Faculty success in influential international league table
Leeds has climbed the QS World University Rankings by subject, including a top rating of 22nd in the world for Development Studies in 2025.
The latest QS World University Rankings by Subject’s Top 100 ranking demonstrates the University’s dedication to the crucial area of Development Studies, a field which has widespread, real-world impact.
Development Studies is a key interdisciplinary strength for the School of Politics and International Studies as well as the Faculty of Social Sciences and the University more broadly.
In recent years, Leeds has been at the forefront of interdisciplinary research in global development and it is exciting to see this reflected in the QS rankings.
Working across health, water and sanitation, food and environment, conflict and security, and climate change, our research and teaching is actively engaged with addressing global challenges.
Find out more about the School’s research and expertise in this area, including the impact of our interdisciplinary research.
If you’re interested in postgraduate study, you can also explore our master’s courses in development studies.
This year, the subject area of Politics has moved into the top 100 (to 83), alongside Sociology (81) and Education and training (89), cementing the Faculty’s reputation as a leading centre for research and engagement and for employee reputation.
About the QS World University Rankings by Subject
The 2025 edition of the respected QS World University Rankings by Subject features 55 individual subjects across five broad subject areas, analysing 5,203 higher education institutions. Evaluation by QS is based on a range of measures, including academic and employer reputation, the research and quality of institutions' published research, and universities' global engagement as demonstrated by research partnerships and co-authored publications.
