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Rankings: The 108 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2022/2023

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Rankings: The 108 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2022/2023

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.

Featured universities:
Newcastle University Business School
Newcastle University Business School
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
33 study programmes
Falmouth University
Falmouth University
Falmouth, United Kingdom
75 study programmes

Top ranked universities in the United Kingdom

University QS Ranking 2022 THE Ranking 2022 ARWU Ranking 2021
University of Oxford 2 1 7
University of Cambridge 3 5 3
Imperial College London 7 12 25
University College London 8 18 17
University of Edinburgh 16 30 38
University of Manchester 27 50 35
King's College London 35 35 47
London School of Economics and Political Science 49 27 151
University of Warwick 61 78 101
University of Bristol 62 92 78
University of Glasgow 73 86 151
University of Southampton 77 124 151
Durham University 82 162 301
University of Birmingham 90 105 101
University of St Andrews 91 201 301
University of Leeds 92 127 101
University of Sheffield 95 110 101
University of Nottingham 103 141 101
Queen Mary University of London 117 117 201
Lancaster University 132 122 301
Newcastle University 134 146 201
University of Exeter 149 143 151
Cardiff University 151 189 151
University of York 151 169 401
University of Bath 166 201 301
University of Liverpool 189 178 101
University of Reading 202 201 301
University of Aberdeen 205 158 201
Queen's University Belfast 216 201 401
University of Sussex 226 151 151
Loughborough University 231 351 501
University of Leicester 236 185 301
Heriot-Watt University 270 501 801
University of Surrey 272 201 301
University of Strathclyde 302 401 401
University of East Anglia 307 182 201
University of Dundee 322 201 301
City, University of London 330 351 –
Birkbeck, University of London 332 351 –
Royal Holloway, University of London 334 351 801
Brunel University London 351 351 501
University of Kent 383 351 501
SOAS University of London 391 401 –
Oxford Brookes University 429 601 –
University of Essex 439 301 401
Swansea University 440 251 401
Goldsmiths, University of London 461 401 –
University of Stirling 471 301 801
Aston University 485 401 701
Aberystwyth University 541 501 901
Coventry University 601 601 –
University of Plymouth 601 401 501
Bangor University 601 401 601
Kingston University 601 801 –
University of Hull 651 601 801
Ulster University 651 601 901
University of Portsmouth 651 501 501
University of Huddersfield 701 601 –
University of Bradford 701 601 –
Northumbria University 701 401 801
Middlesex University London 701 401 –
University of Westminster 701 801 –
University of Greenwich 751 601 801
Keele University 751 501 601
Bournemouth University 751 351 801
Robert Gordon University (RGU) 801 1001 –
University of Hertfordshire 801 601 901
University of Brighton 801 601 –
Manchester Metropolitan University 801 601 801
De Montfort University 801 601 –
University of Lincoln 801 501 901
Nottingham Trent University 801 501 601
Edinburgh Napier University 801 501 –
University of the West of England, Bristol 801 401 –
Liverpool John Moores University 801 401 601
University of Salford 801 801 –
University of East London 801 801 –
University of Central Lancashire 801 801 –
London South Bank University 801 801 –
Queen Margaret University 801 – –
London Metropolitan University 801 – –
University of Wolverhampton 1001 1001 –
Canterbury Christ Church University 1001 1001 –
University of Derby 1001 601 –
Glasgow Caledonian University 1001 601 –
Birmingham City University 1001 501 –
Sheffield Hallam University 1001 801 –
Leeds Beckett University 1001 801 –
University of Northampton 1001 – –
Harper Adams University 1001 – –
University of Chester – 1201 –
University of South Wales – 1001 –
Teesside University – 1001 –
Staffordshire University – 1001 –
Cardiff Metropolitan University – 1001 –
The Open University – 601 801
University of the West of Scotland – 501 –
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) – 401 –
Royal Veterinary College – 401 801
Anglia Ruskin University – 301 –
St George's, University of London – 201 601
Brighton and Sussex Medical School – 201 –
University of Roehampton – 801 –
University of Bedfordshire – 801 –
Edge Hill University – 801 –
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine – – 901
Cranfield University – – 801
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – – 201

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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