Top 10 Toughest Courses in the World 2025 - Difficulty & Universities

Choosing the right course is not easy. Some people go for what they love, and others for what pays more. But if you are someone who likes challenges, there are a few tough courses that are tough to study. This guide will discuss the Top 10 Toughest Courses in the World (2025). These toughest courses in the world are hard not just because of what you learn, but also because they need a lot of time, focus, and effort.

Some of the hardest courses to study in the world include Medicine, Engineering, Law, Chartered Accountancy (CA), Architecture, Pharmacy, Quantum Mechanics, Psychology, Statistics, and Neuroscience. Students who choose these have to study for long hours, clear tough exams, and sometimes even deal with high dropout rates.

But don’t worry, even if they are tough, they also give back big. These courses lead to some of the highest-paying jobs and most respected careers in the world. So if you are ready to work hard and don’t give up easily, one of these courses might be just right for you.

Let’s take a look at why these are the hardest courses in the world and what makes them so different in 2025.

Also Read: Top 10 Toughest Exams in the World in 2025

Factors Determining the Hardest Course in the World for Study

Ever wonder what makes a course the hardest course in the world to study? It is not just about reading big books or giving long exams. Many things come together to make a course really difficult. One can check the different factors that decide if a course is truly tough to study.

1. Complex Syllabus

Some courses have too much to study. The syllabus is deep, detailed, and sometimes super confusing. You have to remember a lot and also understand it well.

2. Long Study Hours

One needs to study for long hours while studying the toughest courses every day. You can’t take it easy or skip too much, or you fall behind fast.

3. Hard Exams and Grading

Some courses have tough exams. Even some of the outstanding students who are good at academics fail sometimes. The grading is strict, and you have to be almost perfect to pass.

4. Pass percentages are low

Courses like CA or Medicine have a very low pass rate. Only a few people make it to the end, which shows how hard it is.

5. The Competition is very high

There are many students, but only a few seats. So, even if you are good, you have to compete hard just to get in.

All these things together make a course one of the hardest in the world to study.

1. Medicine Course

Medicine is one of the hardest courses ever. The Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) combines pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical studies, requiring students to absorb vast information, develop clinical skills, and undergo strict practical training.

With a 5.5-year duration and high patient care expectations, it takes a long time to finish, and you have to study a lot of stuff, like the human body, diseases, and how to treat people. It is also very stressful because people’s lives depend on what you do.

Top Countries to Study Medicine:

• USA
• UK
• Canada
• Australia
• Germany

Best Universities for Medicine:

• Harvard University
• University of Oxford
• Stanford University
• University of Cambridge
• Johns Hopkins University

Top Jobs After Medicine

Role	Annual Salary ( INR)
Neurosurgeon	INR 15 Lakhs - INR 56 Lakhs
Cardiologist	INR 28 Lakhs
Orthopedic Surgeon	INR 3.0 Lakhs to INR 36.0 Lakhs
Anesthesiologist	INR 24 Lakhs
Dermatologist	INR 7 Lakhs - INR 24 Lakhs

Did You Know? The Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) pass rate has been continually low, with only 20.89% of 34,608 candidates passing. This highlights the challenges faced by foreign-trained doctors seeking to practice in India.​

2. Engineering Course

Engineering programs are renowned for their attentive curriculum that combines complex theoretical concepts with practical applications. 

Students must learn subjects like advanced mathematics, physics, and specialized technical courses, often requiring long hours of study and laboratory work.​ You need to be good at math, science, and problem-solving. Whether it’s building bridges or writing software, this course makes you think a lot.

