Best Universities for Genetics in the UK 2027
The University of Exeter ranks first for genetics in 2027 with a score of 70, six points clear of Swansea University and the University of East Anglia, which share second place on 64. The University of York is third with 51, one point ahead of the University of Glasgow in fourth. The Unifresher ranking compares 15 universities with complete subject-level results across eight measures.
Genetics is the study of genes and inheritance, from how DNA is copied and switched on to how genetic variation shapes health, disease and evolution. Degrees are lab-heavy, and modern courses also teach genomics, statistics and bioinformatics, because much of the subject now runs on sequence data. Unifresher sets course results alongside the cost and quality of student life in each city.
Why this ranking is student-first: genetics degrees involve long lab sessions and, on many courses, an extra placement year or integrated master's, so you may live in the same city for four years. Teaching and support matter, but so do rent, safety and whether you enjoy living there. This ranking brings both sides into one score.
Top universities for genetics in 2027
Exeter leads with 100% teaching quality, the only perfect score in the table, plus 96% academic support. Swansea and UEA share second on 64: Swansea has the best sustainability score at 69.3, and UEA matches Exeter's 96% support. York is third with 88% teaching and 90% support.
University of Exeter
Exeter
The only perfect teaching score in the table, with 96% academic support and 79% satisfaction, the joint highest.
Swansea University
Swansea
Joint second, with the top sustainability score in the table and the lowest cost index in the top four at 64.
University of East Anglia
Norwich
Joint second, matching Exeter's 96% academic support, with 79% satisfaction and the strongest safety index in the top four.
University of York
York
Third overall, with 90% academic support and a Royal Society of Biology accredited Genetics BSc.
How the genetics ranking works
Eight measures make up the final score
Each university is ranked on eight measures, and those ranks are added together to give the overall score. Higher totals rank more strongly. Cost of living is treated as an affordability measure, so a lower cost index earns the stronger position.
Genetics University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 15 ranked universities. The wider table also shows the safety, cost, social-life and sustainability measures that feed into the score.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Safety index | Cost index | Social life | Sustainability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Exeter Exeter | £27,000 | 79% | 100% | 96% | 66.71 | 67 | 78 | 61.2 | 70 |
| 2 | Swansea University Swansea | £27,000 | 79% | 93% | 87% | 65.67 | 64 | 78 | 69.3 | 64 |
| 2 | University of East Anglia Norwich | £27,000 | 79% | 91% | 96% | 73.94 | 67 | 79 | 51.8 | 64 |
| 3 | University of York York | £27,000 | 77% | 88% | 90% | 72.87 | 73 | 78 | 50.3 | 51 |
| 4 | University of Glasgow Glasgow | £26,000 | 75% | 94% | 95% | 54.76 | 69 | 82 | 45.7 | 50 |
| 5 | King's College London London | £30,000 | 67% | 91% | 95% | 44.41 | 91 | 78 | 65.2 | 46 |
| 6 | University of Leeds Leeds | £27,000 | 74% | 79% | 83% | 54.87 | 68 | 84 | 55.4 | 45 |
| 7 | Oxford Brookes University Oxford | £25,000 | 74% | 92% | 94% | 63.00 | 80 | 75 | 56.8 | 44 |
| 7 | Royal Holloway, University of London Egham | £25,500 | 74% | 90% | 88% | 100.00 | 74 | 74 | 50.3 | 44 |
| 8 | University of Edinburgh Edinburgh | £28,000 | 74% | 82% | 93% | 69.54 | 75 | 81 | 43.2 | 43 |
| 8 | University of Leicester Leicester | £26,500 | 73% | 90% | 95% | 53.65 | 68 | 77 | 50.2 | 43 |
| 8 | University of Manchester Manchester | £28,000 | 70% | 83% | 81% | 44.11 | 69 | 85 | 59.8 | 43 |
| 9 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield | £25,000 | 74% | 79% | 90% | 35.54 | 63 | 75 | 57.0 | 38 |
| 10 | Queen Mary University of London London | £30,000 | 69% | 84% | 88% | 44.41 | 91 | 79 | 54.5 | 35 |
| 11 | University of Sussex Brighton | £26,000 | 77% | 77% | 82% | 60.55 | 79 | 79 | 47.1 | 31 |
What the genetics ranking shows
University of Exeter ranks first
University of Exeter leads with a score of 70, 6 points clear of second place.
