QS Rankings place Essex amongst top universities for politics and sociology

The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject place the University of Essex in the top 100 for politics and international studies and sociology.

Essex is ranked joint 75th for politics and international studies and joint 89th for sociology.

It is also ranked in the top 150 for philosophy and social policy and administration. For the first time Essex is also ranked in the top 150 for development studies. It was also ranked in the top 200 for linguistics and economics and econometrics.

The 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject, released today by global higher education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds, provides independent comparative analysis on the performance of more than 18,300 individual university programmes, taken by students at more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations around the world, across 55 academic disciplines.

Professor Shane Martin, Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, said: “I’m delighted to see politics and international studies, along with sociology, recognised among the world’s top 100 by subject. I’m also very pleased to see economics and econometrics rise 30 places this year. These results reflect the strength of our research environment, the dedication of our staff, and the ambition of our students. These rankings reaffirm Essex’s position as a global leader in social sciences despite difficult times for much of UK higher education.”

Professor Faten Ghosn, Head of the Department of Government, said: “I’m immensely proud to see the Department of Government ranked 75th globally in the QS subject rankings. This recognition reflects the global reach and influence of our research, the excellence and dedication of our staff, and the achievements of our alumni, whose impact extends across academia, policy, and public life.

“It is a strong testament to the intellectual community we have built and our continued contribution to understanding politics and international relations on a global stage.”

Professor Linsey McGoey, Head of the Department of Sociology and Criminology, added: “My colleagues and our students in the Department of Sociology and Criminology are dedicated to the pursuit of research excellence, policy impact, and to theorising societal change in path-breaking ways. It’s an honour to be a part of this friendly, dynamic and world-leading Department.”

For broad subject areas Essex is ranked joint 283rd for social sciences and management, and 401st to 450th for art and humanities.

The full rankings for Essex: