Congratulations! You can now embark on a new stage in your life! But have you ever wondered how to choose a university course? If you are a person who is willing to take on challenges, you can take a look at the following list of the most difficult courses in the world. High risk, high return. These challenging courses are often also promising and popular ones. You can refer to this article to find a new field that interests you and is also full of challenges.
Top 10 Toughest Course in World
Here are some of the most difficult courses in the world. Please read on.
Top 1: Medicine
Medicine is the science that studies human health and the occurrence and development of diseases, as well as their prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. It is based on fields, such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology, and integrates social sciences and humanistic concerns, finally forming a highly practical and comprehensive discipline. The duration of study for medicine is usually five to eight years. Students need to systematically study basic medicine, clinical medicine, public health and evidence-based medicine. They also should gradually acquire a variety of core competences through clinical rotations, internships, and standardized residency training.
Top countries to study medicine
Top universities to study medicine
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, United States |
| 2 | University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, United States |
| 4 | Stanford University | Stanford, United States |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, United States |
| 6 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| 7 | University of California, San Francisco | San Francisco, United States |
| 8 | Imperial College London | London, United Kingdom |
| 9 | UCL | London, United Kingdom |
| 10 | Karolinska Institutet | Stockholm, Sweden |
What jobs can you do after graduating in medicine?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| surgeon | $239,200 |
| anesthesiologist | $339,470 |
| psychiatrist | $269,120 |
| general practitioner | $238,000 |
| resident physician | $268,000 |
Top 2: Engineering
Engineering is a comprehensive discipline that integrates science, technology and mathematics, aiming to solve real-world problems through systematic approaches and create reliable and efficient systems, products and services. Traditional branches include mechanical, civil, electrical and chemical engineering. In modern times, new directions such as computer science, environmental science, materials science and aerospace engineering have been added. The curriculum is based on mathematics and physics, supplemented by computer tools, design and manufacturing, as well as ethical regulations.
Top countries to study engineering
- The US
- The UK
- Germany
- Canada
- Singapore
Top universities to study engineering
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, United States |
| 2 | University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| 3 | Stanford University | Stanford, United States |
| 4 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| 5 | ETH Zurich | Zürich, Switzerland |
| 6 | University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | Berkeley, United States |
| 7 | Tsinghua University | Beijing, China (Mainland) |
| 8 | Imperial College London | London, United Kingdom |
| 9 | Harvard University | Cambridge, United States |
| 10 | EPFL – école polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne | Lausanne, Switzerland |
What jobs can you do after graduating in engineering?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| software engineer | $133,100 |
| computer hardware engineer | $148,310 |
| electrical engineer | $125,670 |
| mechanical engineer | $111,420 |
| civil engineer | $103,480 |
Top 3: Neuroscience
Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field that studies the structure, function, development, evolution, genetics and pathology of the nervous system. It aims to answer the fundamental question of “how the brain generates consciousness”. Modern neuroscience integrates biology, medicine, psychology, physics, mathematics and computer science, developing key technologies, such as brain imaging and neural network modeling. This discipline is usually offered in comprehensive universities or medical schools.
Top countries to study neuroscience
- The US
- The UK
- Germany
- Canada
- Japan
Top universities to study neuroscience
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| 2 | University College London, UCL | London, UK |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| 4 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| 5 | Stanford University | Stanford, California, USA |
| 6 | University of Oxford | Oxford, UK |
| 7 | University of California, San Francisco, UCSF | San Francisco, California, US |
| 8 | Columbia University | New York City, USA |
| 9 | Karolinska Institute | Stockholm City, Sweden |
| 10 | University of Tokyo | Tokyo, Japan |
What jobs can you do after graduating in neuroscience?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Neurologist | $324,379 |
| Neurosurgeon | $148,376 |
| Psychiatrist | $255,958 |
| Neuroscientist | $127,654 |
| Machine Learning Engineer | $152,244 |
Top 4: Statistics
As one of the toughest subject in the world, statistics is a discipline based on data, aiming to reveal the underlying patterns and uncertainties of things through the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It originated from the population censuses in the 19th century, and has now permeated almost all fields including natural sciences, social sciences, business, medicine, and artificial intelligence. Traditional statistics is divided into descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Modern statistics places greater emphasis on computation and algorithms, with topics such as machine learning, Bayesian methods, and causal inference becoming popular.
