Are you starting to look for universities but don’t know where to start? Want to know where your university is on the rankings? Using information from The Complete University Guide, we’ve made a list of the top 100 universities in the UK, and what you can expect from them.
1. University of Oxford
This one is for all you brainboxes. Oxford is known for being one of the best universities in the UK, meaning it’s really difficult to get into. Any degree from here would be a valuable one.
2. University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge is another difficult but incredible university to get into. Similar to Oxford, the grade boundaries are usually A and A* grades. If you are aiming for one of these universities, then you as an undergrad can only apply to one, so it’s worth researching both of these.
3. London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
This university focuses on social sciences right in the capital city of London. This is the only university in the UK that focuses on social sciences, so if this is an area you want to get into, then this is the university for you.
4. University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews is a Scottish university with such a beautiful and old campus. This university has an 85% student satisfaction rate, so it is clearly a valued university within the student community.
5. Imperial College London
Another university in London is Imperial College London which focuses specifically on science, technology, engineering, medicine, and business. They had a 91% score for research quality, which just shows you how valued this university is.
6. Durham University
Durham University is another difficult university to get into, with similar grade boundaries to Oxford and Cambridge. This university has also been ranked among the world’s best universities, coming in 4th in the world top 10 for archeology, and fifth for theology and religion.
7. Loughborough University
Loughborough University is one of the best universities in the world for sports, health sciences, sports business and similar fields. Loughborough is a university that is always at the top of the ranking leagues, and it continues to carry this reputation as well.
8. University of Bath
The University on Bath primarily focuses on science, technology, business, engineering, humanities and social sciences. However, there are some subjects that they do not teach, such as English literature, biology, and others.
9. University College London
UCL is one of London’s most popular universities, being number 1 in education, second with architecture and 3rd with archeology globally. Their other subjects such as anthropology, geography, medicine, and many more also feature in the top 10 world rankings. To find out more about their rankings, read this article on their website.
10. University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a Russell Group university, like many others on the list. This means it’s a valued university with fantastic research facilities and reputation. This university’s best subjects are economics, finance, management, mathematics and statistics.
11. Lancaster University
Lancaster University is known for its research and teaching quality, so if you’re considering studying or researching this is definitely a university to consider. Their student satisfaction came in high at 79%, so it’s obvious this university is one you might want to apply for.
12. The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh is known for being a beautiful city, so imagine being able to study there. This university is great for research and quality of teaching, but also having loads of things to do in the city as well, which is perfect for student life.
13. University of Southampton
Southampton isn’t only good for the beach, as they have a fantastic university for students. One area that the University of Southampton specialise in is cyber security, which is becoming a more popular subject today. To read more about their rankings, read their article.
14. University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is in another great city with loads of things for students to do such as pubs, nightclubs, and other activities. The university itself is also a part of the Russell Group Universities, with a research quality of 86%
15. University of Bristol
Bristol city itself is known for being an artistic city whilst also being green-friendly. Their research quality is again extremely high, with a score of 88%, and they teach a wide variety of subjects for any student and their interests.
16. University of Leeds
The University of Leeds offer the biggest range of courses, with courses such as Asia Pacific Studies, Food Science, and Nutrition. They also offer a variety of language courses, such as Chinese, Arabic, and Russian. It would be a challenge to find a course here that wouldn’t interest you.
17. University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is the second biggest university in the UK, with over 44,000 students studying there in 2021. Student satisfaction scored highly at this university at 76%, meaning it is obviously loved by its students.
18. University of Surrey
The University of Surrey has a more modern-looking campus, and as they were only founded in 1966, they haven’t been around for as long as other universities. However, they have managed to climb up the ranks to reach the top 20 in the top 100 universities in the UK list!
19. University of Exeter
Exeter is a quieter part of the country, so it may not be as lively as a bigger city. However, Exeter is a great university, and has great research facilities for engineering, science, medicine, and more. The campus buildings are also beautiful.
20. University of York
York is another beautiful city within the country, so it’s no wonder so many students aim to go there. Their grade boundaries are on the higher end, with requirements such as AAA or A*AB for some subjects. It’s definitely worth going there though, as this Russell Group university has always been valued for its education.
21. University of Liverpool
Liverpool city itself is known for being musical, after all, The Beatles did come from there. The university has a wide range of courses that you can look through on their website, with grade boundaries around AAB.
22. King’s College London, University of London
This is another campus of the University of London, that is located right in the centre of the city. This college specialises in arts, humanities, business, law, natural sciences, mathematical sciences, and health sciences.
23. University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is another Russell Group University in Scotland. It is also one of the oldest universities in the UK, so as you can imagine it has a stunning campus. They don’t offer as many subjects as other universities, but they still offer unique courses such as tourism, and Celtic & Gaelic studies.
