Oxford rises to second in world for Geology and Geophysics

9 May 2025
Volcanic Terrain in Indonesia

© Sasin Tipchai

The University of Oxford has climbed to second place globally in Geology and Geophysics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, strengthening its position as the UK's leading institution for Earth Sciences.

With a score of 92.1 in Geology, Oxford now stands just behind ETH Zurich which scored 92.9, up from fifth in 2023 and third in 2024.

Similarly, in Geophysics, Oxford secured second position with a score of 92.1, following ETH Zurich's 93.2, and rising from sixth place in 2023 and third place in 2024.

The University of Oxford is also the leading institution in the UK and Europe for Physics and Astronomy, as well as Mathematics in the 2025 subject rankings. In the broader Natural Sciences category, Oxford ranks third globally, behind Harvard (first) and MIT (second), as the leading European university in the field.

 

This achievement reflects the exceptional dedication and collaborative spirit of our researchers and students, and their ability to work across traditional boundaries. Our commitment to addressing pressing global challenges and societal needs through innovative Earth Sciences research continues to drive excellence across our department.

- Professor Mike Kendall, Head of Earth Sciences at Oxford

Aside from ETH Zurich, Oxford, and Cambridge, the remaining seven universities in the top ten for both Geology and Geophysics are all located in the United States.

We're celebrating the recognition of colleagues in these departments for their excellence in teaching and research. It's great to have the external validation that Oxford Earth Sciences is a global leader in research and teaching. They are finding sustainable solutions to energy demand, climate change and critical raw materials. They also help us understand the processes that shape the earth we all live on as well as the processes on other planets that we hope to explore.

- Professor Jim Naismith, Head of Oxford's Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division