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Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences rankings and reputation

The latest UK and global rankings for our learning, teaching and research performance.


Factsheet

All rankings are UK-based unless otherwise stated.

Complete University Guide 2025

Highlights

  • 2nd for Sociology (including Criminology), and Sports Science
  • 3rd for Social Policy
  • 5th for Psychology
  • Top 10 for Economics, Education, French, German, Politics, and Social Work
  • Top 3 for graduate prospects in Economics, French, Psychology, Sociology, and Sports Science
  • Top 10 for graduate prospects in Education, German, Iberian Languages, Italian, and Politics

Subject rankings

Subject Overall ranking
Economics 9
Education 9
French 9
German 13
Iberian Languages 11
Italian 15
Politics 10
Psychology 5
Social Policy 3
Social Work 7
Sociology 2
Sports Science 2

Full results from the Complete University Guide 2025

Guardian University Guide 2025

Highlights

  • 1st for Sports Science
  • Top 5 for Psychology
  • Top 10 for Languages & Linguistics
  • Top 5 for Career after 15 Months* in Economics, Languages & Linguistics, and Sports Science
  • Top 10 for Career after 15 Months* in Politics, Psychology, and Sociology and Social Policy

*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 13
Economics Joint 19
Education 16
Languages & Linguistics Joint 8
Politics 16
Psychology 4
Sociology and Social Policy 16
Social Work 12
Sports Science 1

Full results from the Guardian University Guide 2025

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Highlights

  • 2nd for Sports Science
  • Top 5 for Criminology and Psychology
  • Top 10 for Social Work
  • 2nd for graduate prospects in French
  • Top 5 for graduate prospects in Iberian Languages and Sports Science
  • 2nd for Student Satisfaction in Psychology

Subject rankings

Subject Overall ranking
Criminology 5
Economics 24
Education 23
French 18
German 18
Iberian Languages 25
Politics 30
Psychology 5
Social Policy 17
Social Work Joint 8th
Sociology 11
Sports Science 2

Full results from The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

QS World University Rankings

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024 (the most recent subject rankings), we placed:

Overall, Bath was named in the top 150 universities around the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025 and 62nd in QS World University Rankings: Europe 2025.

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

All six of the Departments in our Faculty have received Athena SWAN awards.

Read more about our Athena SWAN submissions

Read more about the University of Bath's overall rankings

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