Top Universities in Asia for Social Sciences & Management 2014

To accompany the overall QS University Rankings: Asia, the QS Intelligence Unit also provides a breakdown of the highest rated Asian universities in five broad subject areas, based on the results of the global academic survey. Below is a look at the top 10 universities in Asia for social sciences and management, as rated by academics, followed by a table showing the top 50.

1. National University of Singapore (NUS)

The National University of Singapore (NUS) is also the overall leader in this year’s QS University Rankings: Asia, making 2014 the first year the ranking has not been led by a Hong Kong institution. NUS was already rated the region’s leader for social sciences and management, and it retains this position, alongside second place for the other four subject areas considered. In the 2014 QS World University Rankings by Subject, social sciences subjects in which NUS particularly stands out include statistics and operational research (ranked 7^th in the world), politics and international studies (9^th) and communication and media studies (9^th).

2. University of Tokyo

Japan’s leading institution, the University of Tokyo, is the only Asian university capable of outdoing the National University of Singapore when it comes to reputation in the global academic community – it’s rated number one in the other four subject areas. In the overall QS University Rankings: Asia, the University of Tokyo is currently in 10^th place, with its scores in the other eight indicators not quite matching its near-unbeatable academic reputation. Turning to the QS Rankings by Subject, the University of Tokyo’s strongest social sciences performances come in politics and international studies (12^th in the world), statistics (14^th) and economics (19^th).

3. Peking University

China’s Peking University again boasts a strong reputation across the subject spectrum, but particularly for social sciences and management, along with arts and humanities. It comes eighth in the overall Asian university ranking, and overall is rated third in Asia by both academics and employers. Peking University’s highest appearances in the social sciences section of the Rankings by Subject are in politics (21^st in the world), accounting and finance (30^th) and economics (33^rd).

4. University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Another all-round strong performer, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is third overall in the 2014 Asia ranking, and is a former chart-topper. In the 2014 QS World University Rankings by Subject, HKU’s strongest social sciences listings are for education (16^th in the world), politics (16^th), accounting and finance (18^th) and law (also 18^th) – the latter being particularly impressive, as this subject is especially heavily dominated by US, UK and Australian universities.

5. Seoul National University (SNU)

South Korea’s Seoul National University (SNU) is now well established among the top universities in Asia, holding onto fourth position in the overall QS University Rankings: Asia. Like all of the top 10 listed here, it boasts a very strong global reputation among both academics and employers worldwide. Digging down into its particular social sciences strengths, the Rankings by Subject place SNU 28^th in the world for communication and media studies, and 30= both for sociology and for politics and international studies.

6. Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is sixth overall in the Asia ranking this year, and claims a particularly strong reputation in the fields of social sciences and management, arts and humanities and life sciences and medicine. Within social sciences, CUHK gets its strongest scores in the Rankings by Subject for communication and media studies (19=), education (25^th) and accounting and finance (27^th).

7. Kyoto University

Japan’s second strongest performer, Kyoto University stands at 12^th in the overall QS University Rankings: Asia, having just slipped out of the top 10 this year. While weaker scores in the other indicators give it a lower overall position, Kyoto is actually rated fourth among top universities in Asia by academics. In the field of social sciences, the QS World University Rankings by Subject highlight its strongest areas as politics and international studies (23^rd in the world) and economics (42=).

8. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Last year’s leader of the Asian ranking, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is now in fifth place overall. As might be expected, it gets very strong ratings in the science and engineering categories, but is also very highly esteemed in the social sciences and management field. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject, its social science strengths include statistics (15^th in the world), accounting and finance (19^th) and economics (30^th).

9. Tsinghua University

China’s Tsinghua University is rated within the Asian top 10 for all five subject areas assessed, coming out in fifth place overall in the academic reputation survey. It’s also rated fourth among top universities in Asia by surveyed employers, but lower scores on other indicators mean it doesn’t appear until 14^th in the overall Asian ranking. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject, Tsinghua’s strongest social sciences performances are in statistics (20^th), economics (37^th) and politics (41^st).

10. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Finally, the top 10 closes as it began, with a Singaporean university. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has been following hot on the heels of NUS, both having made rapid progress in the international and regional rankings. This year it climbs three places to 7^th in the overall QS University Rankings: Asia, and gets a top-20 rating from academics in all five subject areas. Based on the Rankings by Subject, its strongest social sciences area is communication and media studies, for which it ranks 6^th in the world (three places above NUS), followed by education (14^th) and accounting and finance (28=).

Top universities in Asia for social sciences and management, 2014

About the QS University Rankings: Asia

Published annually since 2009, the QS University Rankings: Asia ranks the top 300 universities in Asia. The ranking is based on nine indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, research papers per faculty member, citations per paper, international diversity of faculty, international diversity of students, inbound student exchange and outbound student exchange. The top universities in Asia for social sciences and management, listed above, are identified based on analysis of the academic reputation survey. 

Image credits: Fran C. Muller / Shutterstock.com (University of Tokyo), e X p o s e / Shutterstock.com (NTU)