Top Countries to Study Engineering:

• USA
• Germany
• UK
• Canada
• Australia

Best Universities for Engineering:

• MIT
• Stanford University
• University of Cambridge
• ETH Zurich
• Imperial College London
• Caltech

Top Jobs After Engineering

Job Title	Average Annual Salary (INR Lakhs)
Cloud Architect	25.4 L
Product Manager (Tech)	26.8 L
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)	49 L
Artificial Intelligence Engineer	12.9 L
Data Scientist	14.3 L
Site Reliability Engineer	14.1 L
Blockchain Engineer	9.8 L
Machine Learning Engineer	10.2 L
Big Data Engineer	10.9 L
DevOps Engineer	8.3 L

Source: AmbitionBox & Glassdoor

3. Law Course

Law is all about learning rules, regulations, and cases. You have to read a lot, remember things, and argue your point really well. It can be boring sometimes, but it pays well later. 

Pursuing a law degree is intellectually demanding, requiring students to specialize in complex legal principles, engage in critical analysis, and develop persuasive communication skills. It consists of an extensive reading load, coupled with the need to comprehend and apply intricate statutes and case law.

Top Countries to Study Law:

• USA
• UK
• Canada
• Australia
• India

Best Universities for Law:

• Yale University
• University of Melbourne
• University of Sydney
• University of New South Wales (UNSW)
• Harvard University
• University of Oxford
• Stanford University
• University of Cambridge

Top Jobs After Law

Job Title	Average Annual Salary (INR )
Corporate Lawyer	INR 4 Lakh to INR 13 Lakh
Legal Consultant	INR 3 Lakh to INR 7 Lakh
Legal Advisor	INR 3 Lakh to INR 6 Lakh
Legal Analyst	INR 4 Lakh to INR 8 Lakh
Civil Judge/Magistrate	INR 24 Lakh
Public Prosecutor	INR 3 Lakh to INR 8 Lakh
Law Lecturer	INR 5 Lakh to INR 7 Lakh

4. Chartered Accountancy (CA)

CA is not easy. You have to give tough exams, know laws, tax, accounting, and pass all the levels. CA encompasses various subjects, including accounting, taxation, auditing, and financial management. 

The multi-tiered examination structure, consisting of the Foundation, Intermediate, and Final levels, has low pass rates, reflecting its difficulty. In India, the first-attempt pass rate for the CA Final exam typically ranges from 10% to 20%, according to ICAI statistics.

Top Countries to Study CA:

• India
• UK
• Australia
• South Africa
• Canada

Top Institutes for CA:

• ICAI (India)
• ACCA (UK)
• AICPA (USA)
• CPA Australia
• SAICA (South Africa)

Top Jobs After CA

Job Title	Average Annual Salary (INR )
Chartered Accountant	INR 10,00,000
Finance Manager	INR 10,00,000
Finance Controller	INR 19,00,000
Account Executive	INR 25,00,000
Finance Officer	INR 35,00,000

5. Architecture Course

Architecture mixes art and science. You draw buildings and also make sure they stand strong. There is a lot of work, late nights, and too many assignments.

Architecture blends artistic vision with engineering principles. Students must develop a deep understanding of design, structural integrity, environmental systems, and material science. 

The curriculum needs command of complex software, long hours for studio work, and the ability to integrate feedback into designs. 

The high attrition rates in architecture programs underscore their difficulty. For instance, a survey from the San Francisco Institute of Architecture indicates that for some institutions, only 20% of every 100 enrolled students in architecture programs graduate.

Top Countries to Study Architecture:

• USA
• UK
• Netherlands
• Australia
• Germany

Best Universities for Architecture:

• MIT
• Delft University
• ETH Zurich
• University College London (UCL)
• University of Bath
• Manchester School of Architecture

Top Jobs After Architecture

Job Title	Average Annual Salary (INR )
Architect	INR 7,00,000
Architectural Designer	INR 3,60,000
Landscape Architect	INR 7,50,000
Urban Planner	INR 5,25,000
Lead Architect	INR 33,75,461
Solution Architect	INR 23,00,000
Software Architect	INR 33,00,000
Architect and Project Manager	INR 20,00,000

6. Pharmacy Course

A pharmacy course is about medicine, drugs, and how they work in the body. You need to be careful with your work because people’s health depends on it.

