Recently released the 10th edition of the QS World University Rankings®, which uses six performance indicators to assess and compare the top universities in the world each year. Throughout the decade in which QS has been publishing the rankings, the very top the table has remained fairly stable, with just some minor shifts in position each year. Indeed, the differences between these top-ranking institutions are incredibly small; all perform impressively well across all of the assessment measures used.

The global spread of top universities

	Top 10 Universities in the World Based on the QS World University Rankings®
	Country	Position in 2014/15	Position in 2013/14
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	US	1	1
University of Cambridge	UK	2=	3
Imperial College London	UK	2=	5
Harvard University	US	4	2
UCL (University College London)	UK	5=	4
University of Oxford	UK	5=	6
Stanford University	US	7	7
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)	US	8	10
Princeton University	US	9	10
Yale University	US	10	8

As this table illustrates, the top of the ranking is dominated by universities in the US and UK, which each claim half of the top 10 places. A further five US universities and two more UK entrants appear within the top 20, but beyond this the list does become much more internationally diverse. US universities account for 28 of the top 100 places, and UK universities 19 – so in fact more than half of the top universities in the world are located outside of these two nations.

Switzerland’s ETH Zurich, retaining 12th position, is the highest-ranked institution from elsewhere, followed by its country-mate Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) at 17=. Canada’sUniversity of Toronto and McGill University place 20th and 21st respectively, with the National University of Singapore (NUS) following directly behind in 22nd. Also ranked within the global top 30 are France’s Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris (24th), Australian National University (25=) and the University of Hong Kong (28th).

South Korea, Japan, Denmark, China, Germany and the Netherlands all also have at least one representative among the top 50 universities in the world this year, while the top 100 also features universities in Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Taiwan, Belgium and New Zealand. The global top 200 universities are spread across a total of 31 countries.

Success of STEM-focused universities

Another trend reflected at the top of the table is the growing success enjoyed by universities with a focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) spectrum of subjects. This is exemplified by table-topper Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and its fellow US STEM specialist California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which has gained two places this year.

Meanwhile the UK’s Imperial College London, another STEM-focused institution, boasts the biggest leap within the top 10 universities this year, rising from 5th to share second place with theUniversity of Cambridge.

The rankings also suggest a wider-reaching pattern of success for STEM specialists. ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne both fall into this category, meaning that STEM-focused universities account for a quarter of the top 20 places. Other science and technology-oriented institutions which have gained ground in this year’s ranking include France’s Ecole Polytechnique ParisTech (climbing six places to 35th), Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (up two places to 39th), and South Korea’sKAIST (rising nine places to reach 51st).

As Danny Byrne writes in this year’s supplement to the rankings, it seems universities focusing on science and technology subjects have been particularly successful at meeting the challenge of balancing “research excellence with small sizes and comprehensive internationalization”.

The New York Film Academy Union Square provides hands-on, intensive degree programs and short-term workshops in a variety of visual storytelling, visual arts, and performing arts disciplines including filmmaking, acting for film, producing, photography, screenwriting, cinematography, documentary filmmaking, game design, 3D animation, musical theatre, dance, broadcast journalism, and digital editing. Students get the benefit of learning by doing and receive experience that will best prepare them to succeed in their field.

Serving over 6000 students each year, the school now offers a wide range of degree (MFA, BFA, AFA) and certificate programs. The fields of study include: Filmmaking, Acting for Film, Producing, Screenwriting, Broadcast Journalism, Game Design, 3D Animation, Documentary Film, Photography, Musical Theatre, and Cinematography.photography, producing, screenwriting, musical theater, and more.

New York Film Academy - School of Film and Acting (NYFA) is a for-profit film school and acting school based in New York City. The NY Film Academy was founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, a former film, television and theatre producer.[1] It was originally located at the Tribeca Film Center. In 1994, NYFA moved to the former Tammany Hall building in Union Square. Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Bruce Springsteen, Al Pacino, Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, and Jodie Foster are among the many figures in the film industry who have sent their family members to study at the New York Film Academy. We are honored to be the film and acting school of choice of these other luminaries including Kevin Kline, Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon andTim Robbins, Bono(U2), directors Stephen Frears, Peter Bogdonavich, Roger Donaldson and James L. Brooks.

The New York Film Academy was founded on the philosophy that "learning by doing" combined with best industry practices is more valuable than years of theoretical study for filmmakers and actors. This educational model allows students to achieve more in less time than at all other film or acting schools in the world.

As of 2012, the school has 400+ employees and over 7,000 students per year. NYFA offers master, bachelor, and associate degrees, as well as 1 and 2-year conservatory programs and short-term workshops in filmmaking, acting for film, photography, 3D animation, game design, producing, screenwriting, digital filmmaking, cinematography, documentary, broadcast journalism, musical theatre, music video, digital editing, graphic design, and illustration programs at various locations throughout the world.

