UK. Oxford, the best university in the world

Oxford University is the best university in the world" , welcomes The Guardian . For the first time, a British university throne in first place in theranking Times Higher Education , which compares 987 higher education institutions worldwide. Oxford has relayed the California Institute of Technology - who has held the top spot for five consecutive years - into second place.

In Europe, the UK higher education is the envy: Cambridge University and Imperial College London as they are in the top 10, the newspaper reminds. The only European institution to be in the top 10 is the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland, all other places are occupied by US institutions like Princeton and Harvard.
60% of students come from the public

The Guardian welcomes also the fact that nearly 60% of Oxford students come from public secondary education, not the private elitist education. This percentage has never been higher, and is due to awareness and recruitment programs among disadvantaged students. According to a professor quoted as saying, "Oxford is a university that is open to a wide diversity of students" .
Brexit: what future for British universities?

The output of the United Kingdom of the European Union could, however, affect the quality of British universities, provides for the Financial Times . First, "the Brexit, European research grants may be cut off," recalls the economic newspaper. And until the issue of funding is uncertain, "the researchers may also have a tendency to leak collaboration with university based in the United Kingdom" .

Competition from Asian universities
In addition, "the enrollment of foreign students have already passed their peak," the paper recalls. At issue: competition from English institutions in Asia and the tightening of eligibility rules, which is related to "harsher attitudes -a-vis immigration " in the UK.

The solution to keep the top British universities? "Ensuring they remain part of the European research agenda" and to ensure that migration restrictions "do not impede or recruiting or academic collaboration." Finally we must continue to fund, "even, if necessary, replace European subsidies" .