The latest 2021 edition of the World University Rankings by Subject is naming 41 subject areas and programs at The University of Texas Austin among the top in the world. In particular, Marine Science moved up from 24 to rank number 21.
Among the highlights, petroleum engineering retained its rank at No. 2 this year and held high ranks in overall reputation and research citation rates. Communication and media studies moved up one spot to No. 4. In total, nine subjects including Marine Science are ranked among the top 25.
Of the 41 academic disciplines at the university that are in the 2021 subject rankings, more than a third of them improved their positions this year.
The rankings, compiled by higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds, are based on a variety of factors including research impact and overall academic and employer reputation. The rankings looked at the performance of 14,435 individual university programs at 1,452 universities in 86 locations around the world.
“These rankings reflect the high-impact research and creative problem-solving UT Austin is known for and illustrate the immense societal value of leading research universities,” said Dan Jaffe, interim executive vice president and provost. “Without our world-class faculty and exceptionally talented students, this level of academic excellence would not be possible.”
UT Austin has been recognized as a top university by other recent publications, including U.S. News & World Report, which ranked UT Austin No. 38 in the world in its Best Global Universities ranking. Five specialty programs ranked No. 1, and 48 schools and specialties ranked among the nation’s top 10. The university also received national recognition for Latino student success.
