
ποΈ SOAS University of London β Rankings Overview (2025)
SOAS University of London holds varying positions across ranking systems, reflecting its specialist strength in humanities and social sciences, particularly regarding Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
π Key Rankings (2025)
- QS World University Rankings 2025:
π #508 globally
This reflects a slight improvement from #511 in 2024. - Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025:
π Ranked in the 401β500 bracket - The Times Good University Guide (UK):
β οΈ Ranked 65th in the UK in 2025
β Note: The previously mentioned 28th position refers to an earlier year (2023), not 2024 or 2025. - The Guardian University Guide 2025:
π Ranked 90th in the UK - Complete University Guide 2025:
π§ Ranked 71st in the UK
π§ Subject-Specific Excellence (QS Rankings by Subject, 2024)
SOAS consistently ranks among the top universities globally in its specialist subject areas:
- Development Studies:
π 2nd in the world
(SOAS has consistently placed in the top 3 globally for this field) - Anthropology:
𧬠12th globally - Politics & International Studies:
π³οΈ 17th globally - Other areas of strength:
π Linguistics, Middle Eastern & African Studies, History, and Religious Studies.
π Global Appeal & Institutional Strengths
- Diversity:
π Strong international faculty and student body.
SOAS ranks highly for international outlook, especially among UK universities. - Focus Areas:
π SOAS is renowned for its area studies and global policy research, specializing in the cultures, societies, and politics of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. - Reputation:
π Highly respected in disciplines such as human rights, postcolonial theory, and development economics, particularly among NGOs, IGOs, and academic institutions.
β Summary Table
Category | 2025 Rank |
---|---|
QS World University Rankings | #508 |
THE World University Rankings | 401β500 |
Times Good University Guide (UK) | #65 |
Guardian University Guide (UK) | #90 |
Complete University Guide (UK) | #71 |
QS Development Studies (Subject) | #2 |
QS Anthropology (Subject) | #12 |
QS Politics & Int’l Studies (Subject) | #17 |
Hereβs a breakdown of SOAS University of Londonβs performance in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which measure universitiesβ contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
π Overall Impact Ranking (2025)
Position: 301β400th
- This marks a drop from previous years:
- 2024: 201β300th
- 2023 & 2022: 101β200th
- 2020: 101β200th
- 2021: 201β300th
π SDG-Specific Rankings for 2025
SDG | Sustainable Development Goal | Rank |
---|---|---|
SDG 1 | No Poverty | 101β200th |
SDG 5 | Gender Equality | 73rd |
SDG 6 | Clean Water and Sanitation (2020 only) | 59th |
SDG 8 | Decent Work and Economic Growth | 401β600th |
SDG 10 | Reduced Inequalities | 101β200th |
SDG 11 | Sustainable Cities and Communities | 401β600th |
SDG 13 | Climate Action | 301β400th |
SDG 16 | Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | =73rd |
SDG 17 | Partnership for the Goals | 1001β1500th |
π§ Key Takeaways
- Strengths:
- Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Peace, Justice (SDG 16) are clear high points, with top 75 global placements.
- Continues to perform solidly in No Poverty and Reduced Inequalities, aligning with its core social justice mission.
- Weaknesses:
- Marked drop in overall ranking since 2023 suggests a decline in performance or relative positioning.
- Very low score in Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17) β a notable weakness for a university with an international focus.
- Trend: Downward trajectory in overall ranking, but still maintains niche strengths in equity, justice, and gender-focused initiatives.