Rankings: The 106 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 2021	THE Ranking 2021	ARWU Ranking 2020
University of Oxford	5	1	9
University of Cambridge	7	6	3
Imperial College London	8	11	25
University College London	10	16	16
University of Edinburgh	20	30	42
University of Manchester	27	51	36
King's College London	31	35	47
London School of Economics and Political Science	49	27	151
University of Bristol	58	91	64
University of Warwick	62	77	101
University of Glasgow	77	92	151
Durham University	86	149	201
University of Birmingham	87	107	101
University of Southampton	90	127	101
University of Leeds	91	160	101
University of Sheffield	93	121	101
University of St Andrews	96	201	301
University of Nottingham	99	158	101
Queen Mary University of London	114	110	201
Lancaster University	135	136	301
University of York	150	133	201
Newcastle University	152	178	201
Cardiff University	159	191	151
University of Exeter	164	174	151
University of Bath	173	201	301
University of Liverpool	181	163	101
University of Reading	205	201	201
University of Aberdeen	207	178	201
Queen's University Belfast	209	200	401
Loughborough University	226	351	501
University of Leicester	242	170	301
University of Sussex	246	160	151
University of Surrey	267	251	301
University of Strathclyde	300	401	401
Heriot-Watt University	301	351	701
Royal Holloway, University of London	308	301	701
University of Dundee	319	201	301
University of East Anglia	333	200	201
Birkbeck, University of London	344	351	901
SOAS University of London	346	501	–
City, University of London	350	351	701
Brunel University London	368	351	501
University of Kent	380	301	501
Oxford Brookes University	383	601	–
University of Essex	411	301	501
Goldsmiths, University of London	416	401	–
Swansea University	474	251	601
Aberystwyth University	485	401	901
University of Stirling	485	301	901
Aston University	511	401	701
Coventry University	541	601	901
Kingston University	581	801	–
University of Portsmouth	601	501	501
University of Bradford	601	601	–
Ulster University	601	601	–
University of Hull	601	501	701
Bangor University	601	401	701
University of Westminster	651	801	–
Northumbria University	651	351	901
University of Plymouth	651	401	501
University of Huddersfield	701	601	–
Keele University	701	501	601
University of Greenwich	701	601	801
Middlesex University London	701	401	–
Nottingham Trent University	751	601	701
Bournemouth University	751	401	–
London South Bank University	751	1001	–
University of Hertfordshire	801	801	801
Queen Margaret University	801	–	–
Manchester Metropolitan University	801	601	–
De Montfort University	801	601	–
University of Salford	801	801	–
Robert Gordon University (RGU)	801	1001	–
Liverpool John Moores University	801	401	701
London Metropolitan University	801	–	–
University of the West of England, Bristol	801	401	–
Birmingham City University	801	601	–
University of East London	801	801	–
Sheffield Hallam University	801	801	–
University of Lincoln	801	501	901
Glasgow Caledonian University	801	601	–
University of Brighton	801	601	–
Edinburgh Napier University	801	601	–
University of Central Lancashire	801	801	–
University of Derby	–	801	–
University of Chester	–	1001	–
University of Bedfordshire	–	801	–
The Open University	–	601	701
Teesside University	–	801	–
Staffordshire University	–	1001	–
St George's, University of London	–	201	501
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)	–	401	–
Royal Veterinary College	–	401	801
Leeds Beckett University	–	801	–
Edge Hill University	–	1001	–
University of Wolverhampton	–	801	–
University of the West of Scotland	–	501	–
University of South Wales	–	1001	–
University of Roehampton	–	801	–
Cardiff Metropolitan University	–	801	–
Canterbury Christ Church University	–	1001	–
Brighton and Sussex Medical School	–	251	–
Anglia Ruskin University	–	301	–
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	–	–	201
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine	–	–	801
London Business School	–	–	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.