Durham University Ranking

Choosing the right university in the UK is one of the most significant decisions for an Indian student. University rankings are a vital tool in this process, offering a clear, data-driven measure of an institution's academic quality, global reputation, and research impact. For a prestigious institution like Durham University, these rankings help you understand where it stands on the world stage.

This page provides a comprehensive overview of Durham University's performance in major global rankings. We will focus on the most trusted international sources, QS, Times Higher Education (THE), ARWU, and U.S. News, to give you a complete picture of its academic standing and help you evaluate if it's the right fit for your career ambitions.

Durham University QS World University Ranking 2026

The QS World University Rankings are closely followed by students and employers across India. A high QS rank often translates to strong brand value on your CV and can impact postgraduate employment opportunities. The 2026 rankings showcase Durham's strong global position among elite universities.

Durham University has achieved a global rank of #78 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. This places it firmly within the top 100 universities worldwide, a testament to its high-quality teaching, influential research, and excellent standing with international employers.

Ranking System	Year	Global Rank
QS World University Rankings	2026	#78

Durham's jump into the top 80 is a significant achievement, climbing 11 spots from its #89 position in the 2025 rankings. This positive momentum is driven by its strong performance in metrics like Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, and the new Sustainability indicator, making it an increasingly attractive option for students seeking a world-class education with strong career outcomes.

QS Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Looking at ranking trends provides more insight than a single year's data. A university on an upward trajectory can signal growing influence and investment. Durham's 5-year trend shows a remarkable recovery and recent surge, reinforcing its status as a rising institution.

Ranking Year	QS Global Rank	Trend
2026	#78	Up 11 spots
2025	#89	Up 3 spots
2024	#92	Stable
2023	#92	Down 10 spots
2022	#82	-

The data clearly shows that after a slight dip in 2023, Durham University has not only recovered but has now surpassed its previous bests, reaching its highest-ever rank in 2026. This strong upward trend is a powerful indicator of the university's strategic focus on strengthening its global reputation and research output, which is excellent news for prospective Indian students.

Durham University QS Subject Rankings 2026

While the overall rank is important, subject-specific rankings are crucial for students who have already decided on their field of study. Durham is a world-leader in several subjects, particularly in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. For Indian students interested in specialised fields like Law or Anthropology, these rankings are a critical decision-making factor.

Here are some of Durham University's standout performances in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Subject	Global Rank 2026	Description
Theology & Religion	#7	World-leading department, consistently ranked in the top 10.
Classics & Ancient History	#8	Elite global standing for students passionate about history.
Archaeology	#10	A top-tier choice for this specialised field.
Geography	#14	Globally renowned for its research and teaching in Geography.
Law and Legal Studies	Top 50	A prestigious and highly-ranked law school, making it a great choice for aspiring lawyers.
Physics & Astronomy	Top 100	Strong performance in a core science discipline.
Business & Management Studies	Top 150	Durham University Business School holds triple accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS).

Durham's excellence in the humanities is undeniable, with three subjects in the global top 10. Its Law program is also ranked among the world's elite. For Indian students targeting careers in these fields, Durham offers an education that is second to none. Its strong performance in core STEM and Business subjects further highlights its comprehensive academic strengths.

Durham University Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking 2025

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings are another premier benchmark, with a methodology that places a greater emphasis on research performance, teaching environment, and industry income. It's wise to consider both QS and THE rankings for a balanced view.

Please note: The THE World University Rankings for 2026 will be released in late 2025. The table below reflects the latest available data.

Ranking System	Year	Global Rank
THE World University Rankings	2025	#174

Durham's rank in THE is lower than in QS, which is common for universities whose strengths lie in areas like student satisfaction and employer reputation—factors that QS weights more heavily. At #174, THE still places Durham in the top tier of global universities, particularly recognising its international outlook and research environment.

THE Global Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Ranking Year	THE Global Rank	Trend
2025	#174	Up 24 spots
2024	#198	Down 2 spots
2023	#196	-
2022	#162	-
2021	#149	-

Similar to its QS trend, Durham saw a significant improvement in the most recent THE rankings, jumping 24 places. This suggests a broad, university-wide enhancement in performance across different evaluation criteria, particularly in research quality and international collaboration, which THE values highly.

Durham University THE Subject Rankings 2025

Times Higher Education's subject rankings confirm Durham's strengths in Arts & Humanities while also showing its competitiveness in other key areas relevant to Indian students.

Subject Area	Global Rank 2025
Arts & Humanities	#31
Law	#42
Social Sciences	#101-125
Physical Sciences	#101-125
Business & Economics	#126-150
Education	#65

The THE subject rankings reinforce Durham's world-class reputation in Arts, Humanities, and Law. The solid Top-150 rankings for Business, Economics, and Physical Sciences make it a strong, reliable choice for students pursuing these popular streams.

Other Important Global Rankings (ARWU, U.S. News)

To provide a truly 360-degree view, it's helpful to look at other major international rankings like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and U.S. News 'Best Global Universities'. ARWU is heavily focused on hard research metrics like Nobel Prizes, while U.S. News uses a combination of 13 indicators.

Ranking System	Latest Year	Global Rank
ARWU (Shanghai Ranking)	2024	#301-400
U.S. News Best Global Uni.	2024-25	#249

Durham's rank in ARWU is reflective of the ranking's heavy bias towards universities with major Nobel laureate output and extensive hard science research, which is not Durham's primary focus. Its U.S. News rank of #249 is consistent with its position as a top-tier global university. The 5-year trend in both these rankings has remained largely stable, indicating consistent performance in research and global reputation metrics.

A Snapshot of Ranking Methodologies

Ever wondered why a university's rank differs between QS and THE? It's because they measure different things. Here’s a simple breakdown for you:

QS World University Rankings Focus:

• Academic Reputation (30%): What other academics think.
• Employer Reputation (15%): What companies think of graduates.
• Faculty Student Ratio (10%): Number of students per academic staff.
• Citations per Faculty (20%): Research impact.
• International Metrics (15%): Mix of international students & staff.
• New Metrics (10%): Sustainability, Employment Outcomes, Int'l Research Network.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings Focus:

• Teaching (29.5%): The learning environment.
• Research Environment (29%): Volume, income, and reputation.
• Research Quality (30%): Citations, research strength.
• International Outlook (7.5%): Staff, students, and research collaboration.
• Industry (4%): Knowledge transfer and industry income.

For an Indian student, this means: If you value brand prestige and employer perception, the QS rank of #78 is a very strong signal. If you are focused on a pure research environment, the THE rank of #174 still places it highly among global institutions.