THE World University Rankings by subject - Arts and Humanities

BEST PLACES TO STUDY ARTS AND HUMANITIES REVEALED BY TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION

• THE World University Rankings by subject for Arts and Humanities contains 606 universities from 60 countries and regions
• US’ Stanford University (1^st) remains top for the subject area since 2012 – top six remains unchanged since last year
  
  
• Results highlight how some of the most recognised technology institutions in the world are leading the way in Arts and Humanities
• US and UK share 16 positions in the top 20
• Europe is home to 104 of the world’s top 200 universities, and 24 in the top 50 (one more than last year)
• Germany holds two positions in the top 20 for the fourth consecutive year as University of Tübingen (20^th) moves into the group, joining LMU Munich (18^th)
• Asia sees 13 of its 16 universities in the top 200 improve or maintain previous ranking positions
• Australia is home to a top 30 Arts and Humanities university for the first time since 2017
• View the full results: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2022/subject-ranking/arts-and-humanities
  
  
• View the methodology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings-2022-subject-arts-and-humanities-methodology

3 November 2021

Times Higher Education (THE) has today revealed the best universities in the world for studying Arts and Humanities as part of its THE World University Rankings by subject 2022. The rankings include 606 institutions from 60 countries and regions.

If you want to study at the university that offers the very best for Arts and Humanities studies, the US’ Stanford University (1^st) is the place for you. Since it achieved top spot in the 2012 edition of the ranking, no other university around the world has been able to dislodge it from first place. Also, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s impressive hold of second place highlights how some of the most recognised technology institutions in the world are also leading the way in Arts and Humanities subject areas. The entire top six for 2022 remains unchanged since last year, with the US’ Princeton University (7^th) the only upward mover in the top 10.

Table below: Top 10 in Arts and Humanities 2022 compared to the 2021 ranking

Looking at the top 20, its positions are still dominated by both the US and UK (12 from the US, four from the UK). In fact, the only other countries and regions to achieve places in the group are Canada (University of Toronto, 15^th), Germany (LMU Munich, 18^th, and University of Tübingen, 20^th), and France, who’s Paris Sciences et Lettres – PSL Research University Paris (19^th) moves back into the group after dropping out in last year’s edition.   

Overall, Europe is one of the leading places to study Arts and Humanities. As well as holding 24 positions in the top 50 (one more than last year), it is home to the majority of the world’s top 200 universities in these studies (104 in total). All of Switzerland’s (6) and Russia’s (4) universities in the top 200 improve or maintain their previous positions – with representatives from both locations moving into the top 50 (Switzerland’s ETH Zurich, 49^th, and Russia’s Lomonosov Moscow State University, 44^th). Also, Germany holds two positions in the top 20 for the fourth consecutive year as University of Tübingen (20^th) moves into the group, joining LMU Munich (18^th).

Asia is one of the most up and coming places for its Arts and Humanities studies. 13 of its 16 universities in the top 200 either improved or maintained their previous ranking positions. Mainland China’s Peking University (joint 21^st), is the continent’s highest ranked university in the subject area (as well as for Physical Sciences, Psychology, and Social Sciences), climbing seven positions and edging closer to a first-time finish in the top 20. All three of Hong Kong’s universities in the top 200 improved on their previous positions, with the University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong’s highest ranked university) showcasing its excellence by climbing 10 places to rank 32^nd. Japan also sees success this year, doubling it representation in the top 100, claiming two spots in the group for the first time since 2018.

South of Asia, Oceania offers another solid location to study Arts and Humanities. As well as holding 13 positions in the world’s top 200, Australia is home to a top 30 university for the subject area through the Australian National University (29^th), the country’s first top 30 finish in the field since 2017. Furthermore, New Zealand’s University of Auckland (=94^th) holds a position in the top 100 for the second year in a row, and the University of Otago (176-200) moves back into the top 200.

Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer at Times Higher Education, commented:

“While the rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence has seen students flocking to study in fields in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, I believe arts and humanities will be increasingly important as we seek to navigate the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“Skills in these subjects are vital in ensuring we understand what it is to be human – something that is increasingly important at a time when technology is challenging our very notion of humanity. Communications and critical thinking are obvious examples of increasingly important skills in an information and data economy where fake news and conspiracy are already hard to distinguish from reality. But there will also be other, less obvious roles provided by arts and humanities graduates, like ethicists and philosophers who will play a significant part in helping us understand a world where robots may soon have human levels of intelligence and machines are becoming more autonomous.”

“I do not, therefore, think that it is coincidence that the two best universities in the world for arts and humanities are both world renowned technology institutions. Stanford, the beating heart of the US Silicon Valley, and of course the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They understand the extraordinary value of arts and humanities to society – and to our technology-driven future.”