King's College London and Queen Mary University of London
King's College London and Queen Mary University of London share the highest graduate-earnings figure at £30,000.
University of Exeter, Swansea University and University of East Anglia
University of Exeter, Swansea University and University of East Anglia share the strongest student-satisfaction result at 79%.
University of Exeter
University of Exeter is the only ranked university with 100% teaching quality.
University of Exeter and University of East Anglia
University of Exeter and University of East Anglia all reach 96% for academic support.
University of Huddersfield
University of Huddersfield has the lowest cost-of-living index in the table at 63.
What this ranking tells you about studying genetics
Genetics is offered in several forms. Some universities run a degree called genetics, others teach it through molecular biology and genetics, and some build it into a broader biological sciences degree with genetics pathways. The ranking compares teaching, support, satisfaction, graduate earnings and the living side of university. All four of the top universities report the same £27,000 graduate earnings figure, which is also the median for the table, so the difference at the top comes from the course experience and the city.
Exeter leads on teaching and support
The University of Exeter scores 70 and has the only 100% teaching quality result in the table. Exeter does not run a degree titled genetics. Its genetics teaching sits within the BSc Biological Sciences at the Streatham Campus, where Genetics is a compulsory first-year module and later options include Molecular Biology of the Gene, Genomics and Introductory Bioinformatics, and Medical Genetics. Students can work towards a named specialism, including Molecular and Cellular Biology, through their module choices in the second and final years.
Exeter lists next-generation DNA sequencing and mass spectrometry facilities among its resources, alongside teaching laboratories. There is a four-year version with a professional placement year and another with study abroad. The typical offer is ABB, including Biology and another science.
In the data, Exeter pairs perfect teaching with 96% academic support, joint highest with UEA, and 79% satisfaction, which it shares with Swansea and UEA. Its £27,000 earnings figure matches the median, and its cost index of 67 sits in the middle of the table. It also has a sustainability score of 61.2, third behind Swansea and King's, and a safety index of 66.71. Exeter does not top every living measure, but it has no weak result, and that consistency is why it wins by six points.
Why Unifresher looks beyond graduate pay: the two universities with the highest earnings, King's College London and Queen Mary at £30,000, rank fifth and tenth. Their cost index of 91 and lower satisfaction results outweigh the earnings advantage.
Swansea and UEA share second place
Swansea University's Genetics BSc is a three-year course at Singleton Park Campus, listed among Swansea Medical School's undergraduate courses for 2027 entry. There are four-year versions with a year abroad or a year in industry, plus an integrated master's (MSci) with an extra research year. Swansea says it advocates for paid-only placements. Modules include Population Genomics and Clinical Applications, Human and Medical Genetics, and Genetics of Cancer, and students have access to the Medical School's research facilities and a high-performance computing facility for large-scale data analysis.
Swansea's 64 comes from the best sustainability score in the table at 69.3, 93% teaching quality and 79% satisfaction. Its cost index of 64 is the lowest in the top four. Academic support, at 87%, is its weakest course measure.
The University of East Anglia runs a BSc Molecular Biology and Genetics, with a three-year version and four-year options with a placement year or a year abroad. Year one covers the foundations of biology, including molecular biology and genetics, plus applied mathematics and statistics. Final-year students take Bioinformatics and Genomics and complete an independent research project, which can be led by staff at the School of Biological Sciences or at other institutes on the Norwich Research Park, such as the John Innes Centre and the Earlham Institute.
UEA also scores 64, with 96% academic support, 91% teaching and 79% satisfaction. Its safety index of 73.94 is the highest in the top four, and its social-life score of 79 is the best in the leading group.
York is third with an accredited Genetics BSc
The University of York's BSc (Hons) Genetics is a three-year course, and it is the only course in the top four whose page states Royal Society of Biology accreditation. York says graduates meet part of the requirements for chartered biologist (CBiol) status. Students can apply for a year in industry or spend time studying abroad, and York also runs a separate four-year MBiol in Genetics. Teaching labs cover techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, cell culture and flow cytometry, and the final year includes a core research project.
York scores 51, with 90% academic support, 88% teaching and 77% satisfaction. Its cost index of 73 is the highest in the top four, which pulls its total down. The University of Glasgow is only one point behind in fourth, with 94% teaching and 95% support.
