World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Arts and Humanities

Top-ranked universities in the field of Arts and Humanities

Discover the best Arts and Humanities schools in the world with the definitive Times Higher Education Subject Rankings 2025.

Highlights in the Arts and Humanities Subject Rankings 2025

MIT takes the top spot for its outstanding performance in research quality and international outlook
University of Cambridge moves into second place, excelling in teaching and research in areas such as history, philosophy and linguistics
Belgium’s KU Leuven makes the top 20 for the first time since 2017, showcasing the strength of European universities in Arts and Humanities

This year, we have evaluated 750 universities from 72 countries and territories on their contributions to the broad range of disciplines in the arts and humanities. The ranking is based on 18 rigorous performance indicators, carefully tailored to reflect the distinctive qualities within the arts and humanities subject area.

Arts and Humanities disciplines assessed in the 2025 Rankings

The Arts and Humanities ranking encompasses a diverse range of subjects that define the field, including:

Languages, Literature and Linguistics: exploring modern languages, philology, literary studies and language sciences
History, Philosophy and Theology: examining classics, human thought, cultural heritage and belief systems
Architecture: addressing the design and construction of physical spaces
Archaeology: investigating ancient civilisations and cultural artefacts
Art, Performing Arts and Design: covering art, dance, music, theatre, film, radio and television

Learn more:

The Arts and Humanities subject table uses the same trusted and rigorous performance indicators as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, but the methodology has been recalibrated to suit the individual fields.

Our detailed 2025 Subject Rankings methodology, trusted worldwide by students, teachers, academics, governments and industry experts, is based on: