The most difficult courses in the world are the ones that students find difficult to comprehend and apply the concepts learnt from the course to their daily lives. However, these are not the sole parameters to determine the difficulty of a course. With international students taking the step to study abroad for higher education, the number of study options has expanded. Various degree programs and professional courses like MS, M.Phil, PhD, law, and medicine are considered the toughest courses abroad. Some courses are offered identically in all parts of the world but with certain twists based on the country’s education system. Since courses have evolved with time, some degrees have become the toughest degrees in the world to crack. This article entails the list of the most difficult courses in the world, the deciding factors for the toughest course in the world along with the details on the toughest course in the world.
Which Factors Determine a Course’s Difficulty?
There are a couple of ways which suggest how tough a course can be in the long run. The factors which help to pick out the most difficult courses in the world are listed below.
- High Drop-out Rates: When the stress and need to cope with the speed of covering the exhaustive course modules grip students, they tend to drop out. When asked why most drop-outs opted to quit their courses, the most common reasons included the difficulty of the course and that they got a better course, along with other reasons.
- Intensive Coursework: Several courses have a vast syllabus which requires students to put in more than 10 hours a day to keep their learnings and coursework on track. This leads to students calling out from their courses. Additionally, tough courses become even tougher with the type of specialisation chosen.Â
- Teaching Style: Apart from a vast syllabus, the teaching style at the universities also affects how a student comprehends the lessons. The grading criteria, course material and the academic expectations of students are other factors in this index.
- Continuous Exams and Assessments: Some courses require regular assessments owing to their vast syllabus. This leads to exhausting the students. The never-ending quest to prepare and perform well in the exams takes a toll on their mental health. For example, professional courses like LLM and CA are designed in a very different manner. They include both coursework and research as part of degree completion. Plus with each level, the difficulty increases. Thus, opt only if willing to put in the effort.
- Admission Exams: Admissions to several courses require students to pass the entrance tests. The questions in these tests are made quite difficult to enrol only the most talented and knowledgeable students into the course, given the large number of applications received by the universities. These tests are so difficult that only a very few students pass them.
- Universities: Certain countries abroad have complicated education systems, which may also make degrees harder for international students. The difficulty of a course may vary from university to university. Some universities have a more extensive course structure than others. This affects how the course will be delivered to students, the university’s ranking and the popularity of the course among students. For this reason, a college’s ranking in the world university rankings list differs from the subject ranking list. Countries with the toughest education systems include – Germany, Finland, the USA, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Canada and others.
- Course Requirements and Personal Limitations: Some courses become tough for students if they have not studied those subjects at the previous level of study. Thus, decisions to take up such courses should be made very carefully. On the other hand, medical courses such as MS & MD courses require students to have a medical licence to practice in the country of study, thus, switching from one country to another and obtaining a practice licence may require students to start all over again which can be taxing.
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Any course at the college level studied whether abroad or locally is definitely not a cakewalk. Courses at the college level are very different from school-level learning. There are some courses which are technical while some are non-technical, some are professional, and some are non-professional, also there are some courses abroad that are tough and there may be a few which may not be tough. The list of the 10 most difficult courses in the world is given below.
| Most Difficult Courses in the World | |
|---|---|
| 1. Medicine | 2. Engineering |
| 3. Neuroscience | 4. Quantum Physics |
| 5. Chemistry | 6. Chartered Accountancy |
| 7. Pharmacy | 8. Data Science |
| 9. Architecture | 10. Law |
Let us discuss in detail about these toughest courses in the world for international students in the following section.
Details of Toughest Courses in the World
Let us discuss in detail why the above-given courses are the toughest in the world in the following sections:
1. Medicine Courses
Medicine courses are the toughest courses in the world. The reason why courses like MBBS, MD and MS are so difficult is because of the nature of the curriculum which is vast and requires a lot from the students mentally and physically. These courses are challenging in their ways and demand students to think logically and get solutions to problems based on technicalities. A lots happens in a medical student’s life – medicines, learning procedures, understanding what is the right medicine and what is not, practicals, watching live procedures, etc. These reasons make medicine courses the toughest ones of the lot.
