Rankings: The 112 best universities in the United Kingdom for 2024/2025

The United Kingdom is famous for its universities: Every year, British institutions dominate the top places in international rankings. The best universities in the UK are also among the very best in the world: The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge usually secure the foremost ranks, regularly followed by Imperial College, UCL, the University of Edinburgh, and the London School of Economics. With such a remarkable track record of academic excellence it is no wonder that the UK attracts so many international students every year.

While going to the UK for your studies may be expensive - tuition fees are higher than anywhere else in Europe - it’s a decision that will almost certainly benefit your academic or professional career, especially if you get a degree from one of the top-ranking universities.

All study programmes in the United Kingdom

Top ranked universities in the United Kingdom

University	QS Ranking 2024	THE Ranking 2024	ARWU Ranking 2023
University of Cambridge	2	5	4
University of Oxford	3	1	7
Imperial College London	6	8	23
University College London	9	22	17
University of Edinburgh	22	30	38
University of Manchester	32	51	41
King's College London	40	38	59
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	45	46	151
University of Bristol	55	81	88
University of Warwick	67	106	101
University of Leeds	75	129	151
University of Glasgow	76	87	101
Durham University	78	174	301
University of Southampton	81	97	151
University of Birmingham	84	101	151
University of St Andrews	95	193	301
University of Nottingham	100	130	101
University of Sheffield	104	105	151
Newcastle University	110	168	201
Lancaster University	122	155	301
Queen Mary University of London	145	135	201
University of Bath	148	251	401
University of Exeter	153	177	151
Cardiff University	154	190	151
University of York	167	147	301
University of Reading	169	201	301
University of Liverpool	176	168	101
Queen's University Belfast	202	201	301
University of Aberdeen	208	201	201
Loughborough University	212	251	601
University of Sussex	218	201	201
Heriot-Watt University	235	351	901
University of Surrey	244	251	301
University of Leicester	272	201	301
University of Strathclyde	276	301	501
University of East Anglia	295	251	201
Swansea University	307	251	401
City, University of London	328	351	901
University of Kent	336	401	401
Brunel University London	343	351	701
Birkbeck, University of London	374	301	–
Oxford Brookes University	413	601	–
Royal Holloway, University of London	413	301	801
University of Stirling	431	401	701
University of Dundee	441	301	401
Aston University	446	401	–
University of Essex	459	301	401
Bangor University	481	401	601
Ulster University	498	601	–
University of Portsmouth	502	401	901
SOAS University of London	511	401	–
University of Hull	523	401	701
Northumbria University	548	501	801
University of Plymouth	561	401	601
University of Huddersfield	567	501	–
Coventry University	571	601	–
Manchester Metropolitan University	590	501	901
Goldsmiths, University of London	593	401	–
Nottingham Trent University	595	501	701
Kingston University	601	801	–
University of Bradford	641	501	–
Aberystwyth University	661	501	–
Middlesex University London	661	501	–
University of Greenwich	671	501	601
University of Westminster	711	801	–
Bournemouth University	731	401	801
University of the West of England, Bristol	741	501	–
Liverpool John Moores University	751	501	601
University of Brighton	771	801	–
Keele University	781	501	801
De Montfort University	801	601	–
Edinburgh Napier University	801	501	–
London South Bank University	851	601	–
Queen Margaret University	851	–	–
University of East London	851	1001	–
University of Hertfordshire	851	601	901
University of Lincoln	851	501	901
University of Salford	851	801	–
London Metropolitan University	901	–	–
Robert Gordon University (RGU)	901	801	–
University of Central Lancashire	901	1001	901
Birmingham City University	1001	601	–
Canterbury Christ Church University	1001	1001	–
Glasgow Caledonian University	1001	601	–
Harper Adams University	1001	–	–
Leeds Beckett University	1001	801	–
Sheffield Hallam University	1001	801	–
University of Derby	1001	601	–
University of Northampton	1001	–	–
University of Wolverhampton	1001	601	–
Anglia Ruskin University	–	501	–
Brighton and Sussex Medical School	–	501	–
Cardiff Metropolitan University	–	1201	–
Edge Hill University	–	1001	–
Royal Veterinary College	–	401	701
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)	–	601	–
St George's, University of London	–	301	501
Staffordshire University	–	1001	–
Teesside University	–	1001	–
The Open University	–	601	701
University of Bedfordshire	–	1001	–
University of Chester	–	1201	–
University of Gloucestershire	–	801	–
University of Roehampton	–	801	–
University of South Wales	–	1001	–
University of Sunderland	–	1201	–
University of the West of Scotland	–	601	–
University of West London	–	1001	–
University of Winchester	–	1001	–
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	–	–	151
Cranfield University	–	–	801
London Business School	–	–	901

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.

Read more about studying in the United Kingdom

Find the right study programme for yourself:

Relevant links

• Studying abroad in the United Kingdom: Basic information for international students
• Study programmes in the United Kingdom
• Visit the website of the QS World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
• Visit the website of the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities