When you’re picking a university in the UK, you’ll see two kinds of rankings everywhere: subject rankings and overall rankings. They look similar, but they’re not the same. And using the wrong one could cost you better teaching, stronger connections in your field, or even job opportunities after graduation.
What’s the difference between subject and overall rankings?
Overall rankings, like the Times Higher Education or QS World University Rankings, try to measure a university as a whole. They look at things like research output across all departments, international student numbers, faculty-to-student ratios, and reputation surveys. These rankings are useful if you care about prestige or campus life-but they don’t tell you how good the biology program is, or whether the engineering labs are modern.
Subject rankings, on the other hand, zoom in. They rank universities based on performance in specific subjects-like Psychology, Computer Science, or Law. These are built using data collected directly from each department: graduate employment rates in that field, student satisfaction in that course, research citations by experts in that area, and even industry partnerships. If you’re studying Accounting, you want to know how good the Accounting department is-not whether the university has a great football team or a famous philosophy professor.
Think of it like choosing a car. Overall rankings are like judging a car brand by how many cars they sell globally. Subject rankings are like checking how well that brand’s SUV performs off-road-because that’s the kind of car you actually need.
Why subject rankings matter more for your course
Let’s say you’re applying for a degree in Nursing. You see University A ranked 8th overall in the UK. University B is ranked 25th. At first glance, A seems better. But when you check subject rankings, University B is ranked 2nd for Nursing. Why? Because their nursing program has:
- 92% student satisfaction in clinical placements
- 100% graduate employment in NHS roles within six months
- Partnerships with three major hospitals for hands-on training
- Faculty who are all practicing nurses with current NHS experience
University A? Their nursing program might be fine-but it’s buried under the weight of their strong law school, physics department, and media studies program. The overall ranking pulls up their score, but it doesn’t reflect what you’ll actually experience in class.
According to the Complete University Guide 2025, over 60% of students who chose their university based on subject rankings reported higher satisfaction with their course than those who went by overall rankings. That’s not a coincidence. Your degree is your career launchpad. You need a program that’s strong in your field-not one that’s just big.
When overall rankings still matter
That doesn’t mean overall rankings are useless. They matter if:
- You’re applying for competitive postgraduate programs or PhDs, where the university’s global reputation can open doors
- You’re interested in research opportunities across disciplines-like combining biology with data science
- You care about campus facilities: libraries, sports centers, student unions, or housing quality
- You plan to work in industries where employer brand recognition is key-like investment banking or consulting, where firms recruit heavily from top-tier universities
For example, if you’re studying Economics and want to work at Goldman Sachs or McKinsey, they still recruit from universities with strong overall reputations-even if their Economics department isn’t ranked #1. In those fields, the name on your diploma carries weight.
But for most other careers-healthcare, teaching, engineering, design, media, social work-the hiring manager will care more about your skills, your placements, and your portfolio than whether your university is in the top 10 overall.
How to use both rankings wisely
Here’s a simple way to combine both without getting confused:
- Start with subject rankings. Find the top 5 universities for your exact course. Use the Complete University Guide or Guardian University Guide-they focus heavily on student experience and graduate outcomes by subject.
- Check the overall rankings of those five. If one is in the top 15 overall, that’s a bonus. If none are, don’t panic. Many top subject programs are at mid-tier overall universities.
- Look at graduate employment data for your course. The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes this. See where graduates from each program end up working.
- Read student reviews on sites like StudentCrowd or Unistats. Look for comments about teaching quality, lab access, internship support, and feedback from lecturers.
- Visit campuses or attend virtual open days. Talk to current students in your department. Ask: “Would you choose this university again for this course?”
Don’t let a university’s overall rank blind you. A university ranked 50th overall might have a top 3 course in Film Production-and the head of the department might have won a BAFTA. That’s more valuable than being ranked 12th overall with a mediocre film program.
Real examples: Subject rankings beat overall rankings
Take the University of St Andrews. It’s ranked 5th overall in the UK. But if you’re studying Marine Biology, you might be better off at the University of Plymouth, ranked 38th overall-but #1 in Marine Biology. Plymouth has its own research vessel, direct access to coastal habitats, and partnerships with the Marine Conservation Society.
