These countries have the best education systems in the world
这些国家拥有世界上最优质的教育体系
Everyone wants the best education, and they’re willing to pay loads, spend a lot of time and even move countries to find the best education system in the world for themselves or for their children.
每个人都想要接受最好的教育，为了给自己或孩子找寻世界上最优质的教育体系，他们愿意支付大笔费用、花费大量时间，甚至移民到其他国家。
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has projected that the international student population is likely to reach 8 million by 2025.
经济合作与发展组织（OECD）预测，到2025年，国际学生人数可能会达到800万。
But here’s the question – where are they going?
但问题是他们要去哪？
Should they pursue the latest degrees in demand – such as artificial intelligence – in countries like China or the US?
他们是否应该在中国或美国等国家攻读人工智能等当下热门的学位呢？
Perhaps they’re looking for countries with free or affordable PhD programmes, or places where they can gain citizenship easily after graduation.
或许他们正在寻觅那些提供免费或是学费亲民的博士课程的国家，又或者是在寻找那些毕业后能够轻松获取公民身份的地方。
Some are looking for countries with the best education system in the world – a search that is arguably more complex than it seems.
一些人在寻找拥有世界上最优质教育体系的国家——而这一寻觅过程，其复杂程度恐怕远超表面所见。
Let’s explore.
让我们探索一下。
What does it mean to have the best education system in the world?
拥有世界上最优质的教育体系意味着什么？
There are many reasons why people want to study in countries with the best education system in the world.
人们之所以想要在拥有世界上最优质教育体系的国家学习，原因是多方面的。
Perhaps you’re keen to study in an academically excellent institute. Alternatively, you want to raise intelligent children and send them to good schools that give them ample opportunities to pursue their interests and dreams.
也许你渴望在一所学术卓越的院校里求学。又或者，你希望培养出聪慧的孩子，将他们送入优质的学校，在那里，孩子们能拥有充分的机会去追逐自己的兴趣，实现心中的梦想。
Another factor is that the quality of a country’s schools is closely linked to its economic status and overall well-being. Some countries even offer free education to their citizens and international students.
另一个因素是，一个国家的学校教育质量与其经济地位和整体发展状况密切相关。一些国家甚至为其本国公民和国际学生都提供免费教育。 。
Other factors, such as quality of living, teacher-student ratio and availability of public resources for schools and universities, matter, too.
其他因素同样重要，比如生活质量、师生比例，以及中小学和大学所能获取的公共资源情况。
But obviously, this is a generalisation – in reality, being rich doesn’t merit a country with the best education system in the world.
但显然，这只是一种笼统的说法——实际上，国家富裕并不意味着它就拥有世界上最好的教育体系。
Instead, some people choose to determine which countries have the best education system in the world using PISA scores.
相反，一些人选择依据国际学生评估项目（PISA）的成绩来判断哪些国家拥有世界上最优质的教育体系。
Is the best education system in the world determined by PISA scores?
世界上最好的教育体系是由国际学生评估项目（PISA）的成绩来决定的吗？
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests 15-year-old students in dozens of countries to apply reading, science, maths and other skills to real-life problems.
国际学生评估项目（PISA）对数十个国家的15岁学生进行测试，考察他们将阅读、科学、数学及其他技能应用于解决现实生活问题的能力。
Taking place every three years, the PISA results include data on how students perform at different levels, their attitudes towards learning, their family backgrounds and other learning experiences.
国际学生评估项目（PISA）每三年开展一次，其评估结果包含了学生在不同水平上的表现数据、他们对学习的态度、家庭背景以及其他学习经历等方面的信息。
Done every three years, it unearths the strengths and weaknesses of a country’s education system, which usually spurs them to take measures to improve.
该评估每三年进行一次，它能揭示出一个国家教育体系的优势与不足，而这通常会促使该国采取措施加以改进。
So, it’s not uncommon to use PISA scores to judge a country’s education system. For example, you may weigh how smart a child in the US is doing compared to one in India through PISA scores.
