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Reputation and Rankings

Lancaster’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is home to over 20 disciplines, with many placing in the top 10 in major UK league tables and top 100 in world rankings.

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'Remarkable results' in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021)

The quality of our research in Arts and Social Sciences has been independently assessed as world leading and internationally excellent. It has also been confirmed that we are achieving real-world impact and positive change through our research.

Two departments in the Faculty achieved the highest possible score for impact in the Research Excellence Framework results published on 12th May 2022.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF), carried out approximately every seven years, assesses the quality of research across UK universities and demonstrates its impact on a domestic and global stage. One of Lancaster’s significant strengths is the way that top academics use their world-class research to inform their teaching.

Outstanding and world leading departments

The Department of Educational Research and the Department of Linguistics and English Language are both rated ‘outstanding’ for 100% of their research impact and therefore both are rated joint top in the UK for impact.

Linguistics is also rated ‘world-leading’ for 100% of its research environment and ranked 2nd in the UK for overall research quality.

Other notable successes for the Faculty:

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Read more about the REF2021 results for departments in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

REF2021 remarkable results for FASS

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

The global influence of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is confirmed by the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject. We are considered one of the top three universities in the world for Linguistics, highlighting that Lancaster is a world leader in this field. Also featuring among the top 100 in the world are English Language and Literature, Art and Design, Modern Languages and Sociology.

Read the news story: World top 100 for eleven subjects at Lancaster.

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Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

‌‌The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has two subjects in the world top 50 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2024.

The Faculty is ranked joint 43 in the world for Arts and Humanities.

The global reputation of Education at Lancaster is also recognised with ranking of 41 in the world.

The Times & Sunday Times logo

Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide

Lancaster University is ranked as top in the North West and 12th in the UK out of 131 universities, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Eleven subjects in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are ranked in the UK top fifteen. They include Social Work at number 1 in the UK and French, Iberian Languages and Linguistics at number 3 in the UK.

  1. Social Work #1
  2. French #3
  3. Iberian Languages (Spanish, Italian) #3
  4. Linguistics #3
  5. Criminology #6
  6. Art and Design #7
  7. Dance, Drama and Cinematics (Theatre Studies) #8
  8. Creative Writing #10
  9. Sociology #10
  10. Communication and Media Studies (including Film Studies) #13 joint
  11. Law #15 joint

Graduate prospects

Several subjects are also highly ranked for Graduate Prospects by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025, which demonstrates the high level of support that the Faculty provides. They include Art and Design #5, Criminology #12 and Linguistics #4.

The Complete University Guide 2025

Lancaster University remains best university in North West England in the Complete University Guide 2025, and is placed joint 10th out of 130 UK universities.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has many subjects that rank among the best in the UK, and the Complete University Guide recognises our strength in preparing students for successful careers.

Lancaster is again ranked best in the UK for Social Work.

  • Social Work #1
  • Media Studies and Film #2
  • Linguistics #3
  • Italian #4
  • Theatre Studies #4
  • Creative Writing #6
  • Architecture #7
  • Art and Design #7
  • French #7
  • German #8
  • English #10

The Faculty provides a high level of support to help our students find rewarding careers after they graduate. Among the subjects placed in the UK top ten for graduate prospects are French, Art and Design, Theatre Studies, English, Media Studies, Film studies, and Creative Writing.

News story: Lancaster remains best university in North West England in complete. university guide

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The Guardian logo

The Guardian University Guide

Lancaster University has continued its consistently strong league table performance, ranking 11th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2025.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has several subjects in the top 20:

  • Social Work #2
  • Product Design #5
  • Creative Writing #7
  • English #7
  • Criminology #7 (Joint)
  • Sociology & Social Policy #10
  • Drama & Dance #13 (Joint)
  • Languages & Linguistics #14
  • Fine Art #19
  • Law #20

Additionally, a number of subjects are highly ranked for satisfaction with teaching, including:

  • Creative Writing #9 (Joint)
  • English #9
  • Criminology #10
  • Law #10
  • Languages & Linguistics #11 (Joint)

A highly ranked global university

Find out more about Lancaster University’s strength in UK and world league tables.

Rankings and reputation
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