SOAS University of London's global ranking varies significantly depending on the ranking organization and the year.
Understanding SOAS University of London's Global Rankings
SOAS, formally known as the School of Oriental and African Studies, is a distinguished constituent college of the University of London. Its global standing is assessed by various international ranking bodies, with results fluctuating year by year based on different methodologies and criteria. These rankings typically evaluate institutions on factors such as academic reputation, research output, faculty-to-student ratio, internationalization, and graduate employability.
Recent Global Rankings for SOAS University of London
The following table provides a summary of SOAS University of London's performance in two prominent international university ranking systems: the QS World University Rankings and the US News & World Report rankings.
| Year | QS World Rankings | US News and World Report Rankings |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 309 | 1194 |
| 2021 | NA | 1321 |
| 2022 | 391 | 1399 |
| 2023 | 443 | 1463 |
As observed from the table, for the most recent year available (2023), SOAS University of London was ranked 443rd in the QS World Rankings and 1463rd by US News and World Report. The "NA" entry for QS World Rankings in 2021 indicates that data for SOAS was not available or published by QS for that specific year.
Factors Influencing University Rankings
University rankings are complex and influenced by a multitude of factors, including:
- Academic Reputation: Based on surveys of academics worldwide.
- Employer Reputation: Reflects how highly employers regard graduates from the university.
- Faculty/Student Ratio: An indicator of teaching capacity and student support.
- Citations per Faculty: Measures research impact based on the number of times a university's research is cited by others.
- International Faculty and Students: Reflects the diversity and global appeal of the institution.
- Research Output: Quantity and quality of scholarly publications.
Specialized Strengths of SOAS
While overall global rankings provide a broad overview, it's important to note that SOAS is particularly renowned for its specialized expertise in certain fields. It is widely regarded as a leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, offering a unique focus on languages, cultures, law, and social sciences pertaining to these regions. This specialized focus often places it highly in subject-specific rankings, which can differ from its general global standing.
