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Dozens of Bristol subjects ranked among best in the world

Two University of Bristol students outside The Palm Temple, a campus art installation by Luke Jerram.

Press release issued: 22 March 2023

Many of the subjects taught and researched at the University of Bristol are world-leading, finds a global rankings released today.

Forty subjects offered at the University have placed in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, which surveyed 1,597 of the world’s best universities.

Three University of Bristol subjects were in the world’s top 20, 10 were in the top 50 and 27 in the top 100.

The results found that for Social Policy and Administration Bristol was 14th best in the world and fifth best in the UK, for Veterinary Science Bristol was 16th best in the world and third best in the UK; and for Philosophy Bristol was 20th best in the world and sixth best in the UK.

Other highlights include:

  • Earth & Marine Sciences: 25th in the world and 7th in the UK
  • Geophysics: 27th in the world and 6th in the UK
  • Anatomy and Physiology: 29th in the world and 8th in the UK
  • Education: 31st in the world and 6th in the UK
  • Geology: 32nd in the world and 7th in the UK
  • Geography: 46th in the world and 13th in the UK
  • Engineering (Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing): 48th in the world and 6th in the UK

Eighteen of Bristol’s subjects are in the top 10 of UK universities, according to QS.

Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Bristol, said: “It is fantastic to see so many of the subjects we teach here at Bristol included in such a globally significant survey.

“Every day, our hard-working academics are expanding human knowledge across a full range of topics. Their ideas and discoveries shape the world, and it’s great to see this being recognised by QS.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for all they do to make Bristol such a special university.”

Although QS surveyed 1,597 universities in this study, it estimates there are at least 26,000 universities in the world.

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 used five criteria to assess the universities: academic reputation; employer reputation; citations per academic paper; impact of published works; and international research network, which looks at research conducted with global partners.

In June last year, QS ranked the University of Bristol as the 61st best university in the world, 18th best in Europe and 9th best in the UK.

Further information

Please note, the QS World Subject Rankings use different, often broader, subject headings to the University of Bristol and other institutions. For example, Bristol teaches Earth Sciences as opposed to 'Earth and Marine Sciences'; Social Policy as opposed to 'Social Policy and Administration'.

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