League tables
Source: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/faculties/hass/aboutus/leaguetables/ Parent: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/sitemap/
Menu
- Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- About us
- Faculty Executive Board
- Business Operations & Support
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- League tables
League tables
Why choose us?
View the league table performance and research impact for the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences' subjects below:
Anthropology
Anthropology
| Top 15 | 11th in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 15 | Joint 15th in the Guardian University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 10 | 9th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 |
Research impact
- 82% of our research is internationally excellent1.
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact2.
1Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.\2Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Arab and Islamic Studies
Arab and Islamic Studies
| Top 5 | 4th for African & Middle Eastern Studies in The Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 3 | Top 3 for student satisfaction in six out of seven themes (National Student Survey 2025: Arab and Islamic Studies) |
Research impact
Our Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies research is No2 in the UK for world-leading research*.\ *Based on 4* research submitted to REF 2021, submitted to UoA25 Area Studies
Archaeology
Archaeology
| Top 10 | 9th in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 10 | 10th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 50 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 | |
| Top 5 | Top 5 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in four out of seven themes, including 1st for 'Organisation and management' (National Student Survey 2025: Archaeology) |
Research impact
- 4th in the UK for internationally excellent Archaeology research1.
- 100% of our Archaeology research has internationally excellent impact2.
- 94% of our Archaeology research is internationally excellent3
1Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021\2Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021\ 3Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021\
Art History & Visual Culture
Art History & Visual Culture
| Top 10 | 9th in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 15 | 14th in the Guardian University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 20 | 17th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 10 | Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in all seven themes (National Student Survey 2025: Art History and Visual Culture) |
Classics and Ancient History
Classics and Ancient History
| Top 10 | The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 6 | Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 50 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 | |
| Top 10 | Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in six out of seven themes (National Student Survey 2025: Classics and Ancient History) |
Research impact
- 4th in the UK for world-leading Classics research.\ Based on 4* research in REF 2021
- 84% of our Classics research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
- 100% of our Classics research impact is internationally excellent.\ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Criminology
Criminology
| Top 15 | 13th for Criminology in the Guardian University Guide 2026 |
Research impact
- 82% of our research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact. \ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Drama
Drama
| Top 5 | Top 5 for Drama, Dance and Cinematics in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 10 | Top 10 in the Russell Group for student satisfaction in all seven themes, including 1st for 'Teaching on my course' and 'Learning resources' (National Student Survey 2025: Drama) | |
| Top 10 | Top 10 for Drama, Dance and Cinematics for Drama and Dance in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 150 | Top 150 worldwide for Performing Arts in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 |
Research impact
- 100% of our Drama research has internationally excellent impact. \ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
- 84% of our Drama research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
English and Creative Writing
English and Creative Writing
| Top 10 | 7th in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 15 | Joint 15th in the Guardian University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 50 | 47th in the world for English Language and Literature in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 |
Research impact
- 88% of our English research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature
- Our English research environment is 100% world-leading. \ Based on 4* research environment submitted to REF 2021, submitted to UoA27 English Language and Literature
Film
Film
| Top 5 | 4th for Drama, Dance and Cinematics in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 20 | 19th for Communications and Media Studies in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 |
Research impact
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact.\ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
- 84% of our research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, submitted to UoA33 Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies.
History
History
| Top 10 | The Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 20 | The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 100 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 |
Research impact
- 6th in UK for world-leading research in History.\ Based on our GPA in REF 2021
- 90% of our History research is internationally excellent. \ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
- 100% of our History research has internationally excellent impact. \ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Law
Law
| Top 15 | Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 25 | The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 |
Research impact
- Top 20 in the UK for our world-leading Law research.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
- 81% of our research is classified as world-leading or internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
- 100% of our Law research has internationally excellent impact.\ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021\ \
Media and Communications
Media and Communications
| Top 15 | 11th for Communications in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 20 | 19th for Communication and Media Studies in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 |
Modern Languages and Cultures
Modern Languages and Cultures
| Top 20 | All languages ranked top 20 in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 150 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 |
Research impact
- 100% of our Modern Languages and Linguistics research has internationally excellent impact.\ Based on research impact rated 4* and 3* in REF 2021
- 83% of our Modern Languages and Linguistics research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* and 3* in REF 2021
- 17th in the UK for internationally excellent Modern Languages and Linguistics research.\ Based on research rated 4* and 3* in REF 2021
Philosophy
Philosophy
| Top 10 | 9th in The Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 15 | 15th in the Guardian University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 20 | 16th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 |
Research impact
- 82% of our research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
- 100% of our research has internationally excellent impact. \ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Politics and International Relations
Politics and International Relations
| Top 15 | 14th in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 20 | 19th in the Guardian University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 20 | 18th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 100 | Top 100 for Politics in The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 | |
| Top 100 | Top 100 for Political Sciences in the 2025 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) or Shanghai Rankings |
Research impact
- Top 10 in the UK for our world-leading Politics and International Studies research.\ Based on research rated 4* in REF 2021
- 86% of our Politics and International Studies research is internationally excellent. \ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Sociology
Sociology
| Top 10 | 10th in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 15 | 14th in the Guardian University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 15 | Joint 14th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 |
Research impact
- 82% of our Sociology research is internationally excellent.\ Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
- 100% of our Sociology research has internationally excellent impact. \ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
- We are 19th in the UK for our world-leading Sociology research.\ Based on research rated 4* in REF 2021, our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Theology and Religion
Theology and Religion
| Top 10 | 8th in the Complete University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 10 | Joint 6th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 | |
| Top 100 | QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 |
Research impact
- We are No1 in the UK for our world-leading research in Theology and Religious Studies.\ Based on 4* research in REF 2021
-
71% of our Theology and Religious Studies research is world-leading.\ Based on research rated 4* in REF 2021
-
100% of our Theology and Religious Studies research has internationally excellent impact.\ Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021