The top 110 best universities in the United Kingdom: 2025 rankings

Top ranked universities in the United Kingdom

University	QS Ranking 2026	THE Ranking 2025	ARWU Ranking 2024
Imperial College London	2	9	25
University of Oxford	4	1	6
University of Cambridge	6	5	4
University College London	9	22	16
King's College London	31	36	53
University of Edinburgh	34	29	40
University of Manchester	35	53	52
University of Bristol	51	78	97
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	56	50	151
University of Warwick	74	106	101
University of Birmingham	76	93	151
University of Glasgow	79	87	101
University of Leeds	86	123	151
University of Southampton	87	115	151
University of Sheffield	92	98	151
Durham University	94	172	301
University of Nottingham	97	136	101
Queen Mary University of London	110	141	201
University of St Andrews	113	185	301
University of Bath	132	251	501
Newcastle University	137	157	201
University of Liverpool	147	160	101
University of Exeter	155	172	151
Lancaster University	157	168	301
University of York	169	146	301
Cardiff University	181	201	151
University of Reading	194	201	401
Queen's University Belfast	199	201	301
Loughborough University	225	301	701
University of Strathclyde	251	351	501
University of Aberdeen	262	201	201
University of Surrey	262	201	401
University of Sussex	278	201	201
Heriot-Watt University	287	401	801
Swansea University	292	301	501
City St George’s, University of London	310	351	–
University of Leicester	326	191	301
Oxford Brookes University	374	601	–
University of East Anglia	381	251	201
Brunel University London	385	351	701
Birkbeck, University of London	388	301	801
Aston University	395	351	–
University of Kent	397	351	401
University of Dundee	428	301	401
University of Essex	456	351	501
Royal Holloway, University of London	461	401	801
SOAS University of London	511	401	–
University of Bradford	511	501	901
University of Stirling	517	401	801
University of Huddersfield	524	501	–
University of Hull	526	401	701
Northumbria University	550	401	701
Coventry University	558	601	–
Bangor University	566	401	601
Ulster University	609	601	701
Nottingham Trent University	609	601	801
University of Plymouth	613	501	701
University of Portsmouth	635	401	901
Manchester Metropolitan University	643	601	601
Kingston University	660	801	–
Goldsmiths, University of London	711	501	–
University of the West of England, Bristol	721	601	–
Aberystwyth University	741	601	–
Keele University	801	501	–
Middlesex University London	801	501	–
University of Brighton	801	601	–
University of Greenwich	801	501	701
University of Lincoln	801	601	–
University of Westminster	801	801	–
Bournemouth University	801	401	–
De Montfort University	801	601	–
Edinburgh Napier University	851	501	–
Liverpool John Moores University	851	601	601
London South Bank University	901	601	–
University of Hertfordshire	901	601	901
University of Salford	901	801	–
Robert Gordon University (RGU)	951	801	–
Birmingham City University	1001	801	–
Glasgow Caledonian University	1001	801	–
Leeds Beckett University	1001	801	–
University of East London	1001	1001	–
London Metropolitan University	1001	601	–
Sheffield Hallam University	1001	801	–
University of Central Lancashire	1001	801	901
University of Wolverhampton	1001	801	–
Queen Margaret University	1201	–	–
University of Northampton	1201	1201	–
Canterbury Christ Church University	1201	1201	–
University of Derby	1201	601	–
Harper Adams University	1401	–	–
University of West London	–	1001	–
University of South Wales	–	1201	–
Cranfield University	–	–	801
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	–	–	151
University of Sunderland	–	1201	–
University of Winchester	–	1201	–
University of Staffordshire	–	1201	–
University of Roehampton	–	801	–
University of Worcester	–	1201	–
The Open University	–	801	701
Teesside University	–	801	–
University of Chester	–	1501	–
University of Gloucestershire	–	1001	–
University of Bedfordshire	–	1001	–
Edge Hill University	–	1001	–
Cardiff Metropolitan University	–	1001	–
Anglia Ruskin University	–	501	–
University of the West of Scotland	–	601	–
Royal Veterinary College	–	501	801
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)	–	601	–

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.