Top countries to study statistics
- The US
- The UK
- Canada
- Germany
- Netherlands
Top universities to study statistics
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, MA, USA |
| 2 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA, USA |
| 3 | Harvard University | Cambridge, MA, USA |
| 4 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA, USA |
| 5 | University of Oxford | Oxford, UK |
| 6 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, UK |
| 7 | ETH Zurich | Zurich, Switzerland |
| 8 | Imperial College London | London, UK |
| 9 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA, USA |
| 10 | Princeton University | Princeton, NJ, USA |
What jobs can you do after graduating in statistics?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Data Engineer | $233,999 |
| Computer & Information Research Scientist | $145,080 |
| Actuary | $125,770 |
| Data Scientist | $119,510 |
| Statistician (industry) | $115,000 |
Top 5: Law
Law is based on national norms and cover areas such as constitution, civil, criminal, commercial, administrative laws and litigation procedures. It emphasizes logic and value judgment. Core courses include jurisprudence, constitution, civil law, criminal law, economic law, etc. Supplementary courses include legal history, legal methods, case studies, and off-campus internships. These training programs aim to develop skills in searching, arguing, negotiating and writing. Studying this toughest course in the world emphasizes value judgment and logical thinking, and requires students to pay attention to social changes and public policies.
Top countries to study law
- The US
- The UK
- Singapore
- Australia
- Canada
Top universities to study law
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, USA |
| 2 | University of Oxford | Oxford, UK |
| 3 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, UK |
| 4 | Yale University | New Haven, USA |
| 5 | Stanford University | Stanford, USA |
| 6 | New York University | New York, USA |
| 7 | London School of Economics and Political Science | London, UK |
| 8 | Columbia University | New York, USA |
| 9 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, USA |
| 10 | National University of Singapore | Singapore City, Singapore |
What jobs can you do after graduating in law?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chief Legal Officer (CLO) | $382,810 |
| General Counsel | $363,750 |
| Attorney at Big Law firm | $225,000 |
| Corporate Lawyer | $153,267 |
| Contracts Lawyer | $163,800 |
Top 6: Quantum Mechanics
Quantum mechanics is often regarded as one of the most difficult courses in the world. It is the core branch of modern physics, studying the structure, interactions and evolution laws of matter at the atomic and subatomic-scale materials. It is based on the concepts of wave-particle duality, uncertainty principle, superposition state and quantum entanglement, and uses state vectors and operators in Hilbert space to describe microscopic entities. This discipline has given rise to technologies with revolutionary significance such as semiconductors, lasers, nuclear magnetic resonance, and quantum computing.
Top countries to study quantum mechanics
- The US
- China
- Germany
- The UK
- Canada
Top universities to study quantum mechanics
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, USA |
| 2 | Harvard University | Cambridge, USA |
| 3 | University of Oxford | Oxford, UK |
| 4 | Stanford University | Stanford, USA |
| 5 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, UK |
| 6 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | Pasadena, USA |
| 7 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, USA |
| 8 | ETH Zurich | Zurich, Switzerland |
| 9 | Princeton University | Princeton, USA |
| 10 | University of Chicago | Chicago, USA |
What jobs can you do after graduating in quantum mechanics?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Quantum Research Scientist | $190,000 |
| Senior Quantum Hardware Engineer | $170,000 |
| Quantum Financial-Modeling Specialist | $205,000 |
| Quantum Algorithm Developer | $177,500 |
| Quantum Software Engineer | $155,000 |
Top 7: Chartered Accountancy
Chartered accountancy is a comprehensive discipline that integrates accounting, auditing, taxation and financial management, and also incorporates knowledge of law, economics and information technology. Its training objective is to cultivate experts who possess the authority to sign audits and can provide high-level financial and strategic advice to enterprises and public sectors. The curriculum system includes financial accounting, management accounting, company law, tax law, auditing and verification, advanced financial management, etc., emphasizing case analysis and professional ethics.
