QS World University Rankings by Subject: the university’s positioning and the methodology

The University of Bologna’s positioning in the Quacquarelli Symonds ranking of scientific subjects.

Results of the 2026 ranking at a glance

  • Top 100 for 2 of 5 macro-areas analysed by the ranking.

Arts & Humanities 49th out of 550

  • Archaeology 19th out of 260
  • Classic & Ancient History 28th place tied out of 150
  • Modern Languages 36th place tied out of 350. First in Italy
  • History of Art between 25th and 50th out of 50
  • English Language & Literature 68th place tied out of 350. First in Italy
  • History between 51st and 100th out of 250. First in Italy
  • Linguistics between 101st and 150th out of 350. First in Italy
  • Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies between 101st and 150th out of 150
  • Philosophy between 101st and 150th out of 225
  • Architecture/Built Environment between 151st and 200th out of 260
  • Art & Design between 201st and 260th out of 300

Social Sciences & Management 64th out of 550

  • Law 40th place tied out of 400. First in Italy
  • Anthropology between 51st and 100th out of 200. First in Italy
  • Politics & International Studies 70th place tied out of 400
  • Social Policy & Administration between 51st and 100th out of 150
  • Statistics & Operational Research between 51st and 100th out of.275 First in Italy
  • Communication & Media Studies between 51st and 100th out of. 275 First in Italy
  • Hospitality & Leisure Management between 51st and 100th out of 175. First in Italy
  • Economics & Econometrics 78th place tied out of 700
  • Accounting & Finance 98th place tied out of 375
  • Sociology between 101st and 150th out of 375
  • Sports-related Subjects between 101st and 150th out of 150. First in Italy
  • Business & Management Studies 126th place tied out of 650
  • Education between 151st and 200th out of 450. First in Italy

Natural Sciences 103rd place tied out of 550

  • Geography 39th out of 250. First in Italy
  • Chemistry 88th place tied. First in Italy out of 700
  • Physics & Astronomy 92nd out of 675
  • Earth & Marine Sciences between 101st and 150th out of 550.
  • Geology between 101st and 150th out of 250
  • Geophysics between 101st and 150th out of 250
  • Environmental Sciences 126th place tied out of 550
  • Mathematics 141st place tied out of 600
  • Material Science between 201st and 250th out of 550

Life Sciences & Medicine 108th place tied out of 550

  • Veterinary Science 43rd out of 100. First in Italy
  • Agriculture & Forestry 46th place tied out of 470. First in Italy
  • Medicine 76th place tied out of 850
  • Dentistry between 51st and 150th out of 150. First in Italy
  • Psychology 101st and 150th  out of 350
  • Pharmacy & Pharmacology between 101st and 150th out of 400
  • Anatomy & Physiology between 101st and 200th out of 200
  • Biological Sciences 127th out of 700
  • Nursing tra between 150th and 225th out of 225
  • Engineering & Technology 119th place tied out of 550  

Methodology 

Indicators and number of universities analysed

There are approximately 1500 universities analysed worldwide and they are classified according to:

  • 5 macro-areas: Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Science & Medicine, Natural Science, and Social Science & Management
  • 55 subjects

Indicators

Indicator 

Indicator description 

Weighting 

Academic reputation

Academic Reputation: result of the 'Academic Survey', carried out by QS: 1,500,000 nominations 

The weighting of the indicator varies according to subject and macro-area

Employer reputation

Employer Reputation: result of the 'Employer Survey', carried out by QS: 520,000 nominations

The weighting of the indicator varies according to subject and macro-area

Research citations per paper

Average number of citations per research article

The weighting of the indicator varies according to subject and macro-area

H-index

Hirsh H-index (considers both the number of research articles and the number of citations from them)

The weighting of the indicator varies according to subject and macro-area

IRN

International Research Network (co-authors of international research articles)

The weighting of the indicator varies according to subject and macro-area

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