Top Countries to Study Medicine Courses:
- USA
- UK
- Canada
- Australia
- RussiaÂ
Top Universities for Medicine Courses:
- Harvard University
- University of Oxford
- Stanford University
- John Hopkins University
- University of Cambridge
Highest Paid Jobs After Medicine:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Medicine | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Dermatologist | USD 319,084 |
| Anesthesiologist | USD 298,370 |
| Cardiology | USD 294,822 |
| Radiology | USD 116,403 |
| Gastroenterologist | USD 258,869 |
2. Engineering Courses
Engineering courses are the toughest in the world too irrespective of the level of degree they are offered in. Some of the toughest engineering courses include – Nuclear, Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and others. The reason why engineering courses are the toughest in the world is because of their technicality and precision. The engineering courses curriculum are again very vast spread over four years with challenging projects and assignments. practicals and in some cases on-field research also. From working with dangerous chemicals to finding solutions for the environment, all come under engineering courses.Â
Top Countries to Study Engineering Courses:
- USA
- UK
- Germany
- Australia
- New Zealand
Top Universities for Engineering Courses:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
- Purdue University
- University of Michigan
- Imperial College London
Highest Paid Jobs After Engineering:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Engineering | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineer | USD 130,830 |
| Nuclear Engineer | USD 127,000 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | USD 126,990 |
| Aerospace Engineer | USD 122,220 |
| Chemical Engineer | USD 108,610 |
3. Neuroscience Courses
Neuroscience courses are the toughest courses in the world. Neuroscience is all about the brain and its function. There are billions of aspects that one can learn about the brain thus, this is the reason why Neuroscience is the hardest course in the world. There are a lot of complex topics that form a part of Neuroscience which further makes it even more challenging. Since a lot of studies about the brain are published, Neuroscience backs them all up. So if you are interested in learning about the human brain, its functions and applications and are ready for the challenge, then you can choose this toughest course.
Top Countries to Study Neuroscience Courses:
- USA
- Canada
- UK
- Australia
- Germany
Top Universities for Neuroscience Courses:
- MIT
- University of Oxford
- ETH Zurich
- University of Toronto
- The University of Melbourne
Highest Paid Jobs After Neuroscience:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Neuroscience | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Neurosurgeon | USD 707,000 |
| Neurologist | USD 539,000 |
| Psychiatrist | USD 208,000 |
| Neuropsychologist | USD 187,000 |
| Neurorehabilitation Specialist | USD 97,000 |
4. Quantum Physics Courses
A branch of Physics and one of the toughest ones in the world. Quantum Physics requires mathematical, computer science, and quantum lingo skills. It is about studying atoms and particles at the very basic level and applying the theories in the real world. Of all scientific courses, Quantum Physics has been credited as the toughest course in the world.
