The latest edition of the QS World University Subject Rankings has named TU Delft as one of the top 10 universities in the world for engineering and technology degrees. The University of Amsterdam (UvA) also performed respectably, achieving top-25 spots for social sciences and management as well as arts and humanities subjects.

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 

Each year, QS puts together various rankings of higher education institutions around the world. While their annual World University Ranking is one of the world’s most respected and widely-read university comparison indexes, this week, the London-based company published its 2022 subject rankings, revealing the leading institutions for each subject group. 

51 different disciplines are covered in the ranking, separated over five subject areas:

• Arts & Humanities (e.g. History, Linguistics, Performing Arts)
• Engineering and Technology (e.g. Computer Science, Chemical Engineering)
• Life Sciences & Medicine (e.g. Nursing, Psychology, Veterinary Science)
• Natural Sciences (e.g. Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics)
• Social Sciences & Management (e.g. Politics, Sociology, Economics)

In order to compile the rankings, QS assesses five components, ranging from academic reputation and employer reputation to the university’s impact on each research field. 

This year’s Subject Ranking sees the usual suspects - Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - occupy top spots across various subject areas, while ETH Zurich was hailed as the top university in continental Europe. 

Top Dutch universities for studying humanities, arts, engineering or tech

While Dutch universities didn’t do quite as well as universities in Switzerland, a couple of higher education institutions in the Netherlands should certainly be proud of their performance. TU Delft came in 10th place in the Engineering and Technology ranking, beating world-renowned institutions such as Harvard University and California Institute of Technology (CalTech). 

The university received an overall score of 91 out of 100, and was praised for its performance across a number of STEM subjects, including architecture, environmental studies, and mechanical engineering. Meanwhile, UvA performed respectably in both the Social Sciences & Management and Arts & Humanities rankings, coming in 23rd place and 21st place respectively.

Other Dutch universities to secure spots in the top 50 were Erasmus University Rotterdam, which came in joint 36th place in the Social Sciences & Management ranking, and Leiden University, which came in joint 31st place in the Arts & Humanities ranking. UvA, Utrecht University, and Wageningen University & Research also all nabbed spots in the top 50 of the Life Sciences & Medicine ranking.