The humanities are part of the liberal arts. They examine human culture, ideas, expression, and societies through analysis, interpretation, and critical thinking. Common humanities disciplines include art history, classics, history, languages, literature, music, philosophy, and religious studies.
A humanities degree can lead to careers in writing and publishing, museums and cultural organizations, education, government and diplomacy, communications, and related fields. Below are top universities with strong humanities offerings.
Top Humanities Schools in the World
1. University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate university in Oxford, England. There is no known foundation date, but teaching existed there by 1096. Oxford does not have a single central campus; its colleges, departments, and other facilities are spread across the city.
Oxford’s Humanities Division is one of the university’s four academic divisions. It brings together nine faculties and the Ruskin School of Art. The faculties are Classics; English Language and Literature; History; Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics; Medieval and Modern Languages; Music; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Philosophy; and Theology and Religion.
Notable Oxford humanities alumni include playwright and poet Oscar Wilde, who studied classics at Magdalen College, and writer and campaigner Vera Brittain, who studied at Somerville College.
2. Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.
Harvard’s Division of Arts and Humanities is one of four academic divisions in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. It comprises 15 departments, six interdisciplinary committees, multiple secondary fields, and several centers and interdisciplinary initiatives. Its departments and programs support undergraduate and graduate study, including master’s and doctoral degrees in selected fields.
Harvard- and Radcliffe-affiliated alumni in the arts and humanities include poet T. S. Eliot, filmmaker Damien Chazelle, and author and activist Helen Keller, who graduated from Radcliffe College in 1904.
3. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a collegiate university in Cambridge, England, whose history dates to 1209. It has 31 Colleges and six academic Schools, and its academic structure includes more than 150 faculties, departments, and other institutions.
Cambridge’s School of Arts and Humanities comprises eight faculties, the University Language Centre, and several interdisciplinary research centers. It supports undergraduate and graduate teaching and supervision across subjects ranging from architecture and history of art to philosophy.
Notable Cambridge alumni in the arts and humanities include illustrator and children’s author Quentin Blake, novelist Zadie Smith, and actor Ian McKellen.
4. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is a public research university founded in 1868. Its Arts and Humanities Division is part of the College of Letters and Science and spans 19 departments, with nearly 30 undergraduate majors in areas such as languages, literature, philosophy, and the visual and performing arts. The division also offers graduate programs, including master’s and PhD options in selected disciplines.
Notable arts and humanities alumni include novelist and poet Robert Penn Warren, who earned a master’s degree at Berkeley, and musicologist Gary Tomlinson, who completed a Berkeley PhD.
5. Yale University
Yale University is a private Ivy League university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School, renamed Yale College in 1718, and renamed Yale University in 1887.
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences organizes its departments and programs into Humanities, Social Science, and Science divisions. The Division of Humanities has more than 20 units, including East Asian Languages and Literatures, Film and Media Studies, History of Art, Religious Studies, and Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies. Yale offers undergraduate and graduate study, including master’s and doctoral programs in humanities fields.
6. Stanford University
Stanford University is a private research university in California. Founded in 1885 by Leland and Jane Stanford, it welcomed its first students in 1891.
The School of Humanities and Sciences is Stanford’s largest school and the foundation of its liberal arts education. It currently has 24 departments and 25 interdisciplinary programs, supporting undergraduate majors and minors, honors and joint majors, and master’s and doctoral degrees.
7. University of Amsterdam
Situated in Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) traces its origins to the Athenaeum Illustre, founded in 1632. The university has four city campuses: the University Quarter, Roeterseiland, Amsterdam Science Park, and Amsterdam UMC.
UvA’s Faculty of Humanities offers 10 English-taught bachelor’s programs. Its Graduate School of Humanities offers master’s programs across humanities disciplines, and the faculty also hosts PhD research through its research schools. In the Times Higher Education 2026 Arts and Humanities ranking, UvA is 28th worldwide.
We hope this article on the best humanities schools in the world was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students
