Which universities in Europe are the best?

Why are British universities the best in Europe?

• Oxford, Cambridge and London Imperial all rank above all other universities in Europe- why is this?

• Answer:

  First, British universities are not part of state bureaucracies. They employ their own staff (although, in practice, pay and many key conditions are negotiated nationally), determine their own courses, curricula and awards (under the beady gaze of the Quality Assurance Agency) and own their buildings (and even maintain them and build new ones, when they can afford it). Second, British universities are more enterprising, and even commercial. They have greater financial freedom – including, of course, the freedom to go bust. They have also been blown along by a pro-market wind that every UK government since 1979, including New Labour, has encouraged. Finally, British universities are, well, just better. They feature much more prominently in global league tables of "top" universities. They are also not obliged to cram in everyone who has passed the baccalaureate, abitur or equivalent, but can choose which students to admit.