Pharmacy programs include biomedical sciences, pharmacology, and clinical practice. Students must develop a deep understanding of drug mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and patient care. Additionally, the evolving nature of pharmaceuticals necessitates continuous learning and adaptability.​

Top Countries to Study Pharmacy:

• Canada
• USA
• UK
• Australia
• New Zealand

Best Universities for Pharmacy:

• University of Toronto
• Monash University
• Oxford University
• UCL
• University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
• University of Michigan
• University of Nottingham
• King's College London

Top Jobs After Pharmacy

Job Title	Average Annual Salary (INR )
Pharmacist	INR 2.5–6.5 LPA
Clinical Pharmacist	INR 2.6–3.2 LPA
Pharmacy Manager	INR 3.6–6.5 LPA
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	INR 4–10 LPA
Hospital Pharmacist	INR 2.8–3.2 LPA

7. Quantum Mechanics Course

Quantum Mechanics is one of the toughest courses in the world to study. It is a part of Physics, but it’s not like the normal physics you learn in school. It talks about how tiny particles like electrons and atoms behave, and their behavior is super weird and confusing sometimes.

This course is hard because it requires a very strong understanding of math and theoretical physics. You have to deal with formulas, probabilities, and things that don’t even follow normal science rules. It’s not just about learning facts, it’s about thinking in ways that are not always easy to understand.

Top Countries to Study Quantum Mechanics:

• USA
• Switzerland
• UK
• Germany
• Canada

Best Universities for Quantum Mechanics:

• MIT
• Stanford University
• ETH Zurich
• University of Oxford
• University of Waterloo

Top Jobs After Quantum Mechanics

Role	Location	Average Total Pay
Quantum Physicist	USA	USD 299,283/year
Quantum Software Engineer	USA	USD 217,413/year
Computational Physicist	USA	USD 207,042/year
Quantum Engineer	USA	USD 174,429/year
Quantum Scientist	USA	USD 195,052/year
Quantum Software Engineer	Canada	CAD 207,000/year
Computational Physicist	India	INR 1,350,131/year

8. Psychology Course

Psychology teaches you about the mind, behaviour, and how people think. It sounds easy, but there is a lot of reading and research involved.

Psychology encompasses various aspects of human behavior, mental processes, and research methodologies. Students must engage in substantial theoretical learning, statistical analysis, and practical applications. The need for a deep understanding of complex concepts and original research contributes to the program's toughness.

Top Countries to Study Psychology:

• USA
• UK
• Canada
• Australia
• Netherlands

Best Universities for Psychology:

• Harvard University
• UCL
• Oxford University
• Stanford University
• University of Queensland
• University of Amsterdam

Top Jobs After Psychology

Job Title	Avg. Salary
Psychologist	USD 145,576/year
Clinical Psychologist	USD 157,496/year
Psychology (General)	USD 116,114/year
Psychology Associate	USD 80,303/year
Clinical Psychology (Field)	USD 125,540/year

9. Statistics Course

Statistics is one of the toughest courses to study in the world. At first, it might look easy because it's all about numbers and data, but once you go deeper, it gets really hard. You have to learn things like probability, data analysis, sampling, and mathematical modeling, and that’s just the start.

You also need to learn how to use statistical software like R, Python, or SPSS. These tools are powerful but take time to learn properly. Also, the assignments and projects can be very time-consuming and tricky.

Even though it’s tough, Statistics is very useful today. Almost every field — like business, health, sports, and technology — uses statistics. If you finish this course, you can get high-paying jobs like a data scientist, quant analyst, or a statistician.

Top Countries to Study Statistics:

• USA
• UK
• Germany
• Canada
• Singapore

Best Universities for Statistics:

• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)
• University of Cambridge
• ETH Zurich

Top Jobs After Statistics

Job Title	Estimated Total Pay (INR /year)
Data Scientist	INR 15,39,000
Data Science Associate	INR 12,00,000
Data Specialist	INR 7,63,500
Data Specialist II	INR 3,21,000
Data Scientist Analyst	INR 7,33,500
Financial Analyst	INR 6,65,000
Finance Analyst	INR 7,90,000
Financial Analyst II	INR 5,84,478

10. Neuroscience Course

Neuroscience is all about the brain and nervous system, how they work, how they affect our body, and how they change with diseases or injuries.