Top countries to study chartered accountancy
- The UK
- Singapore
- Canada
- Australia
- Switzerland
Top universities to study chartered accountancy
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, United States |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, United States |
| 3 | University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| 4 | Stanford University | Stanford, United States |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) | Philadelphia, United States |
| 6 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| 7 | London School of Economics and Political Science | London, United Kingdom |
| 8 | University of Chicago | Chicago, United States |
| 9 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, United States |
| 10 | National University of Singapore | Singapore |
What jobs can you do after graduating in chartered accountancy?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | $350,000 |
| Audit Partner | $310,000 |
| Investment Banking Associate | $175,000 |
| orporate Controller | $165,000 |
| Senior Tax Manager | $150,000 |
Top 8: Architecture
Architecture primarily aims to cultivate students’ mastery of core knowledge, such as architectural design, urban planning, and historical theories. The courses emphasize the integration of practice and theoretical learning, as well as the mix of art and technology. Graduates can enter design institutes, firms, real estate development companies, and public sectors. They also have the opportunity to obtain relevant certificates and grow into leading designers with a sense of social responsibility and innovative capabilities.
Top countries to study architecture
- The UK
- The US
- Netherlands
- Switzerlands
- Italy
Top universities to study architecture
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL | London, United Kingdom |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, United States |
| 3 | Delft University of Technology | Delft, Netherlands |
| 4 | ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | Zurich, Switzerland |
| 5 | Manchester School of Architecture | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| 6 | Harvard University | Cambridge, United States |
| 7 | Politecnico di Milano | Milan, Italy |
| 8 | Tsinghua University | Beijing, China |
| 9 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
| 10 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, United States |
What jobs can you do after graduating in architecture?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural Designer | $58,807 |
| Project Coordinator | $61,646 |
| Urban Planner | $62,394 |
| Building Information Modeling (BIM) Specialist | $80,000 |
| Chief Architect | $145,000 |
Top 9: Pharmacy
Pharmacy is a comprehensive applied course that studies the discovery, design, preparation, quality control, clinical application, and management of drugs. It covers chemistry, biomedicine, clinical science, and social science. With the advancement of population aging, precision medicine, and biotechnology, the role of pharmacists in chronic disease management and personalized medication has become increasingly important, and their future is promising.
Top countries to study pharmacy
- The US
- The UK
- Canada
- Australia
- Germany
Top universities to study pharmacy
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Boston, United States |
| 2 | University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| 3 | UCL (University College London) | London, United Kingdom |
| 4 | Monash University | Melbourne, Australia |
| 5 | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, United States |
| 6 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| 7 | University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) | San Francisco, United States |
| 8 | University of Toronto | Toronto, Canada |
| 9 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
| 10 | Karolinska Institute | Stockholm, Sweden |
What jobs can you do after graduating in pharmacy?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Pharmacometrician | $189,700 |
| Director of Pharmacy | $173,600 |
| Clinical Pharmacologist | $170,300 |
| Clinical Pharmacist | $144,900 |
| Hospital Pharmacist | $143,900 |
Top 10: Psychology
Many people consider psychology to be the hardest course in the world. It is a science that studies human and animal behaviors, cognition, emotions, and psychological processes, possessing both natural science and social science attributes. With the development of artificial intelligence and big data, psychology has merged with computer science and neuroscience, giving rise to cutting-edge fields such as cognitive neuroscience and human-computer interaction, providing more scientific basis for addressing mental health issues, optimizing organizational management, and enhancing product design.
Top countries to study psychology
- The US
- The UK
- Canada
- Australia
- Germany
Top universities to study psychology
| Rank | Top Universities | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA |
| 2 | Stanford University | Stanford, California, USA |
| 3 | University of Oxford | Oxford, United Kingdom |
| 4 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| 5 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California, USA |
| 6 | Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut, USA |
| 7 | Columbia University | New York City, New York, USA |
| 8 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| 9 | University College London (UCL) | London, United Kingdom |
| 10 | University of Amsterdam | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
What jobs can you do after graduating in psychology?
| Jobs | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Neuropsychologist | $129,108 |
| Clinical Psychologist | $120,112 |
| Psychiatrist | $200,000 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $94,833 |
| Health Psychologist | $101,874 |
Factors Determining Toughest Subject in the World
The following presents the common characteristics of these most difficult courses in the world, and summarizes several key factors contributing to their high difficulty level for your reference.
1. Complicated professional concepts
The common entry point for the toughest course in the world is professional barriers. Quantum superposition, the Riemann Hypothesis, neural network gradient explosion… These concepts are not only intangible but also must be precisely described using a symbolic system. Mathematics here is not just a tool, but a new “mother tongue”. Students must first translate their intuition into algebraic equations, and then translate the equations into testable predictions.