所以，用国际学生评估项目（PISA）的分数来评判一个国家的教育体系并不罕见。例如，你可以通过PISA分数来衡量美国的一个孩子和印度的一个孩子相比，谁在学业上表现得更出色。
However, PISA scores are widely used and carry weight, there have been several criticisms and debates surrounding them. This includes:
然而，尽管国际学生评估项目（PISA）的分数被广泛应用且颇具影响力，但围绕着这些分数也存在着不少批评和争议。其中包括：
The narrow focus: PISA only assess students based on reading, mathematics and science, which does not capture the full range of knowledge and skills that students need.
关注点狭隘：国际学生评估项目（PISA）仅依据阅读、数学和科学方面对学生进行评估，这无法涵盖学生所需掌握的全部知识和技能。
Puts pressure on students: PISA scores are often used to compare and rank countries, which can put pressure on students, teachers and education systems.
给学生带来压力：国际学生评估项目（PISA）的分数常被用于对各个国家进行比较和排名，这会给学生、教师以及教育体系带来压力。
Not all students take part in the tests, which then skews the results.
并非所有学生都参加了这些测试，这进而导致了测试结果的偏差。
The best education system in the world: 10 countries to consider
世界上最优质的教育体系：值得考虑的10个国家
The following countries are models of the best education system in the world for the following reasons:
以下这些国家堪称全球顶尖教育体系的典范，原因如下：
It has top-ranking universities, as determined by Times Higher Education or QS. This is a reflection of older students doing well academically.
根据《泰晤士高等教育》或 QS 的排名，它拥有名列前茅的大学。这反映出年龄较大的学生（大学生等）在学术方面表现出色。
Its younger students are reading and counting well too, as seen from their performance on international education tests, such as but not limited to PISA
从其低龄学生在国际教育测试（比如但不限于国际学生评估项目，即PISA）中的表现来看，这些学生在阅读和算术方面同样表现出色。
It has graduates who have produced innovative products or services.
它培养出了能够创造出创新性产品或服务的毕业生。
There is a national belief in the importance of education, which can be seen through big investments in its schools and teachers, among others.
这个国家存在着一种对教育重要性的普遍信念，这一点从该国在学校建设、教师培养等方面的大量投入中便可见一斑。
US
美国
Many believe the US, a global superpower, has the best educational system in the world. And they’re not wrong – just look at the Ivy League.
许多人认为，作为全球超级大国的美国拥有世界上最优秀的教育体系。他们这样想也并非毫无道理——只要看看常春藤盟校就知道了。
The US has always been a top destination for international students. The country is home to almost 4000 accredited colleges and universities; no other country offers this same capacity – at least, not yet.
美国一直是国际学生的首选留学目的地之一。美国拥有近4000所经认证的学院和大学，没有其他国家能达到这样的规模——至少目前还没有。
US universities are home to many Nobel Laureates, and are often in the top 10 of global rankings. Students have opportunities for up to three years of post-graduation work experience, the ability to access the world’s most innovative labs, and the academic freedom to pursue study in many fields of interest.
美国的大学汇聚了众多诺贝尔奖得主，并且常常位列全球排名前十。学生们有机会获得长达三年的毕业后工作经验，有能力进入世界上最具创新性的实验室，还拥有在许多感兴趣的领域进行学术研究的自由。
Top-ranking universities according to the 2025 QS World University Rankings include:
根据2025年QS世界大学排名，排名前列的大学包括：
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (#1)
麻省理工学院（MIT）（第1名）
Harvard University (#4)
哈佛大学（第4名）
Stanford University (#6)
斯坦福大学（第6名）
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (#10)
加州理工学院（Caltech）（第10名）
UK
英国
Similar to the US, the UK is a powerhouse of excellent universities. You’ll find the prestigious Russell Group here, consisting of 24 world-class research-intensive institutes.
