Discover the World’s Top 10 Universities for Literature, Linguistics, History, Philosophy, Theology, Architecture, Archaeology, Art, and Design
Ranked using the latest Times Higher Education World Subject Rankings data.
A Look at the Top 10 Universities for Arts and Humanities in 2025
| Arts & Humanities Rank (2025) | Arts & Humanities Rank (2024) | University | Country/Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | United States |
| 2 | 3 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
| 3 | 4 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom |
| 4 | 1 | Stanford University | United States |
| 5 | 5 | Harvard University | United States |
| 6 | 8 | Princeton University | United States |
| =7 | 6 | UCL | United Kingdom |
| =7 | 7 | University of California, Berkeley | United States |
| 9 | =10 | The University of Chicago | United States |
| 10 | 9 | Yale University | United States |
Explore the full rankings table for the best universities for arts and humanities degrees.
Choosing where to study arts or humanities isn’t simple—there are hundreds of options worldwide. But Times Higher Education has ranked 750 top universities for arts and humanities in their 2025 rankings. So, where should you go for your degree?
About a fifth of the best arts and humanities schools are in the U.S., but Europe is also strongly represented, with many British, German, and Dutch institutions in the top 100.
If you’re considering Canada or Australia, there are 27 and 29 ranked universities respectively, while Asia boasts over 80 institutions.
Times Higher Education’s subject rankings use the same 18 performance indicators as the overall World University Rankings 2025, but the methodology is adjusted for each field. (See the full methodology here.)
Top 10 Universities for Arts and Humanities Degrees
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
While famous for STEM, MIT also excels in arts and humanities, offering courses in anthropology, history, linguistics, literature, media arts, music, and theater.
Founded in 1868, MIT’s School of Architecture and Planning was the first of its kind in the U.S. and remains a leader in innovative campus design.
The university has five libraries, three dedicated to arts and humanities—Hayden (humanities & sciences), Lewis (music), and Rotch (art & architecture). These house special collections, like Lewis’s 20th/21st-century music archives, including hip-hop and electronic music.
Notable figures include linguist Noam Chomsky (professor emeritus). MIT has produced six Pulitzer winners, and four faculty members belong to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
2. University of Cambridge
A global leader across disciplines, Cambridge has over 23,000 students across 31 colleges.
Its School of Arts and Humanities covers subjects from Asian studies to art history, with research influencing student learning. Recent projects include flamenco’s cultural impact and architectural solutions for local gardens.
Famous alumni: philosopher Bertrand Russell, artist Quentin Blake, and playwright Christopher Marlowe.
3. University of Oxford
Oxford’s humanities division includes music, history, classics, theology, and English. About 20,000 students attend, with a third coming from abroad. Undergrads join a college, taking small-group tutorials.
Unique to the UK system, students apply for a specific course (e.g., Philosophy, Politics, and Economics—PPE, Oxford’s famed program). Joint arts-sciences degrees are also available.
Notable alumni: J.R.R. Tolkien, Graham Greene, and Jonathan Swift.
4. Stanford University
Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences awards 63% of undergrad and 40% of doctoral degrees. The university, founded to educate “cultured and useful citizens,” calls humanities its “soul.”
Recent highlights: a race/ethnicity study, a classical music appreciation course, and a philosophy radio show.
Located in Silicon Valley, Stanford fosters entrepreneurship—many grads lead major tech firms.
5. Harvard University
Harvard’s arts and humanities division spans 15 departments, four interdisciplinary programs, and secondary fields like art, music, and theater.
The student board shapes department initiatives, and the annual “art crawl” lets students explore campus galleries.
6. Princeton University
Princeton’s humanities program includes East Asian studies, history, linguistics, and visual arts. Events range from film screenings to swing dance clubs.
The “Humanities Sequence” is a year-long intro to Western thought, blending lectures, seminars, and museum visits.
=7. UCL
UCL’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities covers English, philosophy, fine art, and more. Research includes digitizing Jeremy Bentham’s works and studying Italian mafias.
The annual Festival of Culture features talks, performances, and exhibitions.
=7. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley’s 19 departments and 14 research units include art history, languages, and philosophy. Classes are smaller than average.
Notable alumni: Pulitzer winner Viet Thanh Nguyen and actor Chris Pine.
9. The University of Chicago
Founded in 1890, Chicago’s Division of Humanities has 16 departments, offering 18 degree programs, including digital studies and Middle Eastern studies.
Research centers focus on race, culture, and language studies.
10. Yale University
Yale’s humanities program covers modern literature, existentialism, film, and jazz. Students keep intellectual journals to track ideas for senior projects.