The reason why Neuroscience is so hard is because it mixes many different subjects. You have to study biology, chemistry, psychology, and sometimes even physics and math. That’s a lot to learn! The brain is also very complex, so there are billions of small details you need to remember and understand.

There is also a lot of research work in this course. You’ll spend many hours in labs, doing experiments or reading scientific papers.

Top Countries to Study Neuroscience:

• USA
• Canada
• UK
• Australia
• Germany

Best Universities for Neuroscience:

• MIT
• University of Oxford
• ETH Zurich
• University of Toronto
• University of Melbourne

Top Jobs After Neuroscience

Job Title	Estimated Total Pay (INR /year)
Neurosurgeon	INR 41 L
Neurologist	INR 34.55 L
Neurophysiologist	INR 44.45 L
Neuroscientist	INR 57.6 L
Neuroscience Product Specialist	INR 6 L – INR 27 L
Neuroscience Associate	INR 6 L/year
Research Scientist (general)	INR 10.75 L

Most Difficult Courses in the World - By Specialisations

Within fields like Engineering, Medicine, and Law, some specializations are especially intense, combining tough concepts, long hours, and constant pressure. Let’s explore what makes these specific paths so challenging.

Course	Specialization	Key Challenges
Engineering	Chemical Engineering	Combines advanced chemistry, physics, and mathematics. You’ll study reaction kinetics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and plant design. Extremely demanding due to safety, environmental, and real-world process constraints.
	Electrical Engineering	Focuses on circuits, power systems, control engineering, and signal processing. Requires strong foundations in advanced math and logical problem-solving.
	Aerospace Engineering	Involves design and testing of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Students must learn aerodynamics, propulsion systems, and structural analysis. High expectations and tight safety tolerances add to the pressure.
Medicine	Neurosurgery	One of the most demanding specializations globally. Requires 7–10 years of education and residency after MBBS. Involves brain and spine surgeries that demand precision, stamina, and crisis management.
	Plastic Surgery	A mix of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Highly competitive entry and rigorous training; strong aesthetic judgment is essential.
	Dermatology	Deals with skin, hair, and nail diseases. Although considered less intense than surgery, competition is high due to limited seats and better work-life balance.
Law	Corporate Law	Requires deep knowledge of business laws, contracts, M&A, and compliance. Often involves long work hours, tight deadlines, and pressure to perform in high-stakes transactions.
	Criminal Law	Focuses on criminal codes, litigation, and criminal defense. Students must prepare for emotionally charged cases and high-pressure courtroom scenarios.
	International Law	Involves working with treaties, global trade rules, and cross-border disputes. Students need to study multiple legal systems and understand diplomatic nuance.

Top Countries with the Most Competitive Education Systems

Several countries are renowned for their exceptionally competitive education systems, characterized by extended study hours, low acceptance rates, and significant academic pressure. These factors impact local students and pose unique challenges for international students. Below is an overview of these countries:​

1. South Korea

• The Suneung (College Scholastic Ability Test) is a high-stakes exam, much like JEE Advanced in India, that determines university placements. Performance on this single test heavily influences future career opportunities. 
• Students often engage in extensive study sessions, including attendance at private after-school academies known as ‘hagwons,' leading to study days extending up to 16 hours.

A Quick Fact: In South Korea, the day of the Suneung exam is so significant that businesses open late to reduce traffic, and airplanes are grounded to minimize noise disturbances during the listening portions of the test. 

2. Japan

• University entrance is largely determined by performance on standardized exams, making the process highly competitive. 
• Many students in Japan attend ‘juku’ (cram schools) to intensively prepare for entrance exams, often leading to long study hours and increased pressure.

