Study Group university partners top the 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject

A student in graduation robes

15 of Study Group’s UK and Ireland university partners feature in the top 100 placements of the respected subject rankings released this week. One of a number of global rankings focused on different metrics, QS aims to help prospective students identify the leading universities in a particular subject.  

Durham University, Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Sheffield, and University of Sussex all have subjects ranked within the prestigious top 10.  

Substantial investigation into academic reputation, employer reputation and faculty research, alongside a number of other indicators, informs the rankings of nearly 1,600 institutions and the subjects they offer courses in. 

Subject success 

University of Sussex, our longest standing partner, has achieved first place for Development Studies for the seventh year running, while five other subjects, including sociology and psychology, are ranked in the top 100 and a further five subjects enjoy top 150 positions. 94% of students who completed our pathway programmes at the University of Sussex International Study Centre last year were offered degree places at the university, which has been a Study Group partner for nearly 17 years. 

Taking number one spot for Library and Information Management, the University of Sheffield has 40 subjects in the world’s top 200, including four in the top 50. Across our Russell Group partners — Cardiff University, the University of Leeds, the University of Sheffield and Durham University — 75 subjects have been ranked within the global top 100. The breadth of subjects is testament to the academic quality of the Russell Group universities, who offered places to 86% of the international students completing preparatory courses delivered by Study Group in partnership last year. 

Also of note, University of Aberdeen delivers six top 100 subjects, and four engineering-related subjects taught at the University of Strathclyde feature in the leading 150.  

University College Dublin, whose decade long partnership with Study Group has recently been extended, has an impressive 12 subjects ranked within the world’s best 100. 

Dr Mark Cunnington, Study Group’s Managing Director of University Partnerships, UK & Ireland, says: “Congratulations to all the universities that feature in the QS Global Rankings by Subject.  

“We are delighted to see so many of our partners recognised in these rankings, including the coveted top 100 spots. With a focus on employer and academic reputation, the QS World University Rankings by Subject are a valuable resource for our prospective students and one of many ways we ensure we’re connecting them to courses commensurate with their education and employment goals.” 

Other Study Group partners featured in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 include Kingston University, Leeds Beckett University, Royal Holloway, University of London, University of Huddersfield, and University of Surrey, alongside North America partners DePaul University and Florida Atlantic University.