Top Countries to Study Quantum Physics Courses:
- USA
- Germany
- France
- Japan
- Australia
Top Universities for Quantum Physics Courses:
- California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
- MIT
- University of Cambridge
- ETH Zurich
- National University of Singapore
Highest Paid Jobs After Quantum Physics:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Quantum Physics | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Quantum Engineer | USD 111,416 |
| Quantum Computing Developer | USD 91,010 |
| Quantum Physicist | USD 120,000 |
| Quantum Information Scientist | USD 100,000 |
| Quantum Physics Professor | USD 200,000 |
5. Chemistry Courses
Chemistry courses are tough because it has a lot of abstract concepts like atoms, molecules and ions. Numerous chemical reactions can be studied practically. There is a lot of maths in Chemistry which makes it even tougher. The Chemistry course is a blend of problem-solving skills and practicals that are essential for completing a course in Chemistry at the bachelor’s or master’s level. Thus, all of these factors together make Chemistry one of the hardest courses in the world.Â
Top Countries to Study Chemistry Courses:
- USA
- UK
- Germany
- Japan
- France
Top Universities for Chemistry Courses:
- MIT
- CalTech
- Heidelberg University
- University of Cambridge
- University of Tokyo
Highest Paid Jobs After Chemistry:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Chemistry | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineer | USD 130,850 |
| Medicinal Chemist | USD 126,980 |
| Chemical Engineer | USD 108,610 |
| Polymer Chemist | USD 103,230 |
| Materials Scientist | USD 98,210 |
Check: MS in Chemistry Abroad
6. CA Courses
Pursuing a course in CA is itself very challenging. CA degree is considered as one of the hardest degrees in the world. Why CA as a course is tough is because it keeps its students on the go at all times. There are so many exams, and lots of literature and the nature of qualifying for a CA course is based on a lot of parameters. If you are unable to qualify for even one exam, all your effort will go to waste. Along with the exams is articleship which is similar to an internship, which is equally essential to fulfil. These reasons make the CA course one of the hardest in the world.Â
Top Countries to Study CA Courses:
- USA
- Australia
- Canada
- UK
- New Zealand
7. Pharmacy Courses
A pharmacy course is the hardest course in the world because it covers almost all major areas of Science, from Chemistry to Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Pharmacology. Thus, all these topics are very tough in their terms, which further makes pharmacy courses some of the toughest ones in the world.
Top Countries to Study Pharmacy Courses:
- USA
- UK
- Canada
- Germany
- Australia
Top Universities for Pharmacy Courses:
- UCLA
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- University of London Pharmacy School
- University of Sydney
- University of Toronto
Highest Paid Jobs After Pharmacy Courses:
| Highest Paying Jobs in | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nuclear Pharmacist | USD 128,100 |
| Clinical Pharmacy Specialist | USD 126,000 |
| Oncology Pharmacist | USD 122,100 |
| Pharmaceutical Scientist | USD 120,830 |
| Toxicologist | USD 87,660 |
8. Data Science Courses
With a lot of technical skills, lots of data and an understanding of the science behind the data, this is the data science course, another toughest course on the list! There is a lot of programming, students have to learn different types of programming languages and put them into practical use. Since data scientists are in high demand, more and more students opt for this course which is very challenging to complete and qualify.
Top Countries to Study Data Science Courses:
Top Universities for Data Science Courses:
Highest Paid Jobs After Data Science:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Data Science | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Machine Learning Engineer | USD 166,401 |
| Robotics Research Scientist | USD 156,200 |
| Data Visualization Developer | USD 133,670 |
| Data Scientist | USD 124,215 |
| Data Mining Engineer | USD 127,200 |
9. Architecture Courses
Architecture courses are difficult because of their technical aspect. The precision required for an architect to qualify the course is based on how well he/she performs in exams, practicals and possesses the know-how of the subject. Architecture is a technical subject, hence higher the level of study, the more difficult it gets for students. Understanding the complex structures and being able to understand how is what the course demands.
Top Countries to Study Architecture Courses:
- USA
- UK
- Italy
- Germany
- Australia
Top Universities for Architecture Courses:
- MIT
- ETH Zurich
- Delft University of Technology
- University of Copenhagen
- University College London
Highest Paid Jobs After Architecture:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Architecture | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Project Architect | USD 103,690 |
| Director of Architecture | USD 132,270 |
| Sustainability Consultant | USD 87,510 |
| Urban Designer | USD 85,040 |
| Landscape Arch\itect | USD 78,290 |
10. Law Courses
Law courses are the hardest courses in the world. There is a plethora of literature available for students to study and pursue these courses. Students pursuing an LLB or LLM abroad will have to have proper knowledge of the laws, the sections and how and when to apply the correct law. Though jobs are limited for law grads, but whatever are available are usually high paid ones abroad. Thus, law courses are also the hardest courses in the world.Â
Top Countries to Study Law Courses:
- USA
- Australia
- UK
- Canada
- New Zealand
Top Universities for Law Courses:
- Harvard University
- Yale Law SchoolÂ
- University of Cambridge
- National University of Singapore
- University of Melbourne
Highest Paid Jobs After Law:
| Highest Paying Jobs in Law | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Patent Lawyer | USD 189,230 |
| Mergers & Acquisition Lawyer | USD 183,180 |
| Antitrust Lawyer | USD 167,990 |
| Tax Lawyer | USD 134,930 |
| Trial Lawyer | USD 131,270 |
Most Difficult Courses in the World – By Specialisations
Since each of the courses above is very broad in its approach, each of them has certain areas of study in which specialising can be even tougher for study. Let’s discuss each of these courses in detail below along with the options that make these courses the world’s toughest degrees.