Higher earnings do not guarantee a high rank
King's College London and Queen Mary University of London share the highest graduate earnings figure in the table at £30,000, £3,000 above the median. Neither reaches the top four. King's is fifth on 46, held back by the joint-highest cost index at 91 and the lowest satisfaction in the table at 67%. Queen Mary, with the same cost index, is tenth on 35.
The University of Huddersfield shows the other side of the trade-off. It has the lowest cost index in the table at 63, but £25,000 graduate earnings, the joint lowest with Oxford Brookes, and a safety index of 35.54 leave it ninth. The University of Manchester has the best social-life score at 85 and £28,000 earnings, but the lowest academic support result at 81% leaves it in a three-way tie for eighth.
Royal Holloway, University of London has the highest safety index in the table at 100, and Oxford Brookes has 94% academic support, yet both share seventh on 44. Their cost indexes of 74 and 80 are among the highest outside London, which shows how much affordability can move a university down the table.
Royal Society of Biology accreditation
Accreditation from the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) is one way to check a course against an external standard. The RSB says accredited degrees meet a defined set of criteria and support skills and education in the biosciences. Among the top four, York's Genetics BSc states RSB accreditation, and York says graduates meet part of the requirements for chartered biologist status.
The Exeter, Swansea and UEA course pages we checked do not mention RSB accreditation. That does not mean the courses are weaker, but if accreditation matters to you, ask the university directly. If you are comparing broader options, the biology ranking covers many related degrees.
Entry requirements and subject choices
Genetics degrees expect a strong science base, and Biology is usually required. For 2027 entry, Exeter asks for ABB including Biology and another science, UEA asks for ABB including Biology or Human Biology, and York asks for AAB including Biology and a second science. Swansea lists a typical offer of AAB to BCC.
The second science does not always have to be Chemistry: York's accepted list includes Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. Contextual offers are lower at several universities, such as BBC at Exeter and UEA. Swansea also runs foundation-year versions with a typical offer of CCC to CCD.
Placement years and study abroad
Each of the top four offers a way to extend the degree. Exeter has a professional placement year, usually in biological research, analysis or consultancy. Swansea and York both offer a year in industry, and York says its Placements Manager supports students from the start. UEA has a placement-year version of its course.
A placement adds a year, but it gives you lab or industry experience before you graduate, which can help when applying for research and technician roles. All four also offer a study abroad option. Check whether the placement is paid, who helps you find it, and whether you need to meet a grade threshold to stay on the placement route.
Genetics, molecular biology or biological sciences?
Course titles vary more than the content does. A named genetics degree, like York's or Swansea's, gives genetics modules from the first year. A molecular biology and genetics degree, like UEA's, starts broader and narrows as you go. A biological sciences degree, like Exeter's, lets you build a genetics-heavy programme through module choices.
Look at the final-year modules to see how much genetics you will actually study, and whether there is a research project. If you are more interested in the chemistry of cells, compare the biochemistry ranking as well.
Lab skills, data and research projects
Practical work is central to a genetics degree. York's teaching labs cover techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, cell culture and flow cytometry. Exeter's first-year Genetics module includes lab sessions in core molecular biology techniques and introduces modern DNA sequencing methods.
Data skills matter just as much. Exeter, Swansea and UEA all include bioinformatics modules, and UEA builds applied mathematics and statistics into the first year. Swansea gives students access to a high-performance computing facility for large-scale data analysis.
The final-year research project is often the most important part of the degree for anyone considering a PhD or a research job. York and UEA make it a core part of the final year, and Swansea offers a 40-credit capstone project. At UEA, projects can be led by staff at Norwich Research Park institutes as well as the School of Biological Sciences. Ask at open days what kinds of projects recent students have done, and whether they were lab-based, computational or a mix.
Career routes after a genetics degree
The National Careers Service says geneticists need a life science degree or master's, and that employers may expect a PhD. Graduates can also apply to the NHS Scientist Training Programme and specialise in genomics. It lists related routes including bioinformatics, genetic counselling, forensic science and university lecturing.
Not every graduate stays in the lab. York lists careers in research and development, laboratory and data roles, medical writing and business development. Swansea points to the pharmaceutical sector, regulation, teaching, and graduate-entry medicine or law after further study.
Reading the graduate earnings figures
Earnings in this ranking come from the Graduate Outcomes survey, about 15 months after graduation. Some graduates are still in further study at that point, which can hold early figures down. The table runs from £25,000 to £30,000, a narrow range, and the four universities in the top three places all sit at the £27,000 median.