3. India

• Exams like JEE have acceptance rates under 1%, with only around 16,000 seats in IITs for over a million aspirants. 
• Cities like Kota have become synonymous with coaching culture, where intense preparation and peer competition often result in emotional burnout.
• The societal value placed on securing positions in prestigious institutions adds to the stress experienced by students. ​

4. China

• The Gaokao, China’s national college entrance exam, spans 9 hours over 2-3 days and is known for its immense difficulty. 
• Its high stakes place significant psychological pressure on students, as performance directly impacts university admissions and future career prospects.
• This rigid culture and examination-focused system may make it difficult for international students to adapt to this environment.​

5. United States

• Top universities have low acceptance rates; for example, Harvard's acceptance rate has been as low as 5.9%, reflecting intense competition. 
• Emphasis on a combination of academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations adds complexity to the admissions process.​

Ultimately, these education systems push students to their absolute limits. While the intensity can be overwhelming, it also produces highly driven graduates.

How to Prepare Yourself Mentally & Academically for These Courses?

Taking on demanding academic courses requires a clear, structured approach to succeed. Here are practical strategies backed by examples and facts to help you prepare mentally and academically for the challenges ahead:

1. Build Time-Management Habits

Effective time management is essential for handling demanding coursework.

• Set Specific Goals: Break down your coursework into clear, measurable tasks. For example, Google Calendar can set daily or weekly study targets.
• Prioritize Tasks: Use the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish between urgent and important tasks, focusing on high-priority assignments first.
• Use Planning Tools: Apps like Notion help organize tasks, while the Pomodoro Method can improve focus with structured study intervals.
• Establish a Routine: Build a consistent study schedule that aligns with your peak productivity times to avoid procrastination.

These habits can increase your productivity and reduce stress, ensuring you stay on track.

2. Practice Emotional Resilience

Developing emotional resilience helps manage academic pressures effectively.

• Mindfulness Practices: Use apps like Headspace or Calm for guided meditation to enhance focus and reduce stress.
• Social Connections: Join study groups or university clubs to build a support network that provides emotional strength during tough times.
• Physical Activity: Engage in regular workouts or activities like yoga, which are shown to improve mental clarity and stress management.

By incorporating these habits, students can better cope with the challenges of demanding courses.

3. Join Preparation Programs

Participating in preparatory courses can bridge knowledge gaps and build confidence.​

• Participate in events like the MIT Professional Education Workshops or Harvard's Pre-College Programs, which offer practical skills relevant to your field.
• Such programs have been linked to improved academic performance and smoother transitions into attentive courses. 

4. Seek Mentorship and Career Counseling

Mentorship has always been associated with higher retention rates and better academic outcomes. Guidance from experienced individuals can provide valuable insights and direction.​

• Find Academic Mentors: Connect with faculty or professionals in your field for advice and support.​
• Utilize Career Services: Access counseling to align your academic pursuits with career goals.​

“Students with mentors are 52% more likely to stay in school and complete more homework assignments than those without mentors.”

How Can upGrad Help You Get Into These Toughest Courses?

Pursuing challenging courses like Engineering, MBA, Law, or Medicine demands focused preparation and expert guidance. 

upGrad provides individually crafted services, from test prep to career counseling, to help you build the skills and confidence needed to excel in these high-stakes courses.

• Personalized Coaching: Provides customized mentorship programs for various entrance exams. For instance, their GRE preparation resources include free PDFs, articles, and practice materials to help students excel. 
• Industry-Recognized Programs: Offers study abroad programs designed in collaboration with industry leaders, ensuring curriculum relevance.
• Networking Opportunities: Gain access to upGrad's extensive network of over 1,400 hiring partners, facilitating connections with top employers. ​
• Placement Support: Receive guidance on crafting strong applications, building your resume, and preparing for interviews, with upGrad offering strategic support to help you secure a top spot backed by a network of over 22,000 hiring partners.

Unsure about how to get into these challenging courses? Book a career counseling session with upGrad's experts today. Get personalized advice on exam strategies, course selection, and job placement to ensure you're fully prepared!