24. Queen’s University Belfast
The first Irish university on the list is Queen’s University in Belfast. This university has been ranked highly in numerous leagues, such as being joint first in 2022 for research intensity, and also having 13 subjects that are in the top 200 in the world. To read more about this, read their webpage.
25. University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham has ranked highly for subjects such as English language and literature, agriculture, education, sciences, and health courses such as veterinary medicine, pharmacology, and nursing. They have a student satisfaction score of 76%, which is really high amongst the rankings.
26. Cardiff University
Cardiff University a Russell Group university in Wales’ capital city. This university has ranked particularly high in subjects such as architecture, media studies, and psychology. Cardiff is also a fantastic city with loads going on, so it’s perfect for students
27. University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia (Or UEA as it is more commonly known) has scored highly in the rankings in areas such as research quality, where they received a percentage of 84%, and also student satisfaction, where they received 77%.
28. University of Sheffield
Here’s another Russell Group university! Students from over 140 countries attend this university, labelling itself as inclusive to everyone. They have a long list of courses on offer, so it’s worth checking them out!
29. University of Leicester + Harper Adams University
The University of Leicester doesn’t offer as many courses as other universities, but they have always ranked highly for what they do teach.
The Harper Adams University in Shropshire is in a quieter part of the country. This university specialises in agricultural studies and a few other specialised areas as well.
31. University of Reading
The University of Reading’s campus is by a beautiful park, making it a great place for students to study. The university itself is known for its subjects in climate science, business, agriculture, and food science, and you can see the full list of subjects they offer here.
32. University of Strathclyde
This Scottish University has Scotland’s largest faculty of engineering, meaning it’s a fantastic university for engineering-based subjects. They scored 99% in entry standards, which is a huge score!
33. Royal Holloway, University of London
Another University of London, Royal Holloway specialises in arts and humanities, social sciences, management, economics, and law. Their campus is in Egham, which is on the outskirts of London, and they also have a stunning campus building.
34. Heriot-Watt University
Going back to Scotland, Heriot-Watt is a university that has great research facilities in physics, mathematics, science, and architecture. They also offer a few unique courses as well, such as brewing and distilling, British Sign Language, and fashion.
35. Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London prides themselves on being a Russell Group university that offer numerous opportunities to their students. The fact that it’s in London also means that there will always be something for its students in the city to enjoy.
36. Newcastle University
Newcastle University is another Russell Group university, so they have great research facilities. They welcome students from over 140 countries, meaning it’s a great university for international students as well.
37. University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen is one of the oldest universities in the UK. This university also offers a range of courses, from animal behaviour to Gaelic studies, there’s something for every student.
38. University of the Arts London
If you hadn’t guessed it, the University of the Arts London focuses on performing arts, design, arts, and fashion. If you’re into the more creative-side of things, then this university is for you.
39. University of Essex
This university has four subjects which have scored top 10 in the UK for research quality, which are sociology, econometrics, politics and international studies, and linguistics and modern languages. They too offer some unique subjects, such as childhood studies and genetics.
40. City, University of London
This university in London specifically focuses on business and the professions, so most of their degrees are centred around those areas. They have a high research quality of 81%, and also received a high graduate prospects percentage of 78%.
41. University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is known for being a fantastic university for international students, and offer a variety of courses. They are also close to the beach, which is perfect for beach days for students.
42. Swansea University
Staying on the theme of the beach, Swansea University’s campus is only a 5 minute walk away from Swansea beach. This university has good departments and facilities for bio sciences and also engineering degrees, making it a great university to study at.
43. Northumbria University, Newcastle
Newcastle has been voted one of the best places in the UK for students, which is a bonus for anyone who studies at Northumbria University. The university itself offers over 170 undergraduate courses to choose from, so to have a look at some, go to their website.
44. Ulster University
Ulster University has multiple campuses across Northern Ireland, in areas such as Belfast, Derry, Coleraine, and Jordanstown. Each campus has something different to offer, such as the one in Coleraine being near the coast, and Belfast being in the city centre.
45. Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University has been ranked highly for its degrees in hospitality and leisure management, architecture, and business. This university is also quite new, being established as a university in 1992, but it’s still climbing its way in the ranks.
46. SOAS University of London
Going back to the University of London, SOAS focuses on studies of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. They offer some really interesting degrees, such as world philosophies and social anthropology.
47. University of Kent
The University of Kent has two campuses in the Kent area, one being in Canterbury, and the other one in Medway. The campus in Canterbury teaches degrees such as biology, cultural studies, and economics, whilst the campus in Medway focuses on areas such as music, business and social sciences.
48. Aston University, Birmingham
Aston University in Birmingham offers over 70 undergraduate courses, such as sciences, business, and and medicine. They scored high on student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects, all with a score of 76% overall!
49. University of Dundee
According to their website, the University of Dundee has been recognised for their excellent teaching in life sciences and medicine. They score high in many other university rankings as well, which you can read about on their website.
