QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

The rankings, announced in March 2023, assessed over 18,300 subjects from 1,597 institutions across the world, based on academic and employer reputation, citations per academic paper, impact and quality of research and international research collaboration factors. 

This marks our fourth consecutive year as one of the world’s Top 50 English departments, and a climb of 8 places since 2020.

Recent research carried out by colleagues in our department includes the discovery of the importance of student drama to Shakespeare’s plays, or insight into the origins of Valentine’s day in the writing of Geoffrey Chaucer.

Durham is a world-leading university. Our academic excellence and impact is reflected in our global rankings and this is a true credit to the outstanding teaching and research carried out at our University.

Durham is consistently ranked as one of the world’s leading universities. It is ranked 92nd in the QS World University Rankings 2023, 6th in the Guardian University Guide 2023 and Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, and The Complete University Guide 2022. Durham is also regularly ranked in the top ten universities in the UK.

Our English Department boasts award-winning poets and a recently named New Generation Thinker amongst our teaching staff. 

Our broad subject range is made possible by our large and thriving community of more than 900 students, researchers and academics, with a busy programme of events including lectures, seminars, reading and discussion groups.