Humanities is under the field of liberal arts. It is a discipline that requires analysis and critical thinking as it discusses not only human beings, but also their culture and the societies that they belong to. The study of humanities includes arts, history, languages, literature, and philosophy.

A degree in humanities is very useful as it can lead to a wide range of career options. Graduates in this field can choose to become an author, a museum curator, diplomat, teacher, public relations representative, and many more. Let us take a look at the best schools for humanities across the globe!

Which countries are the best for studying humanities?

When it comes to attaining a degree in the humanities, students are mostly interested in popular countries that are well-developed and have amazing educational levels, such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America. These two countries are known as the best because they offer great resources for students, and the universities that offer degrees in the humanities have the best teaching staff possible. We currently do not possess extensive information on this course, but if you are interested in following similar courses that would be a good fit for your future career, you can check all the available courses that are part of our website so that you can make a better-informed decision.

Top Humanities Schools in the World

1. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is a world-leading institute of higher education and a top school for humanities in the world. Established in 1096, it is considered an ancient university. It is located in England, specifically in the city of Oxford. In line with this, it is important to note that Oxford does not have the main campus. Its various buildings and facilities are spread out in the city center, making it a city university.

Furthermore, due to the fact that it is an esteemed institution, it is not surprising to know that it is a highly selective one. Moreover, it is the alma mater of several well-known individuals in the field of humanities such as poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, nurse, writer, socialist Vera Brittain, and philosopher Mary Beatrice Midgley.

At Oxford, the Humanities division has nine faculties: Faculty of Classics, Faculty of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Linguistics, Philology, and Phonetics, Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, Faculty of Music, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, and Faculty of Theology and Religion.

2. Harvard University

Harvard University is one of the world’s most famous institutions for tertiary education including humanities. It is an Ivy League university, meaning it is one of the United States’ most prestigious centers of learning. Additionally, it opened its doors to students in 1636.

Throughout the years, the number of Harvard graduates who have gone on to become respected persons in their field has grown. A few of these alumni include the author and political activist Helen Keller, poet and Nobel laureate in literature Thomas Stearns Eliot, award-winning film director and screenwriter Damien Sayre Chazelle, CEO of Boston Foundation M. Lee Pelton, and novelist Ursula K. Le Guin.

At Harvard, the Division of Arts and Humanities is under the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. It is comprised of fifteen departments and offers study programs for students across the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

3. University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a prominent center of learning in England and one of the best institutions for humanities in the world. Other than being known as a reputable university, it is also famed for being one of the oldest universities in the whole world. Furthermore, the institution has 31 colleges, six schools, and more than 150 faculties as well as departments that offer plenty of courses and programs for all prospective students.

On another note, lots of influential people in the field of humanities are Cambridge alumni just like philosopher and poet Muhammad Iqbal, illustrator and children’s writer Quentin Blake, novelist and essayist Zadie Adeline Smith, former journalist and film director Paul Greengrass, and actor Sir Ian Murray McKellen.

Cambridge’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences is one that consists of several institutions including the Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Education, Faculty of History, and a lot more. The school offers a variety of study options for tertiary students.

4. University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is one of the most excellent universities in the United States of America. Besides being known for providing students with high-quality education, it is also a leading university for humanities across the globe and is famed for its exceptional research centers and institutes.

Under Berkeley’s College of Letters and Science, the Arts and Humanities Division prides itself on its specialization in the areas of art, film, languages, literature, music, and philosophy. With that, the university is also noted for its extensive list of alumni who are now big names in the field of humanities such as Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and poet Robert Penn Warren, musicologist and cultural theorist Gary Alfred Tomlinson, and political advisor and activist Cecilia Muñoz.

5. Yale University

Another Ivy League university, Yale University is a private higher education institution and the world’s top school for humanities that began welcoming students in 1701. It is located in Connecticut’s coastal city of New Haven. Back then, it was formerly called the Collegiate School. Aside from being one of the United States’ oldest universities, it is also deemed one of the best worldwide.

The Division of Humanities is part of Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In the Division, there are loads of departments and programs to choose from such as East Asian Languages and Literatures, Film and Media Studies, History of Art, Religious Studies, and Theater and Performance Studies.

6. Stanford University

Stanford University is another top-ranking university for humanities in the United States and in the world. Other than this, it is also one of the country’s largest institutes of higher education. The private research university located in the vibrant state of California was founded in 1885 by former California Senator Leland Stanford along with his wife Jane. Six years later, the center of learning officially began to welcome students.

Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences has 23 departments and 25 interdisciplinary programs. Additionally, it is the institute’s biggest school.

7. University of Amsterdam

Situated in the Netherlands’ breathtaking city of Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a public research university that was established in 1632. UvA is among Europe’s top ten best universities as per the US News Best Global Universities and one of the best universities for humanities in the world. Additionally, it has four campuses: University Quarter, Roeterseiland Campus, Amsterdam Science Park, and Amsterdam UMC.

UvA’s Faculty of Humanities offers nine Bachelor’s programs that utilize English as the mode of instruction. It also offers several Master’s programs.

 

We hope that this article on Best Humanities Schools in the World was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students to know more about studying abroad!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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