SOAS University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) is a prestigious specialist university located in London, UK, and a member of the University of London. Founded in 1916, it is globally recognized for its focus on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, particularly in areas like politics, economics, law, languages, and cultural studies.

SOAS is known for its unique academic niche, strong emphasis on social justice, and a highly international student community, with students from over 130 countries.

📊 Ranking Details

🌍 Global Rankings

• QS World University Rankings 2025: #511 globally
• Times Higher Education (THE) 2026: #401–500 globally
• EduRank 2025: #951 globally

👉 Overall, SOAS has moderate global rankings, mainly because it is a specialist institution, not a large comprehensive university.

📚 Subject Rankings (Major Strength Area)

SOAS is world-leading in specific subjects, especially in social sciences and area studies:

• 🥇 Development Studies: #2 in the world (QS)
• 🏛️ Politics: Top 20 globally
• 🧠 Anthropology: Top 20 globally
• 🎨 History of Art: Top 25 globally
• 🌐 13 subjects in global Top 100 (QS 2026)

👉 This shows that SOAS is elite in niche disciplines, even if its overall ranking is lower.

🌍 Other Ranking Highlights

• Top 50 globally for international outlook (QS metrics)
• Arts & Humanities: Top 100 globally (THE & QS subject rankings)
• Strong performance in:
  • Law
  • Social Sciences
  • Linguistics
  • Religious Studies