The National Careers Service puts geneticist starting salaries at about £35,000, rising to about £58,000 with experience, but that is for specialist roles that usually follow further study. Treat the earnings column as a comparison between universities rather than a forecast of your own pay.
Living costs in the top cities
The cost index in this table runs from 63 in Huddersfield to 91 in London. Swansea is the cheapest of the top four at 64, Exeter and Norwich both sit at 67, and York is at 73. On a four-year course with a placement or integrated master's, small differences in rent add up.
Use our guide to student accommodation costs to compare halls and private rents before you choose.
How to use the ranking when choosing a genetics degree
Named degree or pathway?
Decide whether you want genetics from day one or a broader biology degree with genetics options.
Ask about the RSB
Check whether the course is accredited by the Royal Society of Biology if a recognised professional route matters to you.
Placement or master's year
Decide whether a year in industry or an integrated master's suits your plans, and budget for the extra year.
Weigh up the city
Use the cost, safety and social-life measures to find a place you can afford for three or four years.
Related Unifresher rankings and student guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for genetics in the UK in 2027?
University of Exeter ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher genetics ranking with an overall score of 70. Swansea University and University of East Anglia share second place with 64. University of York is third with 51.
How many universities are included in the genetics ranking?
The published 2027 ranking compares 15 universities with complete subject-level results. Several universities share positions, so the ranking runs from first to 11th while containing 15 institutions.
What graduate earnings are shown for genetics?
The graduate-earnings figures range from £25,000 to £30,000, with a median of £27,000 across the 15 ranked universities. King's College London and Queen Mary University of London share the highest figure. These are comparative graduate outcomes, not guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
The Graduate Outcomes survey collects data about 15 months after students finish their course, so the earnings figures describe that point in a career rather than long-term pay.
What A levels do I need for a genetics degree?
Biology is usually required, often with a second science. For 2027 entry, York asks for AAB including Biology and a second science, Exeter asks for ABB including Biology and another science, and UEA asks for ABB including Biology or Human Biology. Swansea lists a typical offer of AAB to BCC. Contextual and foundation-year routes are available at some universities.
Is a genetics degree accredited?
Some are. The Royal Society of Biology accredits bioscience degrees that meet its criteria. Among the top four in this ranking, York's Genetics BSc states RSB accreditation, and York says graduates meet part of the requirements for chartered biologist status. Check each course page, as accreditation is listed by course rather than by university.
Can I do a placement year on a genetics degree?
Yes, at many universities. Exeter, Swansea, UEA and York all offer a four-year version with a placement or year in industry. At these universities the placement route is a separate four-year version, so you can choose the three-year degree instead. Ask how placements are found and whether they are paid.
What is the difference between genetics and biology?
Biology covers the whole of life science, from ecology to cell biology. Genetics focuses on genes, inheritance, genomics and how genetic variation affects health and evolution. Some universities, such as Exeter, teach genetics through a biological sciences degree with genetics modules, while others, such as York and Swansea, offer a named genetics degree.
What jobs can you get with a genetics degree?
Graduates go into research, laboratory and data roles, the pharmaceutical industry, regulation, science communication and teaching. The National Careers Service says geneticists may need a master's or PhD, and graduates can apply to the NHS Scientist Training Programme to specialise in genomics. Others use the degree for graduate-entry medicine or law.
Should I choose a BSc or an integrated master's in genetics?
An integrated master's, such as Swansea's MSci or York's MBiol, adds a research-focused year. The National Careers Service notes these courses can lead straight into a PhD. A BSc is shorter and cheaper, and you can still take a separate master's later. Choose the master's route if you are set on research.
Genetics course and careers information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for wider ranking context.
- Graduate Outcomes survey (HESA) for the 15-month graduate survey point.
- University of Exeter: BSc Biological Sciences for genetics modules, specialisms, facilities, placement options and entry requirements.
- Swansea University: Genetics BSc (Hons) / MSci (Hons) for course options, modules, facilities, placements and graduate destinations.
- University of East Anglia: BSc Molecular Biology and Genetics for course structure, the final-year research project and entry requirements.
- University of York: BSc (Hons) Genetics for Royal Society of Biology accreditation, placements, lab techniques and entry requirements.
- Royal Society of Biology: Degree Accreditation for what degree accreditation means.
- National Careers Service: Geneticist for entry routes, the NHS Scientist Training Programme and typical salaries.