Or consider the University of the Arts London. It’s not in the top 50 overall. But for Fashion Design, it’s ranked #1 in the UK. Graduates work for Alexander McQueen, Burberry, and Chanel. The subject ranking reflects reality: the course is built by industry professionals, with live briefs from top brands.
And then there’s the University of East Anglia. Overall, it’s ranked 30th. But for Environmental Science? Ranked 3rd. Why? Because their campus sits next to a protected wetland, and students do fieldwork in real ecosystems-not just simulations. That’s the kind of advantage subject rankings reveal.
What to do if your course isn’t ranked
Some newer or niche courses-like Digital Ethics, Sustainable Food Systems, or Game Design for Social Impact-might not have official subject rankings yet. That’s okay.
Here’s how to evaluate them:
- Check the faculty. Are they published in journals or working with industry? Look up their LinkedIn profiles or research papers.
- Look at the curriculum. Does it include internships, real projects, or guest lecturers from the field?
- Ask about graduate outcomes. Where did last year’s students go? Can you talk to them?
- See if the course is accredited. For example, Engineering degrees should be accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET); Social Work by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
If the course is new, don’t rely on rankings. Dig deeper. A course without a ranking can still be excellent-if it’s built with purpose.
Final checklist: Your decision framework
Before you apply, ask yourself these five questions:
- Is my course ranked in the top 10 for subject rankings? If not, why?
- What do graduates from this course actually do after graduation? (Check HESA data.)
- Do the lecturers in this department have real-world experience in the field?
- Are there industry partnerships, placements, or live projects built into the course?
- Would I still choose this university if it had no overall ranking at all?
If you answer yes to most of these, you’re on the right track. Don’t let a number from a general ranking table decide your future. Your course is your path. Choose the university that’s best for that path-not the one that just looks the fanciest on paper.
Should I trust the Times Higher Education overall ranking for my course choice?
Only as a secondary filter. The Times Higher Education ranking favors large research universities with high international student numbers and broad research output. It doesn’t reflect teaching quality in specific courses. For example, a university might rank high overall because of its physics department, but its psychology program could be underfunded. Always cross-check with subject-specific rankings like the Complete University Guide or Guardian University Guide.
What if my course isn’t listed in subject rankings?
If your course is new or niche, subject rankings may not exist yet. In that case, focus on the faculty’s expertise, industry connections, course structure, and graduate outcomes. Look for accreditation from professional bodies, check if the program includes internships or live projects, and reach out to current students. A course without a ranking isn’t necessarily a bad one-it just needs more digging.
Are subject rankings more reliable than overall rankings?
Yes, for choosing a course. Subject rankings use data directly tied to that program: student satisfaction in your modules, employment rates in your field, and research output from your department. Overall rankings average out performance across unrelated subjects, which can mask weaknesses in your specific area of study. If you care about your degree experience and future job, subject rankings are the more accurate tool.
Do employers care about overall university rankings?
It depends on the industry. In finance, law, or consulting, top-tier university names still carry weight. But in most other fields-healthcare, tech, education, creative industries, public service-employers care more about your skills, experience, portfolio, and internships. A graduate from a mid-ranked university with strong subject performance and relevant work experience will often beat someone from a top overall university with average grades and no real-world exposure.
How often do subject rankings change?
Subject rankings are updated annually, usually in spring. They’re based on data collected the previous year, like student surveys and graduate employment stats. A university can jump several spots in a year if it improves its teaching, adds industry placements, or increases graduate employment in the field. Don’t rely on rankings from more than two years ago-use the latest data to make your decision.
Next steps: What to do right now
Don’t wait until January to start comparing. Here’s what to do this week:
- Go to the Complete University Guide website and search for your exact course.
- Write down the top 5 universities ranked for that subject.
- Visit each university’s course page. Read the syllabus, check the staff profiles, and look for internship or placement details.
- Find the HESA data for that course and see where graduates ended up.
- Join a Facebook group or Reddit thread for students in that course. Ask: “Would you pick this university again?”
It takes time, but it’s worth it. Your degree isn’t just a piece of paper. It’s the foundation of your career. Choose it wisely.