League tables
Why choose us?
View the league table performance and research impact for the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences' subjects below:
Anthropology
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Top 10 | |
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Top 10 | |
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Top 20 |
Research impact
- 82% of our research is internationally excellent1.
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact2.
1Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
2Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Arab and Islamic Studies
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Top 3 |
3rd for African & Middle Eastern Studies in |
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1st |
First in the sector for student satisfaction in six out of seven themes (: Arab and Islamic Studies) |
Research impact
Our Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies research is No2 in the UK for world-leading research*.
*Based on 4* research submitted to REF 2021, submitted to UoA25 Area Studies
Archaeology
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Top 10 | |
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Top 10 | |
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Top 50 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
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Top 5 | Top 5 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in four out of seven themes, including 1st for 'Organisation and management' (National Student Survey 2025: Archaeology) |
Research impact
- 4th in the UK for internationally excellent Archaeology research1.
- 100% of our Archaeology research has internationally excellent impact2.
- 94% of our Archaeology research is internationally excellent3
1 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
2 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
3 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Art History & Visual Culture
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Top 15 | |
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Top 20 | |
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Top 15 | |
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Top 10 | Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in all seven themes (National Student Survey 2025: Art History and Visual Culture) |
Classics and Ancient History
| Top 10 | ||
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Top 5 | |
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Top 50 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
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Top 10 |
Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in four out of seven themes (: Classics and Ancient History) |
Research impact
- 4th in the UK for world-leading Classics research1.
- 84% of our Classics research is internationally excellent2.
- 100% of our Classics research impact is internationally excellent3.
1 Based on 4* research in REF 2021
2 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
3 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Criminology
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Top 15 |
11th for Criminology in the Guardian University Guide 2027 |
Research impact
- 82% of our research is internationally excellent1.
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact2.
1 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
2 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Drama
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Top 5 |
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Top 10 | Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in all seven themes, including 1st for 'Teaching on my course' and 'Learning resources' (National Student Survey 2025: Drama) |
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Top 10 | |
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Top 150 | Top 100 worldwide for Performing Arts in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
Research impact
- 100% of our Drama research has internationally excellent impact1.
- 84% of our Drama research is internationally excellent2.
1 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
2 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
Education
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Top 150 | Top 150 in the world for Education: Ranked 101-150 in the 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) released by Shanghai Rankings. |
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Top 150 | Top 150 for Education in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026 |
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Top 150 | Top 150 in the world for Education & Training in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
Research impact
- 82% of our Education research is internationally excellent1.
- 100% of our Education research has internationally excellent impact2.
1 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
2 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
English and Creative Writing
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Top 10 | |
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Top 5 |
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Top 20 | 20th for English in the Guardian University Guide 2027 |
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Top 50 | 44th in the world for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
Research impact
- 88% of our English research is internationally excellent1.
- Our English research environment is 100% world-leading2.
1 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature
2 Based on 4* research environment submitted to REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature
Film
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Top 10 | |
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Top 15 |
Research impact
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact1.
- 84% of our research is internationally excellent2.
1 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
2 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
History
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Top 10 | |
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Top 15 | |
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Top 100 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
Research impact
- 6th in the UK for world-leading research in History1.
- 90% of our History research is internationally excellent2.
- 100% of our History research has internationally excellent impact3.
1 Based on our GPA in REF 2021
2 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
3 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Law
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Top 20 | |
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Top 20 |
Research impact
- Top 20 in the UK for our world-leading Law research1.
- 81% of our research is classified as world-leading or internationally excellent2.
- 100% of our Law research has internationally excellent impact3.
1 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
2 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
3 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Media and Communications
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Top 10 | |
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Top 15 | |
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Top 10 | Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in four out of seven themes (: Communications Studies) |
Modern Languages and Cultures
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Top 15 | |
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Top 20 | |
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Top 150 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
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Top 10 | Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in four out of seven themes (: Modern Languages) |
Research impact
- 100% of our Modern Languages and Linguistics research has internationally excellent impact1.
- 83% of our Modern Languages and Linguistics research is internationally excellent2.
- 17th in the UK for internationally excellent Modern Languages and Linguistics research3.
1 Based on research impact rated 4* and 3* in REF 2021
2 Based on research rated 4* and 3* in REF 2021
3 Based on research rated 4* and 3* in REF 2021
Philosophy
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Top 10 | |
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Top 15 | |
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Top 20 |
Research impact
- 82% of our research is internationally excellent1.
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact2.
1 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
2 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Politics and International Relations
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Top 15 | |
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Top 15 | |
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Top 100 | Top 100 for Politics in The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 |
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Top 100 | Top 100 for Political Sciences in the 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) or Shanghai Rankings |
Research impact
- Top 10 in the UK for our world-leading Politics and International Studies research1.
- 86% of our Politics and International Studies research is internationally excellent2.
1 Based on research rated 4* in REF 2021
2 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Sociology
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Top 10 |
Research impact
- 82% of our Sociology research is internationally excellent1.
- 100% of our Sociology research has internationally excellent impact2.
- We are 19th in the UK for our world-leading Sociology research3.
1 Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
2 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
3 Based on research rated 4* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Theology and Religion
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Top 5 | |
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Top 10 | |
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Top 100 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2026 |
Research impact
- We are No. 1 in the UK for our world-leading research in Theology and Religious Studies1.
- 71% of our Theology and Religious Studies research is world-leading2.
- 100% of our Theology and Religious Studies research has internationally excellent impact3.
1 Based on 4* research in REF 2021
2 Based on research rated 4* in REF 2021
3 Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021