ÌÇÐÄVlog

Insights into the top 10 universities in the world for education 2026

Explore the full table for the best education degrees in the world here

An education degree can open doors to working and teaching in schools as well as carrying out research into how we learn.

ÌÇÐÄVlog has ranked the best universities for education degrees to help you decide on the best institution for you.

Three UK institutions feature in the top 10 which are the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and UCL. Asia is well-represented in the top 10 with two universities from China (Tsinghua University and Peking University) and one university from Hong Kong (University of Hong Kong).

ÌÇÐÄVlog subject rankings are based on the same 18 performance indicators used in the overall World University Rankings 2026. However, the methodology is carefully recalibrated for each subject, with the weightings adjusted to suit the individual fields. The full methodology for the education ranking can be found here.

Top 10 universities for education degrees

1. S³Ù²¹²Ô´Ú´Ç°ù»åÌý±«²Ô¾±±¹±ð°ù²õ¾±³Ù²â

The Stanford University Graduate School of Education is one of seven schools at the institution, which also include business, law, engineering and medicine. It has a reputation as one of the best education schools in the US.

The school provides seven master’s programmes, 21 doctoral programmes and three joint programmes. There are also undergraduate programmes for students wishing to pursue a minor in education or take part in the honours programme.

The doctoral programmes aim to promote research in education, looking at the psychology behind how we learn as well as curriculum studies and teacher training.

2. U²Ô¾±±¹±ð°ù²õ¾±³Ù²âÌý´Ç´ÚÌý°ä²¹±ô¾±´Ú´Ç°ù²Ô¾±²¹,Ìýµþ±ð°ù°ì±ð±ô±ð²â

The University of California, Berkeley offers MA and PhD programmes across a wide range of topics in the field of education, such as the impact of race, class and gender, and the influence of politics and policy on education.

Undergraduates also have the option to take a minor in education, and it is one of the university’s most popular minors.

At Berkeley, there are also courses that will prepare students for a teaching career, from classroom teaching to district-level leadership.

3. University of Oxford

Research at the University of Oxford’s department of education is centred around three key themes: language, cognition and development; economy, policy and society; and knowledge, pedagogy and design. Within each of these areas are several research groups and centres.

As well as research into education, the department provides teacher training for primary and secondary school teachers.

The department regularly hosts seminars and public lectures by nationally distinguished speakers in the field of education.

4. U²Ô¾±±¹±ð°ù²õ¾±³Ù²âÌý´Ç´ÚÌý°ä²¹³¾²ú°ù¾±»å²µ±ð

Education is offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of Cambridge.

The three-year undergraduate education degree accepts only 42 students per year.

The undergraduate course consists of three possible tracks: education, psychology and learning; education, policy and international development; or education, English, drama and the arts.

Postgraduates wishing to study education can choose a PGCE, master’s or doctorate. The PGCE course is taken as a specialism in primary or secondary (high school) education. Both options include significant placement time, with secondary PGCE students spending at least 120 days of the course in schools.

5. Tsinghua University

Education programmes are delivered through the Institute of Education at Tsinghua University. There are five faculties within the institute including educational policy and management, engineering education, higher education research, educational technology and basic education research. 

There are six research divisions covering technology, engineering and educational policy among other areas. 

6.â€Â²¹°ù±¹²¹°ù»åÌý±«²Ô¾±±¹±ð°ù²õ¾±³Ù²â

Harvard University offers 13 master’s programmes and a number of doctoral programmes in education.

The master’s courses cover many aspects of the subject, including arts and education, higher education, international education policy, and human development and education.

Among the faculty are experts in wide-ranging aspects of education, including bilingual education, adult learning, economy and education, and social services and schools.

7. University of Hong Kong

The Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong provides teaching in Chinese-language education and English-language education. There is also a division for mathematics and science education, speech and hearing sciences and information and technology studies.

There are seven research centres, including the centre for educational leadership, the centre for communication disorders and the centre for the advancement of Chinese-language education and research.

8. Peking University

Peking University has been offering teacher training since 1902. Today the Graduate School of Education offers master's and PhD programmes. 

The Graduate School of Education contains four departments, two institutes, and seven research centres. The departments are the Department of Education and Human Development, the Department of Educational Economics and Administration, the Department of Educational Technology, and the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy. 

9. University of Michigan Ann-Arbor

The University of Michigan Ann-Arbor provides education programmes through its Marsal Family School of Education. 

The schools offers a range of programmes at every level including bachelor's, master's, doctoral, professional certificates, minor programmes and online courses. 

The school is also home to the Marygrove Learning Community, a campus in Detroit which offers education and support to communities in the surrounding area. 

10. UCL

UCL offers a range of education degrees, including an undergraduate education studies bachelor’s, several master’s and doctoral programmes, as well as PGCEs in early years, primary and secondary.

The education bachelor’s degree is three years in duration. During their third year, students can conduct research in areas they are interested in. To achieve Qualified Teacher Status, students can apply for a one-year teacher training programme after their studies.

Both research and taught degrees are offered to postgraduate students, including education and technology (MA), early years education (MA), and education and child psychology (DEdPsy). PGCE teacher training is also offered, where students can select one subject for specialist study.