Top 10 Toughest Courses in the World: Hardest Subjects & Programs

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What is the toughest degree in the world? There’s never a definite answer to the most challenging courses in the world. The possible ways to determine them can be based on the criteria of university rankings, admission competitiveness, enrollment, and job and salary prospects. Below is an enriched list of the world’s toughest courses, along with the top countries and universities where they are offered.

Here’s the list of some toughest courses in world

Engineering

Engineering uses math and science as its foundation to design and build machines, structures, devices, and systems that benefit society. It is one of the oldest and most diverse fields, requiring rigorous coursework and a strong understanding of technical concepts. To get into engineering, you should have a strong understanding of science and math. They work together to produce engineering works. To qualify in this field, you need to complete rigorous coursework. Following are the top countries and universities for pursuing Engineering in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
UK	University of Cambridge, University of Oxford
Germany	Technical University of Munich, RWTH Aachen University
Canada	University of Toronto, University of British Columbia
Australia	University of Melbourne, University of Sydney

Medicine

Studying medicine requires one to be scientifically knowledgeable and have strong clinical skills. Medicine is all about learning how to care for people’s well-being. It involves diagnosing, treating and curing ailments or pain in the human body. Apart from professional values, you must have compassion and empathy towards your patients and colleagues. To study medicine, you must acquire medical skills and look at a medical university to enhance your knowledge. Below are the top countries and universities for pursuing medicine in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	Harvard University, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University
UK	University of Oxford, University of Cambridge
Canada	University of Toronto, McGill University
Australia	University of Melbourne, Monash University
Singapore	National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University

Law

Law is the world’s toughest exam to crack as it requires a high level of logical, analytical, research, critical thinking, communication and writing skills. The study of law involves learning about the governing rules of humans, society, and the world. It can be divided into constitutional law, civil law, contract law, tort law, criminal law, and international law. If you want to study law, you need to have a deep understanding of its law’s scope, nature, and functions. You must possess strong analytical, critical, argumentative, ethical and professional skills and values. Following are the Top Countries and Universities for pursuing Law in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University
UK	University of Oxford, University of Cambridge
Australia	University of Sydney, University of Melbourne
Canada	University of Toronto, McGill University
Netherlands	Leiden University, University of Amsterdam

Chartered Accountant

Chartered Accountant is a profession and the toughest course to crack in the world. CA is the study of business, including finance, tax, auditing, and management. It is considered a respected profession not just in the business world but in society as a whole. If you dream of being a CA, you need to have a good financial background. You must also have strong analytical, problem-solving, strategic planning, interpersonal, and communication skills. Below are the top countries and universities for pursuing Chartered Accountancy in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	Harvard University, Stanford University
UK	University of Oxford, University of Cambridge
India	ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India)
Australia	University of Sydney, University of Melbourne
Canada	University of Toronto, University of British Columbia

Aeronautical Engineering

Aeronautical Engineering is the hardest course in the world to study. This field focuses on designing and developing flying machines. It combines physics, mathematics, and design, requiring a passion for technology and innovation. Therefore, you need to have solid calculative and observation skills. If you plan to study, you should opt for science subjects ( chemistry, math, physics, and an optional subject). This course is for those interested in studying airplanes and working in the aircraft building sector. Following are the top countries and universities for pursuing Aeronautical Engineering in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology
UK	Imperial College London, Cranfield University
Germany	Technical University of Munich, University of Stuttgart
Australia	University of Sydney, University of Queensland
Canada	McGill University, University of Toronto

Finance

Finance is another one of the hardest courses to study in the world. It studies subjects like finance, accounting, management, and economics. Above all, money management is an important part of the study as it relates to real-life events. One of the world’s toughest courses in finance is Chartered Financial Analyst. If you love numbers and have critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical, financial, and management skills, you should apply to study finance! Following are the Top Countries and Universities for pursuing Finance in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	University of Chicago, Stanford University
UK	London School of Economics (LSE), University of Oxford
Canada	University of Toronto, University of British Columbia
Singapore	National University of Singapore
Australia	University of Melbourne, University of Sydney

Nursing

Nursing is a branch of health care that requires one to have medical and scientific knowledge. But above all, nursing requires one to have the skills to care for different types of patients. Nursing requires working with other healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners, physicians, physical therapists, and psychologists. Nursing is the best course to pursue if you have a good GPA in math, biology, chemistry and the ability to adapt to any emergency situation. Following are the top Countries and Universities for pursuing Nursing in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University
UK	King’s College London, University of Edinburgh
Canada	University of Toronto, McMaster University
Australia	University of Queensland, University of Sydney
Ireland	Trinity College Dublin

Quantum Physics

It’s not easy to get a degree in quantum physics as it’s one of the toughest courses in the world. Quantum physics is a branch of physics that requires mathematics, computer science, and quantum lingo skills. It is about studying atoms and particles at their basic level and applying theories in the real world. The technologies powered by QM are in the medical field, computer, and communication. The prospects of quantum physics are in digital, manufacturing, drug, and chemical research, finance modeling industries, etc. Following are the top countries and universities for pursuing Quantum Physics in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	California Institute of Technology, Harvard University
UK	University of Cambridge, University of Oxford
Switzerland	ETH Zurich, University of Geneva
Germany	Technical University of Munich, University of Heidelberg
Australia	University of Sydney, Australian National University

Architecture

Architecture combines creative thinking, technical expertise, and an understanding of the built environment to design spaces that are functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing. It is one of the toughest courses due to its multidisciplinary nature, requiring students to excel in mathematics, physics, art, and environmental science. Moreover, architecture demands a blend of theoretical learning, hands-on studio work, and time-intensive projects. Students must also stay updated with innovative design trends and building technologies. Following are the top Countries and Universities for pursuing Architecture:

Country	Top Universities
USA	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University
UK	University College London (UCL), University of Cambridge
Australia	University of Sydney, University of Melbourne
Netherlands	Delft University of Technology
Italy	Politecnico di Milano

Data Science

Data Science is a highly dynamic and in-demand field that focuses on extracting meaningful insights from large and complex datasets. It involves a combination of skills in programming, statistics, machine learning, and domain knowledge. As industries across the globe rely on data-driven decision-making, the need for skilled data scientists continues to grow. However, mastering this field is challenging due to its steep learning curve and rapidly evolving technologies. Following are the top Countries and Universities for pursuing Data Science in 2025:

Country	Top Universities
USA	Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University
UK	University of Oxford, Imperial College London
Canada	University of Toronto, University of British Columbia
Germany	Technical University of Munich, University of Mannheim
India	Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), IIT Bombay