University is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning that stands in the nation's service and in the service of all nations. Chartered in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. Princeton is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational institution that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.
As a world-renowned research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching.
Today, more than 1,100 faculty members instruct approximately 5,000 undergraduate students and 2,500 graduate students. The University's generous financial aid program ensures that talented students from all economic backgrounds can afford a Princeton education.
Courses offered
Undergraduate students at Princeton benefit from the extraordinary resources of a world-class research institution dedicated to undergraduate teaching. Students graduate with either the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) or the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.).
The Graduate School offers advanced degrees spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.
Doctoral education available in all disciplines emphasizes original and independent scholarship, while master's degree programs in architecture, engineering, finance, public affairs and public policy prepare candidates for careers in public life and professional practice.
Most well known for/Specialises in
One of the world's great research centers, Princeton University is the site of pioneering work across all academic areas, from nanotechnology to politics.
Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)
Before preparing an application for undergraduate admission, Princeton strongly recommends a review of its publication on how to apply, which is available in PDF format at the official website.
The application deadline for Princeton's graduate school varies according to the department being applied to. Details of the deadlines for different departments is available at the official website.
Tentative cost of courses
The estimated cost of attendance for an undergraduate course in 2010-11 is $52,180. The cost of attendance for the graduate school is available in PDF format at the official website.

Name: Columbia University
Score: 96.0
Location: City of New York
History
Columbia University is a private research university in New York City and one of the eight members of the Ivy League. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution.
Today, the University operates four global centers overseas in Amman, Jordan; Beijing, China; Paris, France; and Mumbai, India.
From its beginnings in a schoolhouse in lower Manhattan, Columbia University has grown to encompass two principal campuses: the historic, neoclassical campus in the Morningside Heights neighborhood and the modern Medical Center further uptown, in Washington Heights. Today, Columbia is one of the top academic and research institutions in the world, conducting path-breaking research in medicine, science, the arts, and the humanities. It includes three undergraduate schools, thirteen graduate and professional schools, and a school of continuing education.
Courses offered and admission procedure
To obtain information about degrees offered and admissions procedures, please contact the individual schools listed on the website, or explore their listing of academic departments and programs.
Tentative cost of courses
The fees vary according to the course opted for. A detailed structure of the tuition & fees, as well as financial aid is available at the university's official website.
Scholarships offered
Columbia University's educational financing options consist of federal, state, institutional and private sources of funds that will help meet the diverse needs of the student population .