Umeå University rises in international subjects ranking
NEWS
More subjects than last year are top-ranked at Umeå University when QS World University Rankings lists the world’s best universities by subject 2015. Six of Umeå University’s subjects made it to the list.
"It’s of course very gratifying that additional subjects are rated top class of the world. Although placement on ranking lists shouldn’t be overemphasised as a measure of quality, it’s a signal saying that we’re heading in the right direction", says Vice-Chancellor Lena Gustafsson.
Six subjects given at Umeå University (UmU) are to be found among the top 350 in the ranking of 2015. Four subjects made the list last year. One subject that improved its ranking is geography, which is now placed 101-150 on the list – the best ranking any subject at UmU has ever received before. But the greatest success is Art and design. It was included in the list for the first time this year, and UmU made it straight to the world top 100.
"The placing is the university’s best, so far, in any subject. Art and design being top-ranked is another acknowledgement of Umeå University’s eminent international position in the field", says Lena Gustafsson.
UmU is back among the best in biological sciences and medicine. These subjects are among the 201-250 best in the world. Environmental sciences is still found to be on the top list, and this year chemistry made it to the list too, for the first time.
This is the fifth time QS World University Rankings by Subject is carried out. In total, 36 subjects at more than 3,500 of the world’s top universities are included. Apart from citation analysis, the ranking is based on opinion of education and research in selected subjects at universities around the world by academics and employers.
At the very top in most subjects one finds some of the leading American and British universities, for example, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Cambridge and University of Oxford.
