Top Universities for Social Sciences and Management

Discover the top social science schools based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020.

Want to study a social science degree or management course at one of the world’s top universities? The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 includes a ranking of 500 of the world’s top universities in this broad subject area, based upon a methodology which considers employer reputation as well as other factors.

Read on for an overview of the top universities for social sciences and management in each world region, or click here to view the full results table.

Top universities for social sciences and management in the US & Canada

The US is home to an impressive 87 of the world’s top universities for social science and management courses, with five spots in the top 10 (see above), and 22 institutions in the top 100. Outside of the top 10, other high-ranking US universities for this field include the University of Pennsylvania (12^th), the University of Chicago (16^th), Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (the latter two are both ranked joint 18^th).

Canada has 19 positions in the social sciences and ranking. Top Canadian universities to complete your social science degree include the University of Toronto (=30^th), the University of British Columbia (35^th) and McGill University (=49^th).

Top universities for social sciences and management in Europe

The UK is represented by 56 of the world’s top universities for social science degrees, 14 of which are in the top 100. Outside the top 10, the next four highest-ranked UK universities in this field are: London Business School (15^th), UCL (University College London) (=30^th), the University of Warwick (36^th) and the University of Manchester (=42^nd).

The next best-performing European country is Germany with 28 entries, including four in the top 100. The two highest-ranked German universities for this field are Universität Mannheim (65^th) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (70^th).

Another strong country for social sciences or management courses is Italy, with 18 representatives in the ranking, led by Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi at 17^th.

Spain has 17 top social science and management schools, with Universidad de Navarra its highest-ranked. The university is up over 70 places from its 2015/16 position and now ranks joint 81^st in the world.

France has 15 entries in the ranking, seven of which are new to 2017. Four French institutions feature in the top 100, including INSEAD (32^nd) and HEC Paris School of Management (55^th).

The Netherlands has 12 top universities for social sciences and management, including two in the top 50: Erasmus University Rotterdam (=42^nd) and the University of Amsterdam (=49^th).

Sweden has nine entries in the ranking, with Stockholm School of Economics leading the way at joint 75^th. However, it’s Denmark which claims the highest-ranked university for social sciences in the Nordic region, with Copenhagen Business School ranked 41^st. Denmark has five more top social sciences schools, including two more in the top 100. Elsewhere in the region, Norway has five entrants in the social sciences ranking, while Finland has three.

Belgium, Ireland and Switzerland each have seven of the world’s top universities for studying a social sciences degree in their country – with each country having at least one school in the top 150. Top entries include the Swiss ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at 58^th, the Belgian KU Leuven at 61^st and the Irish University College Dublin (UCD) at joint 111^th.

Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal has five representatives in the ranking, while Austria and Russia have four entrants each. From these countries, Russia’s Lomonosov Moscow State University is the highest-ranked at 110^th.

Finally, the Czech Republic, Greece and Poland have three entrants in the social sciences ranking each, while Lithuania and Hungary have two entrants and Estonia and Romania each have one. From these countries, Hungary’s Central European University is the highest-ranked entrant at joint 233^rd for social sciences and management. 

Top universities for social sciences and management in Australia & New Zealand

Australia is home to 27 of the world’s top universities for studying a social science degree, nine of which are in the top 100. The top four Australian universities for this subject area are the University of Melbourne (14^th), Australian National University (ANU) (20^th) the University of New South Wales (UNSW) (=22^nd) and the University of Sydney (25^th).

In nearby New Zealand are seven more of the world’s top universities for social science and management degrees, including three in the top 100: the University of Auckland (44^th), Victoria University of Wellington (=84^th) and the University of Otago (89^th).

Top universities for social sciences and management in Asia

China is the nation with the most top social science schools in Asia with 21 institutions featured in this year’s ranking, including four in the top 50: Peking University (21^st) Tsinghua University (34^th), Fudan University (48^th) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (=49^th).

A further 16 top social science schools are found in South Korea, including Seoul National University (SNU) and Korea University in the top 50 at 28^th and joint 39^th respectively.

Japan is home to 14 of the world’s top universities for social sciences and management courses, including the University of Tokyo in the top 10 and Kyoto University in the top 50 at 46^th.

Another strong Asian country for completing your social sciences degree is Taiwan, with 12 entries in this year’s ranking, including National Taiwan University (NTU) at 37^th. Elsewhere, of Malaysia’s 10 entrants, Universiti Malaya (UM) is the highest ranked at 71^st.

Hong Kong performs very well, with five of its eight representatives featured in the top 100, including the University of Hong Kong just outside the top 10 at 11^th.

India’s seven entries are led by the University of Delhi at joint 295^th, while Thailand has five universities in the ranking, including Chulalongkorn University at joint 159^th.

Singapore may only have three entrants, but all are in the top 100, with the National University of Singapore (NUS) featured in the top 10 and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) ranked joint 22^nd. Also with three top social sciences schools are Indonesia and the Philippines, with Universitas Indonesia ranked 207^th.

Top universities for social sciences and management in Latin America

Latin America is home to 22 of the world’s top universities for social sciences and management, with seven claimed by Brazil alone, including Universidade de São Paulo (USP) at joint 146^th.

However, it’s Chile which boasts the highest-ranked institution in Latin America for this subject area, with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) leading the way for its five entries at 90^th.

Also with five top social sciences schools is Mexico, with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) ranked 119^th. 

Colombia has three entrants in the ranking, led by Universidad de los Andes at 201^st, while Argentina’s sole entrant Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) is ranked joint 151^st. Peru’s only entrant Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú is joint 334^th.

Top universities for social sciences and management in Africa & the Middle East

South Africa has five institutions ranked among the world’s best for social science and management courses, led by the University of Cape Town at joint 174^th. Egypt also features in this year’s ranking with two entries, including Cairo University at joint 342^nd.

In the Middle East, Turkey is home to four top social science schools, with Middle East Technical University the leader at joint 389^th. Israel and Saudi Arabia have three entrants each, while Lebanon has one – from these countries, the Israeli Hebrew University of Jerusalem is the highest ranked university at 262^nd.

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