In 2009, the prominence of North American universities in terms of "vertical" scientific subject is as clear as it is in terms of "horizontal" field of application. Overall there are more than twice as many North American than European universities among the top 100. The emergence of Asia & Pacific in computer science is emphasised by the advantage of this region over Europe as top-ranked universities are concerned.
100 World-Class Universities by Subject and by Region | |||||||
Subject | North America | Europe | Asia & Pacific | Total | |||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | ||
| Mathematics | 58 | 57.4% | 31 | 30.7% | 12 | 11.9% | 101 |
| Physics | 53 | 51.0% | 37 | 35.6% | 14 | 13.5% | 104 |
| Chemistry | 50 | 49.5% | 32 | 31.7% | 19 | 18.8% | 101 |
| Computer Science | 60 | 60.0% | 19 | 19.0% | 21 | 21.0% | 100 |
| Economics/Business | 76 | 76.0% | 20 | 20.0% | 4 | 4.0% | 100 |
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Sources: see Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai.