与美国类似，英国也是拥有众多优秀大学的强国。在英国，你会看到久负盛名的罗素大学集团，该集团由24所世界级的研究型大学组成。
What kind of research, you may ask? It’s the kind that’s finding treatment for ovarian cancer, discovering the causes behind obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs), shedding light on the origins of animals, and more.
你可能会问，是怎样的研究呢？这些研究包括寻找卵巢癌的治疗方法，探究强迫症（OCD）背后的病因，揭示动物的起源等等。
There’s a well-known quote about education among Brits: “Education isn’t the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”
在英国人中流传着一句关于教育的名言：“教育不是注满一桶水，而是点燃一把火。”
The sparks are evident in the 2025 QS World University Rankings:
这种火花在2025年的QS世界大学排名中体现得十分明显：
Imperial College London (#2)
伦敦帝国理工学院（第2名）
University of Oxford (#3)
牛津大学（第3名）
University of Cambridge (#5)
剑桥大学（第5名）
UCL (#9)
美国加利福尼亚大学UC（第9名）
Australia
澳大利亚
Although often overshadowed by Oxbridge and the Ivy League, Australian universities are still among the world’s best.
尽管澳大利亚的大学常常被牛津、剑桥以及美国常春藤盟校的光芒所掩盖，但它们仍然属于世界顶尖大学之列。
According to Jessica Turner, CEO at QS, “Australia has a remarkable concentration of high-quality universities with exceptional breadth, resulting in 7% of the world’s top 50 and top 100 ranked subjects, which is the third-highest proportion among all ranked higher education systems.”
根据QS首席执行官杰西卡·特纳（Jessica Turner）的说法：“澳大利亚汇聚了数量相当可观的高质量大学，学科覆盖范围极为广泛。在世界排名前50和前100的学科中，澳大利亚的大学所涵盖的学科占比达到了7%，这一比例在所有参与排名的高等教育体系中位居第三。”
Australia’s educational institutions rank well in terms of student satisfaction, employability, quality of life and sense of student community, with Melbourne and Sydney ranking among the top five best cities for students to study in.
澳大利亚的教育机构在学生满意度、就业能力、生活质量和学生社区归属感等方面排名靠前，其中墨尔本和悉尼跻身学生最佳留学城市前五名之列。
Top performers are:
表现最好的是：
The University of Melbourne (#13)
墨尔本大学（第13名）
The University of Sydney (#18)
悉尼大学（第18名）
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) (#19)
新南威尔士大学（UNSW Sydney）（第19名）
Australian National University (ANU) (#30)
澳大利亚国立大学（ANU）（#30）
Canada
加拿大
According to Andreas Schleicher, the OECD’s education director, Canada’s schools and universities trump others as its “big uniting theme is equity.”
根据经济合作与发展组织（OECD）教育主管安德烈亚斯·施莱歇尔（Andreas Schleicher）的说法，加拿大的中小学和大学优于其他国家的同类院校，因为加拿大教育 “一个重要的共同主题是公平”。
This means that no one’s left behind.
这意味着没有一个人被落下。
Speaking to the BBC, Schleicher says there is a strong sense of fairness and equal access – and this is seen in the high academic performance of migrant children.
施莱歇尔在接受英国广播公司（BBC）采访时称，（加拿大教育体系中）存在着强烈的公平意识和机会均等的理念，而这一点从移民子女优异的学业成绩中便可见一斑。
They go on to thrive at excellent universities, such as these within the 2025 QS World University Rankings:
他们随后在一些优秀的大学中茁壮成长，比如那些在2025年QS世界大学排名中榜上有名的大学：
University of Toronto (#25)
多伦多大学（第25名）
McGill University (#29)
麦吉尔大学（McGill University）第29名
University of British Columbia (#38)
英属哥伦比亚大学（第38名）
University of Alberta (#96)
阿尔伯塔大学（第96名）
China
中国
China has one of the most extensive education systems in the world, with 270 million students and 16 million full-time teachers in over 500,000 schools across the country.
