The annual QS World University Rankings have been released for 2025, revealing the best universities around the world for specific departments and subjects.
This year, the rankings consist of 55 individual subjects across five subject areas: Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and Management.
Overall, University of Leeds has placed joint 82nd with Australia’s University of Adelaide in the 2025 QS World Ranking, dropping seven places from last year. The rankings assess over 1500 institutions, positioning Leeds seven places above Durham University and 22 places above University of St Andrews.
University of Leeds received a total score of 70.5 out of 100 for Academic Reputation and 75.9 for Employer Reputation.
Arts and Humanities
University of Leeds ranked 54th globally for this department and in joint 8th place with LSE out of the UK universities.
For singular subjects, the following were ranked in the top 100: English Language and Literature at 36th, Philosophy at 41st, Modern Languages at 62nd and Linguistics at 81st.
However, Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies, History and Performing Arts dropped to 100th place this year.
Engineering and Technology
Engineering and Technology placed 92nd in the world rankings and a successful 7th place in the UK.
Within this, Petroleum Engineering ranked 22nd while Mineral and Mining ranked 38th. Chemical Engineering placed further down the list at 84th along with Engineering and Technology at 92nd.
Civil and Structural Engineering dropped from 51st place to 100th.
Life Sciences & Medicine
University of Leeds ranked 97th in the world for this group of subjects and 16th out of the UK universities.
The most successful subject within this group was Anatomy and Physiology, placing 37th globally. Agriculture and Forestry was ranked 82nd while Medicine was placed at 96th.
Since last year, Nursing has dropped from 51st place to 100th.
Natural Sciences
Leeds’ Natural Sciences were placed at 105th in the QS World Rankings and 8th in the UK.
Within this group, Geophysics ranked the highest at 14th place while Geology, Earth and Marine Sciences and Geography came in at 15th, 20th and 23rd.
Environmental Sciences was placed at 59th.
Social Sciences & Management
The department as a whole was ranked at 82nd and placed 11th in the UK.
For singular subjects, the following were ranked in the top 100: Development Studies at 22nd, Communication and Media Studies at 33rd and Marketing at 35th.
Sociology placed 81st globally while Politics was ranked at 83rd and Education and Training at 89th.
The following subjects within this field dropped from 51st place to 100th: Statistics and Operational Research, Sports-Related Subjects, Social Policy and Administration and Hospitality and Leisure Management.
University of Leeds’ overall Academic and Employer Reputation has remained consistent since last year’s results, increasing by 0.2 points in Academic Reputation and dropping only 0.8 points in Employer Reputation.
