All rankings are UK-based unless otherwise stated.
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
Highlights
- 1st for Sports Science
- Top 3 for Criminology
- Top 5 for Social Work
- Top 10 for Psychology, Social Policy, and Sociology
- Top 5 for Graduate Prospects in French, Iberian Languages, and Sports Science
- Top 10 for Graduate Prospects in Economics, Politics and International Relations, Psychology, and Sociology
- Top 10 for Student Satisfaction in French, German, Iberian Languages, Psychology, and Sports Science
Subject rankings
| Subject | Overall ranking |
|---|---|
| Criminology | 3 |
| Economics | 22 |
| Education | 11 |
| French | 17 |
| German | 19 |
| Iberian Languages | 15 |
| Politics and International Relations | =18 |
| Psychology | =8 |
| Social Policy | 9 |
| Social Work | =5 |
| Sociology | 9 |
| Sports Science | 1 |
Full results from The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
Guardian University Guide 2026
Highlights
- 1st for Sports Science
- 2nd for Education
- Top 5 for Criminology
- Top 10 for Languages & Linguistics and Psychology
- Top 5 for Career after 15 Months* in Sports Science
- Top 10 for Career after 15 Months* in Economics, Languages & Linguistics, and Psychology
*Percentage of graduates who find graduate-level jobs, or are in further study at professional or HE level, within 15 months of graduation.
Subject rankings
| Subject | Overall ranking |
|---|---|
| Criminology | 5 |
| Economics | =21 |
| Education | 2 |
| Languages & Linguistics | 6 |
| Politics | 14 |
| Psychology | 7 |
| Sociology and Social Policy | 15 |
| Social Work | =19 |
| Sports Science | 1 |
Full results from the Guardian University Guide 2026
Complete University Guide 2027
Highlights
- 1st for Sports Science
- 2nd for Education
- Top 3 for Social Policy
- Top 10 for French, Criminology, Economics and Sociology
- 2nd for Graduate Prospects in Iberian Languages, and joint 2nd for Graduate Prospects in German
- Top 10 for Graduate Prospects in Politics, Economics, Psychology and Sports Science
Subject rankings
| Subject | Overall ranking |
|---|---|
| Economics | 8 |
| Education | 2 |
| French | 9 |
| German | 8 |
| Iberian Languages | 7 |
| Politics | 9 |
| Psychology | 6 |
| Social Policy | 3 |
| Social Work | 14 |
| Sociology | 6 |
| Sports Science | 1 |
Full results from the Complete University Guide 2027
Daily Mail University Guide 2026
| Subject | Overall ranking |
|---|---|
| Economics | 6 |
| Politics | =6 |
| Psychology | 4 |
| Social Policy | 4 |
| Sociology | 2 |
| Sport and exercise sciences | 2 |
Full results from the Daily Mail University Guide 2026
QS World University Rankings
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (the most recent subject rankings), we placed:
- 13th in the world for Sports-Related Subjects
- Joint 31st in the world for Development Studies
- Joint 57th in the world for Psychology
- 51-100 in the world for Social Policy and Administration
- 101-150 in the world for Education and Training
- 151-200 in the world for Modern Languages, Politics, and Sociology
- 201-250 in the world for Economics and Econometrics
Overall, the University of Bath placed 132nd in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
Sport & Exercise Sciences, Leisure & Tourism
- 98% of our submitted research activity for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Leisure & Tourism was rated as 3* and 4*, meaning it is ‘internationally excellent’ and ‘world leading’
- We placed Joint 6th in the UK for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Leisure & Tourism in the Times Higher Education (THE) REF 2021 Rankings
Social Work & Social Policy
- 91% of our submitted research activity for Social Work & Social Policy was rated as 3* and 4*, meaning it is ‘internationally excellent’ and ‘world leading’
- We placed in the top 10 in the UK for Social Work & Social Policy in the Times Higher Education (THE) REF 2021 Rankings
Explore the full results from REF 2021
Athena SWAN
- Health (Silver)
- Psychology (Silver)
- Economics (Bronze)
- Politics, Languages & International Studies (Bronze)
- Social & Policy Sciences (Bronze)