UK University Rankings 2021

Choosing a UK university

UK university rankings and league tables are highly competitive. There are over 150 higher education institutions to choose from in the UK, and it is important you have all the information on where to go and what to study before applying. Important factors to consider when choosing a UK university include:

University ranking
Subject ranking
Location
Cost of living
Student satisfaction
Research ranking
Percentage of international students

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide is considered the most trusted quality indicator of undergraduate study at UK universities, and the 131 universities ranked in its 2021 edition can be found below.

UK University Rankings 2021

Rank	Name
1	University of Cambridge
2	University of Oxford
3	University of St Andrews
4	London School of Economics and Political Science
5	Imperial College London
6	Durham University
7	Loughborough University
8	University College London
9	University of Bath
10	University of Warwick
10	Lancaster University
12	University of Exeter
13	University of Bristol
14	University of Glasgow
15	University of Leeds
15	University of Southampton
17	University of Edinburgh
18	University of Manchester
19	University of Birmingham
20	University of York
21	University of East Anglia
22	Royal Holloway, University of London
23	University of Dundee
23	University of Sheffield
23	University of Strathclyde
26	University of Nottingham
27	University of Aberdeen
28	Harper Adams University
29	University of Liverpool
30	King's College London
31	University of Reading
31	Newcastle University
31	Queen's University Belfast
34	Cardiff University
35	Heriot-Watt University
36	Swansea University
37	University of Leicester
38	University of Stirling
39	University of Surrey
40	University of Essex
41	Queen Mary, University of London
42	Aberystwyth University
43	Aston University
44	University of Sussex
45	University of Lincoln
46	Coventry University
46	University of Chichester
48	University of Kent
49	St George's, University of London
50	SOAS University of London
51	Ulster University
51	Keele University
53	Nottingham Trent University
54	Arts University Bournemouth
55	Leeds Arts University
56	Oxford Brookes University
57	Northumbria University
58	UWE Bristol
59	University of Plymouth
60	University of Hull
60	University of West London
62	Bangor University
63	Edinburgh Napier University
64	Bishop Grosseteste University
65	Manchester Metropolitan University
66	Robert Gordon University
67	Sheffield Hallam University
68	Bournemouth University
69	University of Chester
70	Edge Hill University
71	University for the Creative Arts
72	University of Portsmouth
73	University of Huddersfield
73	Royal Agricultural University
75	Glasgow Caledonian University
76	Staffordshire University
77	Norwich University of the Arts
78	University of Roehampton
79	Cardiff Metropolitan University
80	Abertay University
80	Liverpool Hope University
82	City, University of London
83	University of the Arts London
83	York St John University
85	Liverpool John Moores University
86	St Mary’s University, London
87	University of Central Lancashire
88	Brunel University London
89	Queen Margaret University
90	Birmingham City University
90	University of South Wales
92	Teesside University
93	Solent University
94	University of Derby
94	Falmouth University
96	University of Winchester
97	Goldsmiths, University of London
98	University of Greenwich
99	University of Hertfordshire
100	University of Salford
101	University of Wales Trinity Saint David
101	University of Worcester
103	University of Sunderland
104	Bath Spa University
104	Kingston University
106	University of Bradford
107	Leeds Beckett University
108	University of Buckingham
109	University of Gloucestershire
110	Leeds Trinity University
111	University of Northampton
112	Bucks New University
112	Newman University, Birmingham
114	University of Cumbria
115	Plymouth Marjon University
116	University of the West of Scotland
117	Anglia Ruskin University - ARU
118	University of Bolton
119	De Montfort University
120	University of Brighton
121	Middlesex University
122	University of Suffolk
123	London South Bank University
124	Wrexham Glyndwr University
125	London Metropolitan University
126	University of Westminster
127	Canterbury Christ Church University
128	University of Wolverhampton
129	University of East London
130	Ravensbourne University London
131	University of Bedfordshire