Top Universities in the UK - League Table & Ranking 2026
Are you looking for the top universities in the UK? Do you want to find the top-rated universities in the UK to complete your studies?
The University of Oxford topped the Best UK Universities 2026 table, while three of the five best universities are from London. Here is a list of the best UK universities according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
University of Oxford (Oxford) — UK Rank: 1 | World Rank: 1
University of Cambridge (Cambridge) — UK Rank: 2 | World Rank: =5
Imperial College London (London) — UK Rank: 3 | World Rank: 12
UCL (London) — UK Rank: 4 | World Rank: =18
London School of Economics and Political Science (London) — UK Rank: 5 | World Rank: 27
University of Edinburgh (Edinburgh) — UK Rank: 6 | World Rank: =30
King's College London (London) — UK Rank: 7 | World Rank: =35
University of Manchester (Manchester) — UK Rank: 8 | World Rank: 50
University of Warwick (Warwick) — UK Rank: 9 | World Rank: =78
University of Glasgow (Glasgow) — UK Rank: 10 | World Rank: =86
University of Bristol (Bristol) — UK Rank: 11 | World Rank: 92
University of Birmingham (Birmingham) — UK Rank: 12 | World Rank: =105
University of Sheffield (Sheffield) — UK Rank: 13 | World Rank: 110
Queen Mary University of London (London) — UK Rank: 14 | World Rank: =117
Lancaster University (Lancaster) — UK Rank: 15 | World Rank: =122
University of Southampton (Southampton) — UK Rank: 16 | World Rank: 124
University of Leeds (Leeds) — UK Rank: 17 | World Rank: =127
University of Nottingham (Nottingham) — UK Rank: 18 | World Rank: 141
University of Exeter (Exeter) — UK Rank: 19 | World Rank: =143
Newcastle University (Newcastle) — UK Rank: 20 | World Rank: =146
University of Sussex (Brighton) — UK Rank: 21 | World Rank: =151
University of Aberdeen (Aberdeen) — UK Rank: 22 | World Rank: =158
Durham University (Durham) — UK Rank: 23 | World Rank: =162
University of York (York) — UK Rank: 24 | World Rank: 169
University of Liverpool (Liverpool) — UK Rank: 25 | World Rank: =178
University of East Anglia (Norwich) — UK Rank: 26 | World Rank: 182
University of Leicester (Leicester) — UK Rank: 27 | World Rank: =185
Cardiff University (Cardiff) — UK Rank: 28 | World Rank: 189
University of Bath (Bath) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
Brighton and Sussex Medical School (Brighton) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
University of Dundee (Dundee) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
Queen's University Belfast (Belfast) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
University of Reading (Reading) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
St George's, University of London (London) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
University of St Andrews (St Andrews) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
University of Surrey (Guildford) — UK Rank: 29 | World Rank: 201–250
Swansea University (Swansea) — UK Rank: 37 | World Rank: 251–300
Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) (East Anglia) — UK Rank: 38 | World Rank: 301–350
University of Essex (Essex) — UK Rank: 38 | World Rank: 301–350
Birkbeck, University of London (London) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
Bournemouth University (Bournemouth) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
Brunel University London (London) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
City, University of London (London) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
University of Kent (Kent) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
Loughborough University (Loughborough) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
Royal Holloway, University of London (London) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
University of Stirling (Stirling) — UK Rank: 40 | World Rank: 351–400
Aston University (Birmingham) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
Bangor University (Bangor) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
Goldsmiths, University of London (London) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
Liverpool John Moores University (Liverpool) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
Middlesex University (London) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
Northumbria University (Northumbria) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
University of Plymouth (Plymouth) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
Royal Veterinary College (London) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
SOAS University of London (London) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) (Edinburgh) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
University of Strathclyde (Strathclyde) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
University of the West of England (Bristol) — UK Rank: 48 | World Rank: 401–500
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