SOAS celebrates 13 subjects in global top 100 in QS rankings
SOAS has soared in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 with four of its subjects ranked in the global top 25 and 13 in the global top 100.
Development Studies, ranks second globally, Politics 16, Anthropology 19 and History of Art 24. The subject area of Arts & Humanities is also in the global top 100, ranking 88.
Other subjects in the top 100, as categorised in the rankings, are Archaeology, History, Linguistics, Modern Languages, Classics and Ancient History, Sociology; Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies.
These outstanding results are a powerful endorsement of the global impact and academic excellence of our teaching and research at SOAS.
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Joanna Newman MBE, FRSA said: “We are incredibly pleased to see our dynamic and progressive programmes at SOAS recognised in these latest rankings. These outstanding results are a powerful endorsement of the global impact and academic excellence of our teaching and research at SOAS.
“At a time when deep regional expertise and global perspectives matter more than ever, SOAS continues to lead the way in addressing the world’s most pressing social, political and cultural challenges.”
This is an exciting and promising moment for SOAS... congratulations to all.
SOAS Chair of Trustees, Lord Dr Michael Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE, added: “It is a great pleasure to see SOAS both recognised and accelerating upwards in these rankings. They are a testament to our vibrant community - our passionate, curious students who are destined to be changemakers, and to our dedicated academic and operational professionals who work tirelessly to support and nurture them throughout their studies. This is an exciting and promising moment for SOAS - we have set out face forward to represent the true value of study and perspective from excellent teachers so my full congratulations to all.”
The rankings, released today, compare the performance of over 21,000 individual university programmes at over 1,900 universities, naming the world’s best universities for the study of 55 academic disciplines.
