Rankings: The 105 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2020/2021

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

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.