Three subjects rank highly in the School for Business and Society: Complete University Guide 2027
Posted on Wednesday 10 June 2026
This week, we maintained our place among the UK’s most highly regarded institutions for the subjects of Social Work, Social Policy and Marketing. York ranked 4th in the UK for the study of Social Work, 8th in the UK for Social Policy and 13th in the UK for Marketing in the Complete University Guide 2027.
“We are really pleased with this fantastic result, which has been made possible by our hardworking colleagues in the teaching team and professional services, our 'SUPA' lived-experience group, and the local employers who deliver top-tier placement opportunities. It is really rewarding to guide our students as they develop the essential skills and confidence needed to thrive in their future careers”. Polly Sykes, Head of Social Work.
"This latest result confirms the University of York as one of the best places in the UK to study Social Policy. It reflects our teaching's academic rigour and its strong applied focus, and it recognises how much the Social Policy team (academics and professional services staff alike) are committed to supporting our students in their learning and in the development of key skills, in their preparation for the labour market, and in their ability to fully enjoy their time in York." Aniela Wenham and Enrico Reuter, Co-Heads of Social Policy
"This brilliant news mirrors the growing popularity of the BSc Marketing programme. We strive to offer students a rich curriculum where they can gain marketing knowledge while developing valuable academic skills and enhancing their employability prospects. Many thanks and congratulations to all academic and professional services staff for their passion and tireless dedication. Students are at the core of everything we do, and our high standing in rankings is a great source of motivation.” Pierre-Luc Emond, Programme Leader BSc Marketing
York’s overall position
The University of York ranked in the UK top 20 overall in the Complete University Guide 2027. The guide ranks 130 institutions across the UK.
In total, 12 subjects at York were ranked in the UK top 10:
- Iberian Languages - 4
- Social Work - 4
- Linguistics - 5
- Drama, Dance and Cinematics - 6
- English - 6
- French - 6
- Chemistry - 8
- History - 8
- Social Policy - 8
- Philosophy - 9
- History of Art, Architecture and Design - 10
- Nursing and Midwifery - 10
A further ten subjects appeared in the UK top 20.
About the Complete University Guide
Published annually, The Complete University Guide league tables rank the best universities in the UK. It covers 74 separate subject areas, as well as an overall institutional ranking. Universities and subjects are ranked on entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, graduate prospects, completion rates, student-staff ratio and spend on academic services and facilities.
The rankings are based on public domain data collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), the National Student Survey and the Research Excellence Framework 2021.