World University Rankings 2021 by subject: social sciences

The social sciences subject table uses the same trusted and rigorous performance indicators as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021, but the methodology has been recalibrated to suit the individual fields.

It highlights the universities that are leading across the following disciplines: communication and media studies, politics and international studies (including development studies), sociology and geography.

This year’s table includes 791 universities, up from 720 last year.

View the World University Rankings 2021 by subject: social sciences methodology

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops the table for the second consecutive year, while the University of California, Berkeley is the only new entry in the top 10, after climbing eight places to fifth. Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin-Madison cements its position in the top 20, rising five places to 15^th.

The top university outside the US and UK is Peking University at joint 17^th (up from 18^th).

The highest newcomers in the ranking are the Netherlands’ Radboud University Nijmegen and South Korea’s Sejong University, which make their debut in the 176-200 band.

View the full results of the overall World University Rankings 2021

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