中国拥有世界上最为庞大的教育体系之一，全国50多万所学校中有2.7亿名学生以及1600万名全职教师。
The country is highly committed to a rigorous, perfect education system to reinforce its future economic and social development, and offers multiple pathways for its students.
中国高度致力于构建一个严谨且完善的教育体系，以此来增强未来的经济和社会发展动力，并且为学生提供了多样化的发展路径。
Students can opt for standard academics and take the GaoKkao – known as one of the hardest examinations in the world – or join a vocational school to receive training. With more than 12 million candidates taking the Gaokao each year, the competition is fierce. Less than 0.25% of students qualify to join some of China’s most elite colleges.
学生们可以选择接受传统的学术教育并参加高考——这被认为是世界上最难的考试之一——或者进入职业学校接受技能培训。由于每年有超过1200万考生参加高考，竞争十分激烈。只有不到0.25%的学生有资格进入中国一些顶尖的高校。
You’ll find top-ranking institutions such as:
你会发现以下这些排名靠前的院校：
Peking University (#12)
北京大学（第12名）
Tsinghua University (#14)
清华大学（第14名）
Fudan University (#34)
复旦大学（第34名）
Zhejiang University (#42)
浙江大学（第42名）
Germany
德国
Some of the world’s greatest inventions originated in Germany, such as the printing press, helicopters, and even the good old coffee filter. So, it’s not a stretch to assume that the country produces well-educated, brilliant individuals.
世界上一些最伟大的发明都起源于德国，比如印刷机、直升机，甚至是常见的咖啡滤器。所以，认为这个国家培养出了受过良好教育且才华横溢的人才，这一点也不夸张。
The country also believes that education should be accessible to all. That’s right – education in Germany is free for both domestic and international students, which makes both studying abroad there or settling down with a family very enticing options.
德国也坚信教育应当是人人可及的。没错，在德国，无论是本国学生还是国际学生，都能享受免费教育。这使得去德国留学或是在那里安家落户都成为极具吸引力的选择。
Rest assured that free education doesn’t mean that the quality is compromised. Germany is still home to one of the best education systems in the world, with many universities in the top 100 globally.
请放心，免费教育并不意味着教育质量会打折扣。德国依然拥有世界上最优秀的教育体系之一，众多德国大学位列全球前100名。
Top-ranked institutions include:
排名靠前的院校包括：
Technical University of Munich (#28)
慕尼黑工业大学（第28名）
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (#59)
路德维希-马克西米利安-慕尼黑大学（第59名）
Universität Heidelberg (#84)
海德堡大学（第84名）
Freie Universitaet Berlin (#97)
柏林自由大学（第97名）
Finland
芬兰
You’ll find one of the best education systems in the world here. There is one underlying factor that sets the foundation for success, and that is Finland’s early childhood education, where children grow in stress-free environments using play-based approaches.
在这里，你会发现世界上最优秀的教育体系之一。有一个潜在因素为成功奠定了基础，那就是芬兰的幼儿教育。在芬兰，孩子们在没有压力的环境中成长，采用基于游戏的学习方式。
Aside from that, Finland offers free education, even keeping universities state-funded for international students. To top it all off, student healthcare is free in this beautiful country. No wonder Finland is one of the happiest countries in the world.
除此之外，芬兰提供免费教育，甚至对国际学生的大学教育也由国家资助。最棒的是，在这个美丽的国家，学生医疗保健也是免费的。难怪芬兰是世界上最幸福的国家之一。
Top-ranked institutions include:
排名靠前的院校包括：
Aalto University (#113)
阿尔托大学（第113名）
University of Helsinki (#117)
赫尔辛基大学（#第117名）
Singapore
新加坡
Lee Kuan Yew, the country’s first prime minister, has strong values on education that have helped propel the country towards the best education system in the world. Discipline, perseverance and resiliency – these values have shaped Lee’s goals “to develop Singapore’s only available natural resource, its people.”
