More subjects than ever have been recognised in the global top 20 and the UK top 5 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
Forty-three subjects offered at the University have been placed in the world’s most-consulted higher education league table, which analysed over 6,000 of the world’s top institutions.
Of the 33 subjects ranked in the world’s top 100, five were in the top 20 and 10 were in the top 50. Four subjects were ranked in the UK top 5.
The five subjects ranked within the world’s top 20 were Geography (15th in the world and 8th in the UK), Geology (17th in the world and 4th in the UK), Earth and Marine Sciences (18th in the world and 5th in the UK), Social Policy and Administration (18th in the world and 5th in the UK), and Geophysics (20th in the world and 5th in UK).
Other highlights include:
When ranked alongside other UK universities, 19 subjects ranked in the top 10 – up from 17 last year.
Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: “I’m very pleased to see so many of Bristol’s subjects recognised among the best in the world in this year’s QS World University Rankings by Subject, which is testament to the hard work of all our staff.
“As well as delivering a world-class education for our students, our academics consistently drive forward new understanding across an incredibly broad spectrum of fields, contributing vital knowledge and delivering change that addresses real-world challenges.
“Bristol is an organisation of remarkable people working together to achieve more, and it’s great to see QS highlighting the impact and strength of our research and teaching.”
QS World University Rankings by Subject evaluate universities based on academic and employer reputation, research impact, the productivity and citation impact of a researcher’s publications, and the diversity and strength of their international research collaborations.
Last June, the QS World University Rankings 2026 placed Bristol as the 8th best university in the United Kingdom and the 51st best in the world.
Further information
Please note, the QS World Subject Rankings apply different, often broader headings to subjects, which may not align exactly with the University of Bristol’s courses, and those of other institutions.
