HPI Visa University List 2025 & Universities Consistently Ranked in It

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Have you completed your bachelor’s, postgraduate, or doctoral degree from one of the top universities in the world? You must check out the HPI Visa University list of 2025. If your university is listed, then you might be eligible for the HPI Visa. The High Potential Individual (HPI) visa is meant for students who have graduated from these universities. The visa allows you to stay in the UK for 2-3 years without a job offer. During this time, you can look for work or even become self-employed. It also paves the way for permanent residence in the country.

Want to know which universities come under this list? This blog covers the HPI visa university list for 2025. Keep reading to learn more about these top universities.

HPI Visa University List 2025

Each year, the university list for this visa is revised. The eligible universities are listed based on the university rankings from around the world. We have provided the latest list of top universities below. The list is for students who graduated between November 2024 and October 31, 2025. Many of these universities can be ranked next year if they maintain their rankings. Let’s get to know the top universities for 2025.

No.CountryUniversityQS 2025 Ranking
1USAMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)1
2USAHarvard University4
3SwitzerlandETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)7
4USACalifornia Institute of Technology (Caltech)10
5SingaporeNational University of Singapore (NUS)8
6USAUniversity of Chicago13
7ChinaPeking University14
8USAUniversity of Pennsylvania15
9USACornell University16
10ChinaTsinghua University=17
11USAUniversity of California, Berkeley=17
12AustraliaUniversity of Melbourne19
13FranceParis Sciences et Lettres (PSL)24
14GermanyTechnical University of Munich (TUM)=22
15SwitzerlandEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)26
16Hong KongUniversity of Hong Kong (HKU)11
17SingaporeNanyang Technological University (NTU)12
18ChinaFudan University39
19ChinaShanghai Jiao Tong University45
20ChinaZhejiang University47
21USAStanford University3
22USAPrinceton University17
23USAYale University19
24USAColumbia University23
25USAUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)29
26USAUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor33
27USAUniversity of Washington58
28USADuke University57
29USANew York University (NYU)35
30USANorthwestern University47
31USAJohns Hopkins University28
32CanadaUniversity of Toronto25
33CanadaMcGill University29
34CanadaUniversity of British Columbia (UBC)38
35GermanyHeidelberg University87
36GermanyUniversity of Munich (LMU Munich)59
37SwedenKarolinska Institute49
38JapanUniversity of Tokyo32
39JapanKyoto University55
40Hong KongThe Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)36
Latest Update:
UK universities are not considered for the HPI Visa application. This means even if you complete your degree from one of the top universities in the UK, such as Oxford, you will not be eligible for this visa.

Top 5 Universities Consistently Ranked Under the HPI Visa University List

Learning about the top universities consistently ranked in this list is beneficial. This will help you choose which university is a safe bet if you aim to apply for this visa. After all, the next year’s list has not yet been released. If you plan to apply sometime in the future, it is best to know the top universities consistently ranked. We have provided you with the list of these universities.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA

Credit: iso.mit.edu

MIT is no doubt the best university in the world. This university has been consistently ranked as the number 1 university by QS World Rankings. The institution is considered a global hub for innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. Some of the popular courses to study here include Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. The acceptance rate for undergraduate programs is about 4.5%. Those who have completed their studies here have obtained full-time employment in companies like Tesla, Google, SpaceX, and Goldman Sachs.

Australian National University (ANU) 

Credit: Applyboard

The ANU is the number 1 research university in Australia. It is known for its emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. The University has high international student enrollment, and provides access to Canberra’s political, business, and cultural institutions, and is known for its research collaborations. Some of the popular courses to study here are Political Science, Environmental Science, Economics, Business, and Engineering. ANU has consistently appeared in the HPI visa university list.. Those who complete studies from here can also easily get the Australian post-study work visa.

University of Toronto in Canada

The University of Toronto (UoT) is known for its research-driven environment and diverse academic programs. Did you know the first electron microscope and insulin therapy were developed here? The acceptance rate of this university is 43%, and the popular courses students take up are Humanities, Computer Science, Health Sciences, and Business. International students can obtain a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) after graduation. This can lead to PR and even strengthen your HPI Visa applications.

Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is known for engineering, technology, and natural sciences. As an international student, you do not have to pay any tuition fees here. Moreover, you can access placement opportunities in top German companies such as BMW and Bosch. The University acceptance rate is about 8 to 10%. If you graduate from TUM, you are considered a high-potential individual and can increase your chances of getting an HPI Visa.

ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Switzerland

ETH Zurich is one of the top universities in Europe for science and technology.. Popular courses here are Computer Science, Architecture,  Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, and Natural Sciences. They offer plenty of research opportunities to students and have a strong international student network. Zurich itself is a hub of finance, engineering, and technology industries. The acceptance rate to this university is 27%.  About 21 Nobel Prize winners are alumni of this university. This list includes Albert Einstein.

Other Notable Universities Consistently Ranked Under the HPI Visa University List

Several other universities have been consistently ranked under the HPI visa university list. Some of these universities are listed below. You can also consider studying here, as these institutions are known for quality education.

S.NoCountryUniversity
1United StatesHarvard University
2United StatesStanford University
3AustraliaUniversity of Melbourne
4AustraliaUniversity of Sydney
5CanadaMcGill University
6CanadaUniversity of British Columbia
7GermanyLudwig Maximilian University of Munich
8GermanyHeidelberg University
9SwitzerlandÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
10SwitzerlandUniversity of Zurich

Also Read: 8 Best Companies for Visa Sponsorship UK

Countries on the High-Potential Individual Visa University List

Most Universities listed in the HPI Visa University list are from Western countries. A few from Asian countries. In general, if you are aiming for the HPI visa, you must study of the top-ranked universities in any of the following countries:

  1. USA
  2. Swizerland 
  3. Australia
  4. Germany
  5. Canada
  6. China
  7. Japan

UK HPI Visa Requirements Every Applicant Must Know About

To get a UK HPI Visa, ensure that you have completed a bachelor’s, postgraduate, PhD/doctoral studies from a university on the official university list. Your qualification must have been obtained in the last 5 years. Besides this, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Prove you have at least a B1 level of English language proficiency
  2. Prove that you have sufficient funds to take care of yourself while you are in the UK. You need EUR 1,270 as a minimum bank balance, and pay the healthcare surcharge and other additional expenses.

The HPI Visa University List is updated every year. This year’s list ranks universities such as MIT, Harvard University, Peking University, Yale University, among others. If you want to take up a degree program in any one of these universities, the best time is now. You can also check out the universities that are consistently ranked and apply for admission there. This will give you more certainty of being eligible for the HPI visa.

Also Read: HPI Visa UK: Benefits, Cost, Requirements, & Application Process

FAQs

Who is eligible for the UK HPI visa?

You are eligible for the HPI visa if you have completed your studies at a university that is listed on the eligible list of universities. Besides this, you must have a B1 level of English language proficiency, and must have sufficient funds to take care of yourself while you are in the UK.

Which universities have the highest visa success rate?

It is not easy to get into the universities listed in the HPI visa university list. However, the universities that are modernly difficult to get into are the University of Melbourne, McGill University, and University of Sydney, and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland). The overall visa application success rate does not depend on the university but on your overall application and whether you meet the visa requirements or not.

Can you study on a high-potential individual visa?

Yes. If you get this visa, you can study in the UK for up to 2-3 years. You can also choose to work or even become self-employed.

What are the biggest mistakes with high potentials?

Ensure that your university is listed in the current eligible list of universities for visa. Apart from this, the biggest mistake a student makes while applying is not having sufficient funds. Hence, have sufficient funds and meet all the requirements before applying for the visa.

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