The number of subjects that could attract outstanding students, teachers, and researchers from the entire world to Masaryk University has grown. According to the recently published QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021, Masaryk University is a global leader in 11 subjects, three more than last year.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject identifies the best universities in the world in 51 subject areas. It is based on several indicators, including research citations and the results of international surveys of university reputation conducted among academics and employers. The rankings apply different weightings to these indicators in each subject to take into account the differences across research disciplines.
Among the best in the world for the first time
This year, Economics and Econometrics at MU made it onto the list for the first time, ranking 451–500, as did Mathematics, ranking 401–450, and Physics and Astronomy, ranking 551–600.
“The appearance of Economics and Econometrics at MU in this prestigious international university ranking is wonderful news and the best possible present that the MU Faculty of Economics and Administration could receive for its 30th anniversary. It is also confirmation that emphasizing quality and excellence in teaching and research is worthwhile. I also understand this ranking as an obligation to improve further, especially in terms of increasing internationalization at the faculty. I would like to thank my colleagues who have worked at the faculty over the last 30 years whose efforts have led to this excellent result,” says faculty dean Jiří Špalek.
Subjects at MU that made it into the QS World University Rankings by Subject in previous years maintained, and in some cases improved, their position. The highest-ranked subject is English Language and Literature followed by Linguistics. In 2021, MU was ranked among the top 300 universities in both these subject areas. Medicine and Biological Sciences have also been highly ranked for many years.
MU scores high marks in other categories
The QS World University Rankings by Subject is not the only place where MU was highly ranked. MU also figures in the QS World University Rankings. Last year, MU’s ranking improved, jumping from 551–560 to 531–540, out of a total of 1,002 world universities. The next rankings will be published in June of this year.
In its rankings QS heavily weighs peer review, that is, feedback from academics and employers, which helps balance out differences in academic cultures. Thanks to the peer review indicator, universities focused on the humanities have the chance to make it into the rankings.