新加坡首任总理李光耀有着坚定的教育价值观，这些价值观助力这个国家发展出了世界上最优秀的教育体系之一。纪律、毅力和坚韧不拔——这些价值观塑造了李光耀 “开发新加坡唯一可利用的自然资源，即其人民” 的目标。
The country focuses on bilingualism and science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and generous scholarships are regularly doled out to enable its best and brightest to enter some of the world’s premier universities.
这个国家注重双语教育以及科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）领域的发展，并且还会定期发放丰厚的奖学金，让国内最优秀、最聪慧的人才能够进入世界上一些顶尖的大学深造。
Students also demonstrated exceptional mathematical skills, problem-solving abilities, and a strong foundation in numeracy in the latest PISA assessment.
在最新的国际学生评估项目（PISA）测评中，学生们也展现出了卓越的数学技能、问题解决能力，以及扎实的数学基础。
Despite being a small country, two of its universities rank within the world’s top 20:
尽管新加坡是个小国，但它有两所大学位列世界前20名：
National University of Singapore (NUS) (#8)
新加坡国立大学（NUS）（第8名）
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) (#19)
新加坡南洋理工大学（NTU Singapore）（第19名）
South Korea
韩国
In South Korea, education comes first. Nine out of 10 elementary school students receive private tutoring after school, and eight out of 10 high school graduates go on to college.
在韩国，教育被置于首位。十分之九的小学生在放学后会接受私人辅导，并且十分之八的高中毕业生会继续升入大学深造。
This is thanks to a Confucian legacy revering education — one that’s enabled it to perform very well in the PISA. Its students have achieved high rankings in PISA since their participation in the assessments began in 2000.
这要归功于尊崇教育的儒家传统——这一传统使其在国际学生评估项目（PISA）中表现出色。自2000年参与该评估以来，其学生在PISA中一直取得很高的排名。
South Korea is also home to several prestigious universities known for their academic excellence, research output, and global reputation. Here are some of them:
韩国也有几所著名的大学，它们以卓越的学术水平、研究成果和全球声誉而闻名。以下是其中的一些：
Seoul National University (#29)
首尔国立大学（第29名）
KAIST – Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (#42)
KAIST -韩国科学技术高等研究院（第42名）
Pohang University of Science And Technology (POSTECH) (#71)
浦项科技大学（POSTECH）（第71名）
Yonsei University (#73)
延世大学Yonsei University（第73名）
France
法国
In France, education is one of the most basic rights of its citizens. The country made it compulsory for those between the ages of six to 16 to receive education.
在法国，教育是公民最基本的权利之一。该国规定，6岁至16岁的公民必须接受教育。
Some of its universities are known to rival MIT (University of Paris-Saclay), and the country is also home to one of the world’s finest engineering schools (Ecole Polytechnique) in the world.
法国的一些大学（如巴黎萨克雷大学）堪称能与麻省理工学院相媲美，而且这个国家还拥有世界上最顶尖的工程学院之一（巴黎综合理工学院）。
Apart from the US, France has more field medal-winners in maths than any other country. It’s an award given to two to four mathematicians under 40 at the International Congress of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) every four years. Think of it as the Nobel Prize for Mathematics!
除了美国之外，法国拥有的菲尔兹奖得主数量比其他任何国家都要多。菲尔兹奖是由国际数学联盟（IMU）在其每四年举办一次的国际数学家大会上颁发给两至四位40岁以下数学家的奖项。可以把它看作是数学界的诺贝尔奖！
Top universities include:
顶尖大学包括：
Université PSL (#26)
巴黎文理研究大学 Université PSL（第26名）
Institut Polytechnique de Paris (#48)
巴黎综合理工学院联盟Institut Polytechnique de Paris（第48名）
Sorbonne University (#60)
索邦大学（Sorbonne University）（第60名）
Université Paris-Saclay (#69)
巴黎萨克雷大学Université Paris-Saclay（第69名）
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on February 25, 2025.
免责声明：本文最后更新于2025年2月25日。