| Toughest Course(s) in the World | Degrees Offered | Toughest 5 Specialisations |
|---|---|---|
| Toughest Medicine Courses in the World | MBBS MS MD | Cardiothoracic Surgery Radiology Transplant Surgery Oncology Neurosurgery Nursing |
| Toughest Law Courses in the World | LLB LLM JD PhD in Law | Criminology Corporate Law Human Rights Law Constitutional Law & Civil Procedure Tax Law |
| Toughest Engineering Courses in the World | BE/BTech ME/MTech MS PhD | Aerospace Engineering Electronic & Electrical Engineering Chemical Engineering Computer Science & Technology Engineering Artificial Intelligence Engineering |
| Toughest Linguistics Courses in the World | MA MPhil PhD | Neurolinguistics Semantics Psycholinguistics Sociolinguistics Syntax |
| Toughest Astronomy Courses in the World | BS MS | Astrophysics Planetary Geology Cosmology Astrobiology Solar Astrophysics |
| Toughest Business Administration Courses in the World | BBA MBA | Business Analytics Finance & Marketing Entrepreneurship Supply Chain Management Operations Management |
| Other Most Difficult Courses | UG PG | Data Science AI Machine Learning Psychology The Study of Spectra |
The list just does not end here, some many more specialisations and courses are deemed as tough which may change over time based on the student’s experiences.
Toughest Degrees in the World
Now that you have known which are the most difficult courses in the world, expand your knowledge by learning the world’s toughest degrees. Some of the world’s toughest degree courses are offered both abroad and locally. Most of the master’s level courses and a doctorate degree are usually considered as the toughest courses but besides these, there are a few more. The following are the toughest degrees in the world as per popular opinion:Â
- MS (Master of Science)Â
- CA (Chartered Accountancy)Â
- MBA (Master of Business Administration)Â
- LLM (Master of Laws)Â
- MS (Master of Surgery)Â
- MTech (Master of Technology)Â
- MD (Master of Medicine)Â Â
- JD (Juris Doctor)Â
- MPhil (Master of Philosophy)Â
- PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)Â
These above-given degrees are course-specific like LLM, JD, MTech and CA while the others are general ones under which any subject and its related specialisation can be taken up. For example, anyone can take up an MS in either Computer Science or Life Sciences or any other area of specialisation falling under this degree program. Thus, before making any choice, ensure that you are ready to take up the challenges that come along with your chosen course.
This was all about the 20 most difficult courses in the world, the difficulty deciding factors and the world’s toughest courses’ specialisations. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.
Toughest Course in the World FAQs
Q. Which is the most toughest course in the world?
Ans. Medicine, engineering and nursing are considered to be the most difficult courses in the world. These courses require students to dedicate 8-10 hours to studying daily along with getting continuous hands-on practice on the topics learnt.
Q. Which factors affect a student’s course preference?
Ans. Factors like parental choice, difficulty of the course, entrance exams, cost of the course and job prospects affect a student’s course preference largely. The factor that is of the highest weightage to the student has a major contribution to the decision-making of the student.
