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Rankings: The 106 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2021/2022

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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 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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