The 10 best universities in the world to study Psychology
Those interested in the functioning of the mind and the reason for people’s behavior may choose to study psychology, one of the most sought-after careers today.
No doubt, it is an attractive but long career that requires a good dose of motivation. Therefore, it is not only important to want to study the degree in Psychology, but the place where you study and the colleagues with whom you share these years of learning can make this journey more or less pleasant. The vast majority of people want to study the degree in their country, but some prefer to go on an adventure and cross the border to train.
Are you one of those who are thinking of going away to study? Are you one of those people who like to get to know new cultures and other ways of working? Have you ever wondered which is the best university in the world for studying psychology? If you’ve asked yourself these questions or are concerned about what psychology is like outside of your territory, this article may be of interest to you. However, the universities that are part of this ranking are quite expensive, so they are not available to everyone.
Which are the best Spanish universities to study Psychology?
Before we get to know the best universities in the world in the field of psychology, we are going to review the best Spanish universities to be able to study this degree.
According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015/16 , which is in charge of making an annual list of the most prestigious universities in the world since 2011, the best Spanish universities to study the Degree in Psychology are the following :
- Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM)
- Complutense University of Madrid (UCM)
- University of Barcelona (UB)
- Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
- University of Granada (UGR)
- University of Valencia (UV)
- University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)
- University of Seville (US)
- University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)
- University of Zaragoza (UniZar)
If you are interested in knowing more about these universities, you can read our article: The 10 best universities to study Psychology in Spain
World’s Best Universities for Psychology
As for the best universities in the world to study Psychology, below you can find out about the “top 10” of the best academic institutions around the globe to train as a psychologist.
This list has also been made based on the criteria of the QS World University Rankings® 2015/16. You can see the evaluation criteria by clicking on this link.
10. Princeton University
This private university was founded in 1946 . It is located in the centre of Princeton, in the United States, a town between New York and Philadelphia. Princeton offers a welcoming university atmosphere, with sports and cultural activities on its campuses, always without forgetting excellence in teaching. Its high educational level is what makes it one of the best universities to study Psychology.
9. University College London
The University College London, also known as UCL, is one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom . It welcomes 35,000 students annually and is famous for its great tradition of research. In addition to the Degree in Psychology, it is an internationally recognized university for the quality of its Masters. One of the most renowned is that of Organizational Psychology.
8. University of Michigan
This university was founded in Detroit in 1817 , but after 20 years it was moved to Ann Arbor. There are 40,000 students at this university. Its teaching staff is of the highest level. They are not only great professionals in their field, but have received many awards and recognition for their great work. The University of Michigan has a long tradition of research in neuropsychology.
7. University of California Berkeley (UCB)
This is one of the most famous universities in the United States, and specifically, the Department of Psychology at this university has some of the best professors of psychology in North America. In fact it has in its ranks four Pulitzer Prize winners and seven Nobel Prize winners . Despite the fact that American universities are really expensive, this university has a scholarship program for qualified students.
6. Yale University
The School of Psychology at Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut and is, without a doubt, one of the most recognized universities in the country. This university center has been in operation since 1701, and currently has more than 11,000 students in its university programs. One of the best known psychologists at this university is Stanley Milgram.
Learn about the contributions of this great psychologist in our article: Milgram’s Experiment: the danger of obedience to authority
5. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
The University of California is one of the best known and has 4 major universities spread throughout the state of California. In the “top 10” appears the one located in Los Angeles, and is better known as (UCLA). Its university work began in 1919, and today it is famous for its research in neuroscience. On the other hand, the University of California in San Diego (UCSD) also carries out many important studies in this specialty. Neuropsychologist Ramachandran is one of its leading exponents.
If you are interested in learning more about Ramachandran’s work, we invite you to read our post: The phantom limb and the mirror box therapy
4. Oxford University
Another of the mythical British universities . In fact, Oxford University is the oldest English-speaking university in the world. The exact date of its foundation is not known, although everything indicates that it began its activities around the year 1096. It is one of the most renowned universities in experimental psychology.
3. Stanford University
Stanford University is located in Palo Alto, California , and is one of the most renowned universities in the world. A multitude of research projects have been carried out at this university, one of the best known being that of Philip Zimbardo , a classic of social psychology. The department of psychology was opened in 1892 and the facilities of this university have 17 research laboratories.
You can take a look at Zimbardo’s research in our article: Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment
2. University of Cambridge
Cambridge, along with Oxford, is one of the most recognized universities in the United Kingdom . All the teachers at this university are leaders in their field. In addition to the ranking on which this article is based, Cambridge is also the first British university to study psychology on other recognised lists: Guardian’s University Guide 2016: league table for psychology , The Times Good University Guide 2016 and the Complete University Guide 2016 .
1. Harvard University
Harvard University is the most prestigious university in the world, not only in the field of psychology , but also in other disciplines. It is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and its beginnings as an academic institution date back to 1636, being the oldest university in the United States. More than 20,000 students are studying their university years at Harvard (both undergraduate and graduate degrees).