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Sure, it’s all well and good going to a top-rated university, but even the world’s leading higher education institutions have their strengths and weaknesses. That’s why in 2025 Times Higher Education launched a ranking of the most outstanding universities for each subject, to supplement its annual list of the best all-rounders.
So, where is the best place for your chosen subject in 2026? Well, as was the case in 2025, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranked as the best university for arts and humanities, business and economics, as well as social sciences.
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The University of Oxford, named as the world’s top institution overall back in October, has also remained the best place to study computer science and medicine, and Harvard should still be the go-to for engineering and life sciences.
However, despite Stanford University retaining its position as the best university for education studies and law, it’s no longer the top institution for psychology. In 2026, that’s the University of Cambridge. Scroll on for a look at all the
The world’s top universities for each subject in 2026
- Arts and humanities – MIT
- Business and economics – MIT
- Computer science – University of Oxford
- Education studies – Stanford University
- Engineering – Harvard University
- Law – Stanford University
- Life sciences – Harvard University
- Medical and health – University of Oxford
- Physical sciences – California Institute of Technology
- Psychology – University of Cambridge
- Social sciences – MIT
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