St Andrews climbs global rankings
The University of St Andrews has been recognised as one of the world’s top universities in the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject.
Published this week (Wednesday 25 March) by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the rankings show an impressive performance for St Andrews, with the University’s Arts and Humanities continuing to excel, placing in the global top 50.
Twenty of the of the University’s 28 ranked subjects either retained their place or climbed the global tables with Film Studies recognised in the rankings for the first time, entering at joint 30th in the UK. Globally, 11 subjects ranked in the world’s top 50 for their area.
Vice Principal for Research, Tom Brown said: “It is great to see the quality of our academic Schools recognised through the improvement in these rankings. I would like to thank all of our staff whose work has contributed to this which helps cement St Andrews position as a leading University.”
The rankings provide an independent comparative assessment of more than 18,300 university programmes across 1700 institutions in 100 locations worldwide, covering 55 academic disciplines.
Key highlights from the 2026 rankings include:
- Classics ranks 3rd in the UK
- Theology and Divinity rank 4th in the UK
- Philosophy rises two places to 12th globally, remaining 4th in the UK
- Theology and Divinity rises to 4th in the UK and 13th globally, up one place from 2025
- History gains one place to 45th globally
- Modern Languages climbs 16 places to 63rd globally, holding 11th in the UK
- English rises 12 global places, moving from 52nd to 40th globally
- Economics climbs four places to joint 24th in the UK
- Medicine rises three places, now 28th in the UK
- Environmental Sciences also moves up three places to joint 29th in the UK
- Business and Management moves up to joint 36th in the UK
A full listing can be found on the QS Rankings website.
Category University news