Best Universities for Performing Arts in the UK 2027
University of Lincoln tops our 2027 performing arts ranking with 132 points, achieving 98% on both teaching quality and academic support. University of Worcester and Northumbria University are joint second with 118 points each. Northumbria achieves 96% teaching quality and 93% academic support. We ranked 37 UK universities offering performing arts degrees across eight metrics: graduate earnings, teaching quality, student satisfaction, academic support, safety, cost of living, social life and sustainability.
Performing arts graduate earnings range from £17,000 (University of the West of Scotland) to £30,000 (University of Bristol, 8th). Solent University (14th) achieves 100% on both teaching quality and academic support. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (joint 11th) also achieves 100% on both metrics. University of Reading (17th) has the lowest teaching quality at 56% — the lowest in this field by a very large margin. Leeds Beckett University (24th) has the lowest academic support at 61%.
For how these universities compare across all subjects, see the Unifresher best universities overall ranking and our best universities for employability.
Performing Arts University Rankings 2027
| # | University | Grad Earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching Quality | Academic Support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Lincoln Lincoln |
£26,000 | 78% | 98% | 98% | 132 |
| 2 | University of Worcester Worcester |
£21,000 | 79% | 90% | 94% | 118 |
| 2 | Northumbria University, Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne |
£18,500 | 74% | 96% | 93% | 118 |
| 3 | University of the West of England, Bristol Bristol |
£23,500 | 74% | 91% | 97% | 117 |
| 3 | Falmouth University Falmouth |
£22,000 | 82% | 98% | 96% | 117 |
| 4 | Bath Spa University Bath |
£24,000 | 79% | 83% | 88% | 113 |
| 5 | University of Salford Salford |
£24,000 | 73% | 95% | 95% | 108 |
| 5 | University of Kent Canterbury |
£24,000 | 72% | 96% | 99% | 108 |
| 6 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham |
£25,000 | 76% | 90% | 93% | 106 |
| 6 | Arts University Bournemouth Bournemouth |
£25,000 | 83% | 94% | 87% | 106 |
| 7 | Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester |
£24,000 | 73% | 90% | 88% | 104 |
| 7 | University of York York |
£23,000 | 77% | 93% | 94% | 104 |
| 8 | University of Bristol Bristol |
£30,000 | 73% | 69% | 92% | 102 |
| 9 | University of Sunderland Sunderland |
£24,000 | 74% | 91% | 91% | 100 |
| 9 | University of Warwick Coventry |
£25,000 | 74% | 94% | 98% | 100 |
| 10 | Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury |
£22,000 | 73% | 88% | 91% | 98 |
| 11 | University of Leeds Leeds |
£25,000 | 74% | 88% | 88% | 96 |
| 11 | Lancaster University Lancaster |
£27,000 | 82% | 95% | 77% | 96 |
| 11 | Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Edinburgh |
£21,000 | 78% | 100% | 97% | 96 |
| 12 | University of South Wales Pontypridd |
£24,000 | 72% | 79% | 79% | 93 |
| 13 | University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham / Gloucester |
£26,000 | 76% | 86% | 78% | 91 |
| 13 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield |
£28,000 | 74% | 91% | 89% | 91 |
| 14 | Solent University Southampton |
£22,000 | 71% | 100% | 100% | 90 |
| 15 | University of West London London |
£18,500 | 72% | 92% | 95% | 89 |
| 16 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David Lampeter / Carmarthen / Swansea |
£21,500 | 79% | 85% | 85% | 87 |
| 17 | University of Reading Reading |
£26,500 | 74% | 56% | 67% | 84 |
| 18 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool |
£19,500 | 72% | 77% | 77% | 81 |
| 18 | Queen Mary University of London London |
£25,000 | 69% | 92% | 98% | 81 |
| 19 | University of the Arts London London |
£20,500 | 81% | 76% | 83% | 80 |
| 19 | University of Northampton Northampton |
£22,000 | 75% | 96% | 95% | 80 |
| 20 | University of Chester Chester |
£22,000 | 78% | 70% | 85% | 77 |
| 21 | Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield |
£24,000 | 73% | 72% | 72% | 76 |
| 22 | University of the West of Scotland Glasgow |
£17,000 | 73% | 90% | 98% | 73 |
| 23 | University of Sussex Brighton and Hove |
£19,500 | 77% | 85% | 81% | 72 |
| 24 | Leeds Beckett University Leeds |
£23,000 | 70% | 61% | 61% | 67 |
| 25 | University of Chichester Chichester |
£22,000 | 80% | 88% | 90% | 62 |
| 26 | Goldsmiths, University of London London |
£24,000 | 64% | 81% | 80% | 49 |
What the ranking tells you about studying performing arts
Performing arts degrees cover a wide range of disciplines including theatre, drama, dance, musical theatre, physical theatre, devised performance and performance studies. The degree can be purely practical (performance and production skills), purely academic (theatre studies, performance theory), or a combination. With 37 universities in this ranking, the variation in studio space, professional production infrastructure, industry professional links, casting connections and graduate outcomes is significant — and not fully captured by eight standard metrics. Course delivery scores are especially relevant for a practical degree where the quality of direction, choreography, music tuition and production feedback is central.
University of Reading at 17th: 56% teaching quality — the lowest in this field
University of Reading ranks 17th with 84 points and achieves 56% teaching quality and 67% academic support — both the lowest or joint-lowest in this ranking. The next-lowest teaching quality in this field is Leeds Beckett at 61% and Sheffield Hallam at 72%. Reading's performing arts provision sits within its Film, Theatre and Television department and has a mixed academic and practical focus. Reading ranks 17th rather than lower because its strong safety score, reasonable cost of living and above-average graduate earnings (£26,500) partially offset the course delivery data. For a practical discipline where the quality of directed production, rehearsal feedback and performance mentoring determines how much students develop, 56% teaching quality is the most significant number in this table for applicants considering Reading.
University of Bristol at 8th: highest earnings, lowest teaching quality in the top 10
University of Bristol ranks 8th with 102 points and produces performing arts graduates earning £30,000 — the highest in this ranking. Its teaching quality is 69% — the lowest in the top 10 by a substantial margin. Bristol's performing arts programme benefits from its prestigious overall university profile, strong alumni networks and Bristol's active theatre and performance scene. The £30,000 earnings likely reflect graduates accessing a wider range of career pathways beyond performance — communications, media, arts administration, creative industries management — rather than performance roles alone. Bristol ranks 8th rather than higher because its teaching quality suppresses the course delivery component significantly.
Solent University (14th) and Queen Margaret University Edinburgh (joint 11th) both achieve 100% on teaching quality and academic support. Solent ranks 14th with 90 points — its position driven by modest safety and sustainability scores — and produces graduates earning £22,000. QMU ranks joint 11th with 96 points and produces graduates earning £21,000. Both are smaller, less prominent institutions whose course delivery data represents the strongest measured student experience in this field. Queen Margaret's performing arts programme is Edinburgh-based with strong connections to the Fringe and Scotland's professional theatre sector. For students prioritising the quality of performance training over institutional prestige, both make a compelling data case.
For a broader view of how these universities compare, see the Unifresher overall best universities ranking.