50. University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a Scottish University that has been praised for its degrees in business, management and marketing. Their beautiful campus is right next to a lake, making it a lovely spot for students to meet up.
51. University of Lincoln
The University of Lincoln’s famous courses are engineering, journalism, and animal behaviour. They scored a fantastic 78% in student satisfaction, so it’s a university worth checking out.
52. Keele University
Keele University offer a big variety of degrees, from areas such as law to film, media, and music. The average entry requirements are BBC, but you will have to check for the individual course you are interested in, as they do vary.
53. Aberystwyth University
Aberystwyth University is a stunning university where you can see the coastline of Aberystwyth. This university is also where the national library of Wales is, so I can guarantee you’ll find any book you’re looking for there.
54. Norwich University of the Arts
Moving onto another arts university, Norwich University of Arts has courses such as illustration, animation, and interior design. To see the full list of courses they offer, go to their website.
55. St George’s, University of London
The St George’s University of London is a unique one, since it is the only university in the UK that solely focuses on medicine, science, and health. They also scored a 95% on graduate prospects, which is one of the highest scores amongst the rankings.
56. Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University has been recognised for its teaching in art and design, fashion, and creative arts programs. However, they have a wide range of courses on offer that aren’t just creative, such as history and sciences.
57. Coventry University
Coventry University is recognised internationally for its degrees in health, peace building, and agroecology. Coventry also has a fantastic night life, which most students will enjoy if they choose to study there.
58. University of Hull
The University of Hull has great research facilities, especially in areas such as maritime history, nanotechnology, healthcare, and more. They scored 78% in both student satisfaction and research quality, which speaks for itself.
59. University of Huddersfield
According to their website, the University of Huddersfield has been a part of global research in areas such as biomedical sciences, arts and humanities, engineering and more. They have also won 18 National Teaching Fellowships since 2008, meaning that they have pretty good lecturers. All of this information can be seen on their website.
60. University of Chester
The University of Chester is a university that is known for offering great work experience placements during students’ degrees. This is always useful for students, as it is sometimes difficult to get work experience during the time you’re completing your degree.
61. Bristol, University of the West of England
The University of the West of England (or UWE) is another university based in Bristol. They received a high score of 78% for student satisfaction, meaning this university prioritises the welfare of their students.
62. Goldsmiths, University of London
Goldsmiths University offers degrees in areas such as the arts and humanities, entrepreneurial business and management, social sciences, and computing. They teach around 10,000-15,000 students, so there’s plenty room for more!
63. Bangor University
Bangor University has a stunning university campus in the idyllic North Wales. Despite it obviously not having the same night and city life as in bigger cities, North Wales is a beautiful part of the country where you’ll always find somewhere new to discover.
64. University of Plymouth + Edge Hill University
Going to another seaside university, the University of Plymouth is great for students who love the sea. They have a wide range of subject areas as well, so there’s something for every student.
Edge Hill University is in Ormskirk in Lancashire. Despite Ormskirk being a small town, there is a direct train to Liverpool, and the town has loads of cafes, bars, and nightclubs for students to enjoy.
66. Sheffield Hallam University
According to their website, Sheffield Hallam University has ranked within the top 20 for their teaching in building, hospitality, social policy, materials technology, tourism and events, food science, radiotherapy, and land and property management. To read more, go to their website!
67. Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University has scored highly in different areas of the rankings. They scored 78% in research quality, and then 75% in student satisfaction as well.
68. University of Hertfordshire
The University of Hertfordshire offer over 260 undergraduate courses for students, ranging from 2D digital animation to automotive technology. Hertfordshire is also a beautiful part of the country, which I’m sure any student will enjoy.
69. University of Portsmouth
Portsmouth is another beautiful city in England that is right next to the sea. They made the top 15 for personal tutoring in 2021 according to Student Crowd as well.
70. Falmouth University
Falmouth University has two campuses, one in Falmouth and the other in Penryn. The university offers loads of creative undergraduate degrees, such as textile design and music business.
71. Arts University Bournemouth
The Arts University of Bournemouth offers a wide range of creative subjects, ranging from modelmaking, makeup, and creative writing – there’s loads on offer.
72. Bournemouth University + Cardiff Metropolitan University
Staying in Bournemouth, Bournemouth University is another one that’s by the beach, which will suit more students than others. They scored a 72% for student satisfaction, which means the students enjoy this university and what it has to offer
Cardiff Metropolitan University is in the city centre of Wales, meaning it’s a fantastic university for night life, and things for students to do. The university itself also scored a 77% on student satisfaction, which is a really good score.
74. University of Bradford + University for the Creative Arts
The University of Bradford is in the not well known but vibrant city of Bradford. The university itself is known to be a great university for research and for welcoming students all over the world.
The University for the Creative Arts (or UCA) is an arts university in Farnham that offers a variety of creative courses in fields such as architecture, photography, and the performing arts. To see more courses, check out their website.
76. University of Chichester
The University of Chichester has scored highly in some rankings across the UK. On their website, you can see they ranked 7th for their teaching quality, which is an extremely high score.
77. University of West London
The University of West London claims to be a university that offers students fantastic links and work experience throughout their time at university. The fact that it is in London also means that the student life there will always be good.
78. University of Roehampton + Kingston University
The University of Roehampton has scored some high percentages in the rankings, such as a 78% in research quality and 77% in student satisfaction, making it a popular choice for a university.
Kingston University is (again) another London-based university. According to their website, their teaching in fashion, journalism, and publishing has been praised. They don’t offer as much courses as other universities, but the ones they do all sound extremely interesting.
80. Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University offers over 450 different undergraduate degree options on their website! However, they have been especially noticed for their research in sports and exercise science.
81. Brunel University London + University of Brighton
Brunel University London scored highly in research quality, where they received a score of 72%. They offer some interesting courses, such as criminology, digital design, and film and television studies.
Everyone knows Brighton for being a seaside town, which makes it fantastic for students. On their website, they say they are especially good for teaching medicine, nursing, engineering, and pharmacy.
83. University of Sunderland + University of Greenwich
The University of Sunderland scored extremely high in student satisfaction, with a score of 80%! They offer a wide variety of fields of study, from performing arts to computer science.
The University of Greenwich is based in London, meaning it’s fantastic for student life. They say on their website that students from over 140 countries attend this university, making it a great place for inclusivity.
85. University of Salford + University of Worcester
The University of Salford in Manchester is an arts university, meaning they teach degrees such as journalism, creative writing, fashion, and music. However, they do also teach politics and contemporary history, which is a bit out of the blue compared to their other degrees!
The University of Worcester has climbed through the rankings in recent years, as in 2019 they ranked 110th. They scored 79% in student satisfaction, meaning it’s a great uni to study at.
87. St Mary’s University, Twickenham
St Mary’s University, Twickenham is the last London-based university on the list (finally)! They offer some unique degrees, such as physiotherapy, strength and conditioning science, and liberal arts.
88. Glasgow Caledonian University
According to their website, Glasgow Caledonian University is fantastic for links within industries and prospects for graduates. They scored 74% for graduate prospects, which is a really high score.
89. Birmingham City University + Liverpool Hope University
Birmingham City University offers students over 320 graduate courses to choose from! This is anything from automotive engineering to black studies (criminal justice). I would list them all, but I would be here for a while.
Liverpool Hope University is in the fantastic city of Liverpool, which is always good for things to do. The university itself 76% for student satisfaction, which is extremely good.
91. University of Derby + University of South Wales
The University of Derby don’t offer as many courses as other universities, but they still have a wide range on offer, such as midwifery, fashion and textiles, law, and criminology.
The University of South Wales (or USW), has campuses in 3 different locations in Wales. They have 1 in Cardiff, 3 in Pontypridd, and 1 in Newport. All of these campuses are in great locations as well, meaning you’ll never miss out on anything no matter where you are.
93. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Source: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-there/Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh is a smaller university, with between 5,000 to 10,000 students, but they still scored a 79% for student satisfaction, so the students obviously love this university.
94. Teesside University, Middlesbrough
Teesside University in Middlesbrough offer degrees in animal sciences, geosciences, and police & investigation. This university was also named University of the year for social inclusion in the Sunday Times Good University Guide!
95. Royal Agricultural University + Bath Spa University
If you hadn’t guessed it, the Royal Agricultural University teaches agricultural studies in Gloucestershire. They teach real estate, countryside management, and bloodstock and performance horse management, so it’s perfect for anyone wanting to get into these precise careers.
Bath Spa University has scored highly in some areas of the rankings, such as 76% in student satisfaction and 68% in research quality. Bath is also a beautiful city which everyone falls in love with, so you’re bound to love living there if you’re a student.
97. Edinburgh Napier University
Edinburgh Napier University offer a small amount of degrees in areas such as tourism, computing, and the arts, but they have been praised for the teaching of these subjects.
98. University of Northampton
The University of Northampton have climbed the rankings in recent years, coming from 110th in 2020! They also received 80% in student satisfaction, which is again a high score.
99. University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is in a quieter part of the country, but still has loads of stuff for students to do. There are some unique courses on offer, such as BSL and deaf studies, and policing.
100. University of Suffolk
Despite the University of Suffolk being the last on the list, that doesn’t make it any less valuable. They offer over 100 undergraduate courses, and you can look through them on their website.
Congratulations on making it to the end of the list! Still not sure what university to pick? Read our fun article on the universities with the happiest students!
Last Updated on February 9, 2023
Published on August 20, 2022
