Insights into the Top 10 Ranked Universities for Physics, Chemistry, and Maths Degrees in 2025
| Physical Sciences Rank 2025 | Physical Sciences Rank 2024 | Name | Country/Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | California Institute of Technology | United States |
| =2 | 2 | Harvard University | United States |
| =2 | 3 | Stanford University | United States |
| 4 | 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | United States |
| 5 | =6 | Princeton University | United States |
| 6 | =6 | University of California, Berkeley | United States |
| 7 | 5 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
| 8 | 8 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
| 9 | 9 | ETH Zurich | Switzerland |
| 10 | =12 | National University of Singapore | Singapore |
You can check out the full table of the best universities for physical sciences [here].
The physical sciences field includes subjects like mathematics, chemistry, earth science, physics, and astronomy.
The best universities for studying physics, mathematics, chemistry, and related fields appear in the Times Higher Education ranking, which features 1,447 universities.
Universities from the US dominate the list, holding 163 places overall and occupying most spots in the top 10.
Only four universities in the top 10 are outside the US: Oxford and Cambridge from the UK, ETH Zurich in Switzerland, and the National University of Singapore in Singapore.
Switzerland, which hosts CERN—the largest particle physics lab globally—is well represented with nine institutions in the ranking. Other countries with a strong presence include China (80 universities), the UK (58), Japan (57), and Germany (46).
This ranking uses the same methodology as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 but adjusts the weightings. You can find the full methodology [here].
Top 10 Universities for Physics, Chemistry, and Maths
1. California Institute of Technology
Caltech places a huge emphasis on science teaching and research. Its faculty collectively hold 74 Nobel Prizes and 71 US National Medals of Science or Technology, including four chief scientists from the US Air Force. Many staff members are connected with NASA, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory—a NASA division founded in the 1930s and operated by Caltech—has invested billions into research and development. Physics is a very popular choice among undergrad and postgrad students here.
2. Harvard University
Harvard offers a flexible course structure for undergrads. Physics has fewer required classes compared to other science majors, so many students combine it with maths, astronomy, history of science, or chemistry. Even undergrads can do independent research projects and assist in teaching some classes. There’s a lively social and support network with buddy programs, recreational events, and extracurricular lectures that let students engage informally with faculty. For graduate students, research focuses on areas like high-energy particle physics, atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics, quantum field theory, and string theory.
3. Stanford University
About half of Stanford’s undergraduates take at least one physics course, which is essential for many science and engineering majors. The department offers beginner courses for non-technical majors as well as highly specialized classes. Chemistry is also popular, with a special chemical physics track for those with strong physics and maths skills. Students can major or minor in maths and even join an annual maths contest with cash prizes, including awards for outstanding female performers. Graduate programs cover a wide range from applied physics to biophysical chemistry, with PhDs typically taking around six years.
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT’s physics department is quite large, with around 75 faculty members, nearly 300 undergraduates, and about 300 postgraduates. Since 1998, four MIT physics alumni have won Nobel Prizes. Freshman physics classes use “technology-enabled active learning,” an educational approach. All undergraduates take maths as part of their degrees, and many choose to major or minor in it. Doctoral studies lead to either a PhD or Doctor of Science, which are equivalent. Mathematics students may specialize in applied or pure maths and are encouraged to take courses in other departments like engineering.
5. Princeton University
Princeton’s physics department focuses on teaching about the physical universe and training students to think like physicists—using intuition, the scientific method, approximation, and problem-solving. Courses include engineering, physics, biophysics, computational biology, and traditional physics. Chemistry undergrads study in small classes and work on independent senior theses, receiving close faculty guidance. About 1,400 undergrads take math classes yearly, covering proofs, calculus, and number theory before advancing. Graduate math students start independent research right away, unlike many other US doctoral programs.
6. University of California, Berkeley
UC Berkeley offers undergrad majors in applied maths, astrophysics, earth science, geology, geophysics, mathematics, physical science, physics, and statistics. All students are encouraged to do research with faculty. The Berkeley Science Network supports underrepresented students in math, physical, and computer sciences by providing mentoring, networking, and professional coaching.
7. University of Cambridge
Cambridge has a rich history in physical sciences, with famous alumni like Isaac Newton, James Clerk Maxwell, Ernest Rutherford, and Stephen Hawking. Its natural sciences course covers biology and physical sciences, allowing specialization from the second year in physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, and more. Maths is a separate, highly challenging degree known for its rigor. Maths students, called “mathmos,” study the course in three parts from set theory to quantum mechanics. The Cavendish Laboratory is the hub for physics research and admits about 75 graduate students annually, offering PhDs and master’s degrees in areas like scientific computing, nanoscience, and computational methods.
8. University of Oxford
Oxford’s physical science course spans chemistry, geology, earth sciences, and physics. It offers three undergraduate physics degrees: a three-year BA, a four-year MPhys, and a four-year MPhysPhil combined with philosophy. For postgraduates, DPhil programs (equivalent to PhDs) cover astrophysics, atomic and laser physics, and particle physics.
9. ETH Zurich
Based in Switzerland, home to CERN (the world’s largest particle physics lab), ETH Zurich specializes in science and technology. It offers bachelor’s degrees in materials science, physics, and more. The university has produced over 20 Nobel laureates, including Albert Einstein, the father of modern physics and creator of general relativity.
10. National University of Singapore
NUS is the only Asian university in the top 10 for physical sciences. Its Faculty of Science offers 10 main undergraduate majors. Through the Undergraduate Professional Internship Programme, students get chances to intern in industries related to their field of study.