Prestigious QS rankings elevate UCL into global top 10 in four more subjects

This is the 13^th consecutive year that UCL has topped these rankings for Education, led by the UCL Institute of Education, and UCL’s fourth year ranking first for Architecture & Built Environment, recognising the academic excellence of UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment.

Four subjects have just moved into the top 10: for both History of Art and Library & Information Management, UCL has shot up to world number three, alongside improvements in Biological Sciences (now 9^th) and Development Studies (10^th).

UCL has remained in the top 10 for Archaeology (3), Pharmacy & Pharmacology (3), Anthropology (4), Geography (5), Psychology (5) and Medicine (6).

In addition to performing well in specific subjects, UCL’s performance has improved in all five broad subject rankings that bring together multiple disciplines, showcasing the breadth of UCL’s academic excellence. Notably, UCL has progressed to sixth globally for Life Sciences and eighth for Arts & Humanities.

Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement), said: “UCL has never been a place that looks backwards. These results reflect a community that asks hard questions, takes intellectual risks, and produces work that changes the world. I am proud of everyone in our community whose hard work and excellence has been recognised in this way.”

UCL appears in the top 200 in all 46 subject areas that are ranked, including 22 subjects in the top 20.

Professor Li Wei, Dean and Director of UCL Institute of Education, said: "We are delighted to have achieved the number one ranking once again, now for 13 years in a row.

“I am incredibly proud to serve as Director and Dean of the IOE, for its truly leading-edge research across education, society and culture, its recognised excellence in teacher education, and colleagues’ commitment to our students. Thank you and congratulations to IOE staff, students, alumni, and our partners and funders, for your part in the delivery of our mission to improve lives through education, reflected in the QS rankings.”

Professor Jacqui Glass, Dean of UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, said: “It's wonderful to see this recognition of our staff and students, and the work they do in their studies and careers at the Bartlett. I’m incredibly proud to see the collective impact that our community continues to have globally, and I would like to thank everybody at the Bartlett for their dedication, commitment and support for one another. I'm inspired by the diversity and strength of our community in shaping the built environment field.” 

Links

• QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026
• The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment
• UCL Institute of Education