The New York Film Academy's philosophy is based on a "learning by doing" approach. NYFA founder Jerry Sherlock explained to theNew York Times in 2005[4] that he opened the school after hearing interest from parents and older relatives of aspiring young filmmakers, and that he wanted to focus on practical experience.

NYFA's programs include film directing, film producing, screenwriting, cinematography, film editing, documentary filmmaking, acting,animation, photography, game design, musical theatre, graphic design, and illustration. In 2007 NYFA partnered with NBC News to start a program in digital journalism. In 2010 the contract between NYFA and NBC expired, but the Broadcast Journalism programs at NYFA continue to be offered with many of the original faculty. The NYFA Degree Programs, Workshops and Short-term courses are held in the following locations:

• New York City
• Los Angeles, California next to Warner Bros. Studios
• Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia - Based on the backlot of Village Roadshow Studios
• Sydney, Australia
• Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Disney Studios, Orlando, Florida
• South Beach, Florida
• Florence, Italy
• Paris, France
• Mumbai, India
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Beijing, China
• Shanghai, China
• Moscow, Russia
• Seoul, Korea
• Barcelona, Spain
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• London, England

NYFA draws teachers from the Tisch School of the Arts, Columbia University, AFI Conservatory, University of Southern California, Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University and University of California Los Angeles. Notable faculty members include director Adam Nimoy, game designer Chris Swain, director Claude Kerven, screenwriterJim Jennewein, and actress Lynda Goodfriend.

Many film and television industry professionals have spoken at New York Film Academy. They include: Steven Spielberg, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Al Pacino, Doug Liman, Ben Stiller, Kevin Spacey, Ben Kingsley, Mira Nair and many renowned people from the film industry.

Visit official website for Admission and other related news: NYFA

Stanford University is a private institution that was founded in 1885. It has a total undergraduate enrolment of 7,061, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 8,180 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. Stanford University's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 4. Its tuition and fees are $44,757 (2014-15).

Stanford University’s pristine campus is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. Stanford offers a wide range of student organizations, including the Stanford Pre-Business Association and Stanford Solar Car Project, which designs, builds and races a solar car every two years. The Stanford Cardinals are well known for the traditional "Big Game" against Cal, an annual football competition that awards the Stanford Axe—a sought-after trophy—to the victor. Stanford also has successful programs in tennis and golf. Only freshman are required to live on campus, but students are guaranteed housing for all four years and most choose to remain on campus. Greek life at Stanford represents approximately 10 percent of the student body.

Four of Stanford University’s seven schools offer undergraduate and graduate coursework, and the remaining three serve as purely graduate schools. Graduate programs include the highly rankedSchool of Education, School of Engineering, Law School, School of Medicine and the top-ranked Graduate School of Business. The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment oversees collaboration between environmental research, teaching and outreach. Stanford has a number of well-known theatrical and musical groups, including the Ram’s Head Theatrical Society and the Mendicants, an all-male a cappella group. Notable Stanford alumni include former U.S. President Herbert Hoover, famed NFL quarterback John Elway, actress Sigourney Weaver and golfer Tiger Woods, who began his professional career at Stanford.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

In 1885, Jane and Leland Stanford established Stanford University in memory of their son. Their intent was to establish a "University of high degree" that would "qualify students for personal success and direct usefulness in life and promote the public welfare by exercising an influence on behalf of humanity and civilization." Today, Stanford is a research university where teaching, learning and research are all integral to the university's mission. Stanford values close interaction between undergraduates and faculty. Student participation in research is strongly supported and, in 2012-13, Stanford allocated about $5.3 million to support 938 projects. Stanford's entrepreneurial character draws from its Western location and the legacy of its founders. Stanford emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches to teaching and research, and academic excellence crosses disciplines, ranging from humanities to social sciences to engineering and the sciences. Current faculty members have earned 22 Nobel Prizes and 5 Pulitzer Prizes. Students, distinguished by initiative, love of learning and commitment to public service, are talented in many areas, including academics, art, music and athletics. Stanford's athletic teams, called the Cardinal, have won the Director's Cup as the best program nationwide 19 years in a row. Stanford's extraordinary campus is located in a dynamic and diverse area between San Francisco and San Jose in Northern California. The campus is considered among the most beautiful and sustainable anywhere. The Bing Overseas Studies Program has offerings in Australia, Barcelona, Beijing, Berlin, Cape Town, Florence, Kyoto, Madrid, Oxford, Paris and Santiago. A new program is beign piloted in Istabul. Other Stanford programs take students to the Hopkins Marine Laboratory on Monterey Bay and to Washington D.C. The arts are emphasized on the Stanford campus, and a new arts district is taking shape. It includes the new Bing Concert Hall, the McMurtry Building for Art and Art History and the Anderson Collection. There are about 625 organized student groups at Stanford. The student newspaper is the Stanford Daily. The Associated Students of Stanford University is the representative government for Stanford students. There are about 44 recognized religious organizations. Stanford offers six cultural centers: Asian American Activities Center, Black Community Services Center, El Centro Chicano, LGBT Community Resource Center, Native American Cultural Center and Women's Center. New in 2013 was the Markaz: Resource Center for Engagement with the Cultures and Peoples of the Muslim World.

