The University of Oxford’s Sociology Department has been ranked second in the world in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, reinforcing its status as a global leader in the discipline.
The Department has maintained its position as the second-ranked Sociology programme globally since 2019, demonstrating sustained excellence in a highly competitive international field.
The 2026 rankings assess the performance of thousands of academic programmes at universities across the world, providing a comprehensive comparison across more than 50 subject areas. Oxford University once again featured prominently, with 42 subjects ranked among the world’s best, including Sociology.
The QS subject rankings are determined using a combination of indicators, measuring research output, employability, learning experience, global engagement, and sustainability.
Oxford Sociology achieved a score of 96.8 out of 100 in 2026, an increase on the previous year, highlighting the Department’s sustained excellence and influence within the discipline.
