The Courtauld Instituteis theworld’stop institutionfor the study ofHistory of Art, according to theQS World University Rankings 2026 published today.
The Courtauld secured the number one spot out offiftyinstitutions worldwide.This outstanding achievementreflectsthe Courtauld’slong-standingposition as a leading global centre for the visual arts, with an unwavering commitment to delivering academic excellenceand acutting-edgecurriculum.
The Courtauld, founded in 1932 by philanthropist and collector Samuel Courtauld,is an internationally renowned centre for the teaching and research of art history,conservationand curation, and is home to one of the world’s greatest art collections.
The QS World University Rankings serve as a highly regarded source of comparative data on university performance, evaluating institutions on five indicators: academic and employer reputation, research citations per paper, H-index, and international research network.
Thenumber oneworldranking followsthe announcement ofthe Courtauld’s plan to create a newstate-of-the-artcampus at Somerset House in London, set to open in 2029. This major milestone in the Courtauld’s history will see a once-in-a-generation transformation and expansion of its historic Grade I listed buildingin the North Wing of Somerset House, includingflexible, modern teaching spaces, a new lecture theatre, and a spectacular library within Somerset House’s historic subterranean vaults.The new campus will open directly onto the Strand, connecting the Courtauld to an exciting new cultural and intellectual quarter in the heart of the city, alongside its partner King’s College London.
The development comes at a time when the Courtauld is expanding into new areas of teaching and research, increasing its focus on global geographies such as the Americas, the Africandiasporaand the arts of Asia. The Courtauld has also recently launched a series of new MA programmes, including an MAArtBusiness andMACurating, as itseeksto meet the evolving needs of students and the professional art world.
The Courtauldalsoannounced a commitment to work with national education and philanthropic partners to broaden access to art history for secondary school children in the UK in the lead-up to the opening of the new campus,enrichingthe Courtauld’s existing work in broadening access to its collection and teaching for young people.
The new campus project is made possible through the recent visionary gift from the Reuben Foundation and the generous long-standing support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional transformational support is provided by the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, the Clore Duffield Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Julia Rausing Trust, Rothschild Foundation, Georgia and David Winter and the Wolfson Foundation. The Courtauld is most grateful to these foundational supporters, alongside others who have already committed to the redevelopment of our home at Somerset House.
Professor Mark Hallett, Märit Rausing Director of the Courtauld, said: “This ranking by QS is a testament to the dedication, excellence, and enthusiasm of our faculty, staff and students and the extraordinary impact the Courtauld has on the wider arts and culture sector. As the Courtauld approaches its centenary, we are continuing to push the boundaries of research and teaching and are deeply committed to expanding access to art history across the UK and the world, building on Samuel Courtauld’s founding mission of ‘art for all’”.
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