2. Multidisciplinary integration
What truly causes people to lose their minds is not the complexity of a single discipline, but the interdisciplinary integration. Neuroscience requires learning about behavioral experimental design, Bayesian statistics, and deep learning frameworks. Aerospace engineering needs to understand material creep, fluid-solid coupling, navigation algorithms, and ethical regulations. Learners must become all-rounder across multiple fields, and the cultivation of such generalists takes an extremely long time, far longer than the learning of a single discipline.
3. Requires a strong memory
Medical students have to internalize thousands of pieces of knowledge such as the paths of nerves and blood vessels, the molecular formulas and dosages of drugs, all into “muscle memory”. Chemical engineers need to engrave the reaction pathways, equipment materials, and safety thresholds into their minds. What’s even more challenging is that these details are not static. Regulations, guidelines, and pharmacopoeias are revised every year, and the memory must be constantly patched up like software in order to avoid fatal errors caused by “outdated knowledge”.
4. Extremely long academic duration
Finally, these difficult course in the world have erected a high barrier using time itself, making it difficult for the ordinary person to approach them. The average time for a medical doctor is 11 years, for a mathematics doctor 5 to 7 years, and for an architecture undergraduate it starts at 5 years. MCAT, judicial examinations, licensing for medical practitioners, pilot licenses, etc. all screen people step by step, and at each stage a high proportion are eliminated.
What are the Toughest Degree in the World?
Here are some of the toughest degree in the world.
1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Theoretical and clinical dual pressure
- High risk and high emotional load
- Long-term internships and shifts
2. Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Long academic duration (8-10 years or more)
- Extensive course offerings
- Strict residency training
3. Bachelor of Laws
- Massive case studies and legal provisions memorization
- Extremely high logical reasoning requirements
- National judicial examinations with low pass rates
4. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
- Necessary to master the anatomy and diseases of various animals
- The clinical operation is very difficult
- The animal behavior and safety risks are high
5. Bachelor's/Doctorate in Philosophy
- Abstract thinking and logical reasoning extreme challenge
- The reading materials are obscure and the writing requirements are extremely high
- The subjective scoring varies greatly
Conclusion
There is no universal answer to the most difficult courses in the world because its difficulty varies from person to person. However, regardless of which subject it is, what truly makes it challenging is not the formulas or terms, but rather it requires you to constantly step out of your comfort zone and break away from your familiar way of thinking. When studying the toughest course in the world, the biggest enemy is not the exam, but your own limits. The greatest gain is not the score, but learning to admit your own shortcomings and being willing to keep improving.
FAQ
Here are globally recognized top 10 toughest course in the world.
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Statistics
- Law
- Quantum Mechanics
- Chartered Accountancy
- Architecture
- Pharmacy
- Psychology
The most difficult courses in university vary from person to person, but the courses that are generally considered the most challenging are often concentrated in the fields of mathematics, physics and engineering.
The Linear Algebra and Differential Equations course at MIT, the Quantum Mechanics course at Caltech, and the Advanced Mathematical Analysis course at Tsinghua University are often referred to by students as super difficult. These courses not only require extremely strong abstract thinking, but also require a deep understanding of multiple disciplines. The failure rate is extremely high.
According to the latest rankings available, the “Life Sciences and Medicine” program at Harvard University ranks first on all three major lists – Times, QS, and Shanghai Ranking – in 2025.
Currently, the rarest degree in the world is the Bachelor of Arts in Bagpiping (Bagpiping, BFA), which is offered exclusively by Carnegie Mellon University in the United States. There is only one such program in the entire world.
Based on the latest salary data for 2025, the course with the highest starting salary globally is Petroleum Engineering. The average annual salary for undergraduate graduates in this field is $212,000.
Following are Operations Research and Industrial Engineering ($203,000) and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science ($192,000).
For the period up to 2025 and beyond, the field that is most worthy of learning is artificial intelligence (AI). Many countries have designated it as a strategic core, with a significant shortage of talents and high starting salaries for graduates. As long as one has a solid foundation in mathematics and is willing to keep learning, it is applicable to almost all industries.
In summary, the AI-related positions are the most numerous, offer the highest salaries, and have the fastest growth rate. Therefore, it is the best course for future.
