Rankings: The 86 best universities in United Kingdom for 2027

86 universities in United Kingdom appear in at least one of the three major global university rankings. The table orders them by their combined world position.

#	University	QS 2027	THE 2027	ARWU 2026
1	University of OxfordOxford	4	1	7
2	Imperial College LondonLondon	2	8	29
3	University of CambridgeCambridge	6	5	4
4	University College LondonLondon	8	17	17
5	University of EdinburghEdinburgh	35	29	38
6	King's College LondonLondon	37	40	67
7	The University of ManchesterManchester	40	60	51
8	London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)London	62	47	101
9	University of BristolBristol	57	82	91
10	University of BirminghamBirmingham	68	97	101
11	University of WarwickCoventry	68	113	101
12	University of LeedsLeeds	77	113	151
13	University of GlasgowGlasgow	80	83	151
14	University of SheffieldSheffield	82	104	151
15	Durham UniversityDurham	85	157	201
16	University of NottinghamNottingham	97	157	101
17	Queen Mary University of LondonLondon	103	129	201
18	University of SouthamptonSouthampton	111	136	201
19	University of St AndrewsSt Andrews	115	185	301
20	University of BathBath	125	284	501
21	University of ExeterExeter	136	157	151
22	University of LiverpoolLiverpool	139	154	151
23	Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne	149	154	201
24	University of YorkYork	158	168	301
25	Lancaster UniversityLancaster	164	183	301
26	Cardiff UniversityCardiff	179	257	201
27	University of ReadingReading	196	219	501
28	University of SussexBrighton	273	273	201
29	Loughborough UniversityLoughborough	203	326	601
30	University of LeicesterLeicester	314	209	301
31	USUniversity of StrathclydeGlasgow	230	351	701
32	University of AberdeenAberdeen	288	233	301
33	University of East AngliaNorwich	381	301	301
34	Swansea UniversitySwansea	322	351	801
35	Heriot-Watt UniversityEdinburgh	325	451	701
36	Birkbeck, University of LondonLondon	354	326	801
37	City St George’s, University of LondonLondon	361	326	601
38	University of DundeeDundee	447	326	401
39	University of EssexColchester	438	351	501
40	Brunel University LondonUxbridge	353	401	701
41	Aston University	416	401	–
42	Bangor UniversityBangor	567	501	401
43	Royal Holloway, University of LondonEgham	485	401	801
44	SULSOAS University of LondonLondon	458	401	–
45	University of KentCanterbury and Medway	415	451	401
46	University of PortsmouthPortsmouth	662	401	901
47	Oxford Brookes UniversityOxford	411	701	–
48	University of HuddersfieldHuddersfield	521	451	–
49	Bournemouth UniversityPoole	801	501	–
50	LJMLiverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool	851	551	501
51	University of StirlingStirling	560	501	801
52	Goldsmiths, University of LondonLondon	701	551	–
53	Manchester Metropolitan UniversityManchester	600	551	–
54	Royal Veterinary CollegeHatfield	–	551	901
55	University of HullHull	575	551	801
56	Coventry UniversityCoventry	581	601	–
57	Anglia Ruskin UniversityChelmsford	1,001	601	–
58	Edinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburgh	801	601	–
59	Keele UniversityKeele	801	601	801
60	Middlesex University LondonLondon	901	601	–
61	Nottingham Trent UniversityNottingham	639	601	701
62	University of GreenwichLondon and Medway	791	601	701
63	University of the West of England, BristolBristol	761	651	–
64	Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth	801	701	–
65	De Montfort UniversityLeicester	851	701	–
66	London South Bank UniversityLondon	901	701	–
67	University of BrightonBrighton	901	701	–
68	Birmingham City University	1,001	801	–
69	Glasgow Caledonian UniversityGlasgow	1,001	801	–
70	Leeds Beckett UniversityLeeds	1,001	801	–
71	London Metropolitan UniversityLondon	1,001	801	–
72	Robert Gordon University (RGU)Aberdeen	1,001	801	–
73	The Open University	–	801	–
74	University of DerbyDerby	1,201	801	–
75	University of SalfordManchester	1,001	801	–
76	University of WestminsterLondon	851	801	–
77	University of the Arts LondonLondon	851	1,401	–
78	Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCardiff	–	1,001	–
79	Queen Margaret UniversityEdinburgh	1,201	–	–
80	University of Greater ManchesterBolton	–	1,201	–
81	University of NorthamptonNorthampton	1,201	1,601	–
82	University of StaffordshireStafford	–	1,201	–
83	University of WinchesterWinchester	–	1,201	–
84	Liverpool Hope UniversityLiverpool	–	1,401	–
85	University of SunderlandSunderland	–	1,401	–
86	IULInternational University of La Rioja	–	1,601	–

About these rankings

Each ranking uses its own method, so a university can sit in quite different positions across them. A dash (–) means the university is not included in that ranking.

QS World University Rankings combine surveys of academics and employers with measures such as citations per faculty, staff-to-student ratio and the share of international staff and students.
Times Higher Education World University Rankings assess teaching, the research environment, research quality, international outlook and links with industry.
Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking) are based on research output: highly cited researchers, papers in leading journals, and Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals won by staff and alumni.

Rankings say little about the quality of a single programme. Compare the programmes in United Kingdom on content, fees and entry requirements as well.

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Rankings: The 86 best universities in United Kingdom for 2027

Ranking table

About these rankings

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