Stanford, CA 94305

Phone: (650) 723-2300

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$44,757

Students

7,061 enrolled

53% male / 47% female

Admissions

Jan. 1 application deadline

5.7% accepted

University of California--Berkeley is a public institution that was founded in 1868. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,951, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,232 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of California--Berkeley's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 20. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,844 (2014-15); out-of-state tuition and fees are $25,064 (2014-15).

The University of California—Berkeley, often referred to as Cal, is situated overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Berkeley guarantees two years of housing for incoming freshmen in a number of residence halls throughout campus. There are more than 1,200 student organizations on campus, ranging from political groups to a hang gliding club and everything in between. Berkeley also has a thriving Greek life with more than 55 fraternity and sorority chapters. The California Golden Bears, Berkeley’s athletic teams, compete in the Pac-12 Conference and are known for their traditional arch rivalry with Stanford.

Berkeley is comprised of 14 schools and colleges, including a number of graduate and professional schools such as the School of Optometry, Graduate School of Journalism and College of Environmental Design. Other graduate programs are the highly ranked Haas School of Business, Graduate School of Education,College of Engineering, School of Law, School of Social Welfare,School of Public Health and Goldman School of Public Policy. Berkeley is well known as a hub of liberal student activity: the Free Speech Movement—a 1964 student protest at Berkeley in response to the administration’s attempt to remove student political groups from campus—gained widespread national attention. Distinguished alumni include former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley and actor John Cho of the "Harold and Kumar" films. Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, scientific director of the Manhattan Project during WWII to develop the atomic bomb, was a physicist and professor at Berkeley.110 Sproul Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720-5800

Phone: (510) 642-6000

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$13,844 in-state

$25,064 out-of-state

Students

25,951 enrolled

48% male / 52% female

Admissions

Nov. 30 application deadline

17.7% accepted

Emory University is a private institution that was founded in 1836. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,836, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 630 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Emory University's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 21. Its tuition and fees are $45,008 (2014-15).

Emory University is located in the suburb of Druid Hills near downtown Atlanta. First- and second-year students are required to live on campus, but a majority of students choose to remain on campus for all four years. The Student Programming Council organizes events and performances throughout the year and has brought entertainers and musicians such as Tracy Morgan, Sean Kingston and Guster to campus in past years. A popular organization among students is Volunteer Emory, which oversees community service activities. The Emory Eagles have nearly 20 NCAA Division III varsity teams and are well known for their successful swimming and diving team. In addition to varsity athletics, all students are required to take two courses in physical education. There is a thriving Greek community at Emory with a number of fraternity and sorority chapters.

Emory is divided into nine schools and colleges, four of which serve undergraduates and graduates. Emory’s graduate programs include the highly ranked Goizueta Business School, School of Law, School of Medicine, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursingand Rollins School of Public Health. "Dooley’s Week," a tradition that takes place every year, is named for Dooley, a skeleton and "Lord of Misrule" who remains steeped in Emory legend. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, physician and CNN chief health correspondent Sanjay Gupta and activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu have all taught at Emory.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

Emory University is known for demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate education in the arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research. Emory encourages students to become fully engaged in the classroom and beyond and to create their own learning experiences, with top faculty committed to teaching and fostering undergraduate research in the sciences and humanities.

We have a diverse student body from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and over 100 countries/ territories. Our students and faculty enjoy affiliations with and access to some of the most revered institutions in the world, including Yerkes National Primate Research Center, The Carter Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our student-athletes are among the best in NCAA Division III sports, having recently won championships in Swimming & Diving and Tennis. Nationally competitive awards and honors recognizing Emory students include the Fullbright Fellowship, Goldwater Scholarship, Luce Scholar, Marshall Scholarship, National Science Foundation Fellowship, NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, and Rhodes Scholarship.

At Emory, students have four primary options for their undergraduate education. Entering freshmen can apply to Emory College, which offers a liberal arts education within the heart of a major research university. Students also can apply to Oxford College where they spend the first two years on Emory's original campus 38 miles east of Atlanta, transferring in their junior year to the Atlanta campus. Oxford and Emory College students can apply for junior year admission to the renowned Goizueta Business School to earn a bachelor of business administration. They can apply also to the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, one of the nation's top private nursing schools. As Emory College juniors, students can choose from 71 majors, including 15 interdisciplinary programs, and from more than 57 minors.

201 Dowman Drive

Atlanta, GA 30322

Phone: (404) 727-6123

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$45,008

Students

7,836 enrolled

43% male / 57% female

Admissions

Jan. 15 application deadline

26.5% accepted