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Rankings: The 105 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2021/2022

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Rankings: The 105 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2021/2022

The United Kingdom is famous for its universities: Every year, British institutions dominate the top places in international rankings. The best universities in the UK are also among the very best in the world: The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge usually secure the foremost ranks, regularly followed by Imperial College, UCL, the University of Edinburgh, and the London School of Economics. With such a remarkable track record of academic excellence it is no wonder that the UK attracts so many international students every year.

While going to the UK for your studies may be expensive - tuition fees are higher than anywhere else in Europe - it’s a decision that will almost certainly benefit your academic or professional career, especially if you get a degree from one of the top-ranking universities.

Top ranked universities in the United Kingdom

University QS Ranking 2020 THE Ranking 2020 ARWU Ranking 2019
University of Oxford 4 1 7
University of Cambridge 7 3 3
University College London 8 15 15
Imperial College London 9 10 23
University of Edinburgh 20 30 31
University of Manchester 27 55 33
King's College London 33 36 51
London School of Economics and Political Science 44 27 151
University of Bristol 49 87 64
University of Warwick 62 77 101
University of Glasgow 67 99 151
University of Sheffield 78 117 101
Durham University 78 133 201
University of Birmingham 81 112 101
University of Leeds 93 155 101
University of Nottingham 96 152 101
University of Southampton 97 122 101
University of St Andrews 100 198 301
Queen Mary University of London 126 110 151
Lancaster University 128 139 301
Newcastle University 146 201 201
University of York 148 128 301
Cardiff University 154 198 101
University of Exeter 163 146 151
University of Bath 172 251 401
Queen's University Belfast 173 201 301
University of Liverpool 181 165 101
University of Aberdeen 194 168 201
University of Reading 205 201 301
Loughborough University 222 351 701
University of Leicester 239 166 301
University of Sussex 246 146 151
University of Surrey 274 251 301
Royal Holloway, University of London 291 251 501
University of Strathclyde 296 401 601
University of Dundee 302 201 301
SOAS University of London 309 401 –
University of East Anglia 314 192 201
Heriot-Watt University 314 251 501
Birkbeck, University of London 328 351 901
City, University of London 349 401 901
Brunel University London 359 351 501
University of Kent 368 351 501
University of Essex 370 251 501
Oxford Brookes University 376 601 –
Goldsmiths, University of London 417 351 –
Aston University 442 501 –
Swansea University 462 251 401
University of Stirling 478 351 901
Aberystwyth University 484 401 801
Bangor University 521 401 601
Coventry University 531 601 –
Kingston University 591 801 –
University of Portsmouth 601 401 601
University of Bradford 601 801 –
Ulster University 601 601 –
Keele University 601 501 801
University of Westminster 651 601 –
Plymouth University 651 – 501
University of Hull 701 501 901
University of Huddersfield 701 601 –
University of Greenwich 701 601 –
Nottingham Trent University 701 601 –
Northumbria University 701 351 901
London South Bank University 701 1001 –
Bournemouth University 701 401 –
University of the West of England, Bristol 751 601 –
University of Hertfordshire 751 601 –
University of East London 751 801 –
Manchester Metropolitan University 751 601 801
London Metropolitan University 751 – –
University of Salford 801 801 –
University of Lincoln 801 601 –
University of Central Lancashire 801 801 –
University of Brighton 801 601 –
Robert Gordon University (RGU) 801 1001 –
Sheffield Hallam University 801 801 –
Middlesex University London 801 401 901
Liverpool John Moores University 801 401 701
Glasgow Caledonian University 801 601 –
Edinburgh Napier University 801 801 –
De Montfort University 801 601 –
Canterbury Christ Church University 801 1001 –
Birmingham City University 801 801 –
London Business School – – 801
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine – – 801
Royal Veterinary College – 401 701
The Open University – 501 701
St George's, University of London – 201 501
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – – 201
University of South Wales – 1001 –
University of Roehampton – 801 –
University of Plymouth – 501 –
University of Derby – 801 –
University of Chester – 1001 –
University of Bedfordshire – 801 –
Teesside University – 801 –
Staffordshire University – 801 –
Leeds Beckett University – 801 –
Edge Hill University – 1001 –
Cardiff Metropolitan University – 801 –
Brighton and Sussex Medical School – 251 –
Anglia Ruskin University – 301 –
University of Wolverhampton – 801 –
University of the West of Scotland – 501 –

Explained: How do the university rankings work?

The QS World University Rankings are among the most important, most-referenced rankings. The QS ranking relies heavily on its academic survey, asking thousands of academics worldwide about the reputation of universities.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (or the THE Rankings for short) compile a wide range of statistics. Equal weight is put on teaching quality, research excellence, and research impact through citations (meaning how often a university’s research is referenced elsewhere).

The Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (often just Shanghai Ranking, or ARWU) focuses on research output and quality, for example measured by the number of published and cited scientific papers and the number of staff or alumni winning the Nobel Prize or Fields Medal.

Study in the United Kingdom United Kingdom - Flag

The UK is Europe’s most popular country for international students. At more than 100 universities, you can choose from literally tens of thousands of study programmes. British universities enjoy a reputation for cutting-edge research and world-class education. And there are plenty of exciting career opportunities for international graduates.

Read more about studying in the United Kingdom

Find the right study programme for yourself:

Bachelors degrees in the United Kingdom
Masters degrees in the United Kingdom
PhD programmes in the United Kingdom

Relevant links

  • Studying abroad in the United Kingdom: Basic information for international students
  • Study programmes in the United Kingdom
  • Visit the website of the QS World University Rankings
  • Visit the website of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
  • Visit the website of the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities

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