Rankings: The 111 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2025/2026

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.

All study programmes in the United Kingdom

Top ranked universities in the United Kingdom

University	QS Ranking 2025	THE Ranking 2025	ARWU Ranking 2024
Imperial College London	2	9	25
University of Oxford	3	1	6
University of Cambridge	5	5	4
University College London	9	22	16
University of Edinburgh	27	29	40
University of Manchester	34	53	52
King's College London	40	36	53
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	50	50	151
University of Bristol	54	78	97
University of Warwick	69	106	101
University of Glasgow	78	87	101
University of Birmingham	80	93	151
University of Southampton	80	115	151
University of Leeds	82	123	151
Durham University	89	172	301
University of St Andrews	104	185	301
University of Sheffield	105	98	151
University of Nottingham	108	136	101
Queen Mary University of London	120	141	201
Newcastle University	129	157	201
Lancaster University	141	168	301
University of Bath	150	251	501
University of Liverpool	165	160	101
University of Exeter	169	172	151
University of Reading	172	201	401
University of York	184	146	301
Cardiff University	186	201	151
Queen's University Belfast	206	201	301
Loughborough University	224	301	701
University of Aberdeen	236	201	201
University of Sussex	246	201	201
Heriot-Watt University	256	401	801
University of Strathclyde	281	351	501
University of Leicester	285	191	301
University of Surrey	285	201	401
Swansea University	298	301	501
University of East Anglia	332	251	201
Brunel University London	342	351	701
City, University of London	352	351	–
University of Kent	380	351	401
Birkbeck, University of London	408	301	801
Oxford Brookes University	416	601	–
University of Dundee	418	301	401
Aston University	423	351	–
University of Stirling	452	401	801
University of Essex	472	351	501
Bangor University	474	401	601
Royal Holloway, University of London	477	401	801
University of Huddersfield	501	501	–
SOAS University of London	508	401	–
University of Hull	516	401	701
Coventry University	526	601	–
University of Bradford	531	501	901
Northumbria University	535	401	701
Ulster University	559	601	701
Nottingham Trent University	592	601	801
Kingston University	601	801	–
Manchester Metropolitan University	601	601	601
University of Portsmouth	631	401	901
Aberystwyth University	661	601	–
University of Plymouth	661	501	701
Goldsmiths, University of London	681	501	–
University of Greenwich	691	501	701
De Montfort University	711	601	–
Middlesex University London	721	501	–
University of the West of England, Bristol	741	601	–
University of Westminster	741	801	–
Bournemouth University	771	401	–
Keele University	791	501	–
Edinburgh Napier University	801	501	–
Liverpool John Moores University	801	601	601
London South Bank University	801	601	–
University of Brighton	801	601	–
University of Hertfordshire	851	601	901
University of Lincoln	851	601	–
Robert Gordon University (RGU)	901	801	–
University of East London	901	1001	–
University of Salford	901	801	–
Queen Margaret University	951	–	–
University of Central Lancashire	951	801	901
Birmingham City University	1001	801	–
Canterbury Christ Church University	1001	1201	–
Glasgow Caledonian University	1001	801	–
Leeds Beckett University	1001	801	–
London Metropolitan University	1001	601	–
Sheffield Hallam University	1001	801	–
University of Northampton	1001	1201	–
University of Derby	1001	601	–
University of Wolverhampton	1001	801	–
Harper Adams University	1201	–	–
St George's, University of London	–	301	701
Anglia Ruskin University	–	501	–
Royal Veterinary College	–	501	801
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)	–	601	–
University of the West of Scotland	–	601	–
Teesside University	–	801	–
The Open University	–	801	701
University of Roehampton	–	801	–
Cardiff Metropolitan University	–	1001	–
Edge Hill University	–	1001	–
University of Bedfordshire	–	1001	–
University of Gloucestershire	–	1001	–
University of West London	–	1001	–
University of South Wales	–	1201	–
University of Sunderland	–	1201	–
University of Winchester	–	1201	–
University of Staffordshire	–	1201	–
University of Worcester	–	1201	–
University of Chester	–	1501	–
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	–	–	151
Cranfield University	–	–	801

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

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:

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