Notable UK university alumni

British lecturer, novelist, historian, poet and biographer (1911-1983)

University of Liverpool

English writer (1929–1993)

Durham University

Robert Williams Buchanan

novelist · 1841–1901

Scottish poet, novelist and dramatist (1841–1901)

University of Glasgow

Roberto Pavoni

swimmer · b. 1991

British swimmer

Loughborough University

Robin Day

furniture designer · 1915–2010

British chartered industrial and furniture designer (1915-2010)

Buckinghamshire New University

Robin Wilson

historian of mathematics · b. 1943

English mathematician

Open University

Ron Davies

politician · b. 1946

British politician (born 1946)

Cardiff University · University of Portsmouth

Rosalind Eleazar

actor · b. 1988

English actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Rosario Nadal

consultant · b. 1968

Spanish consultant, art director, and model

Richmond American University London

Ugandan lawyer, columnist, author, security sector manager and politician

Cranfield University

Roy Crowson

entomologist · 1914–1999

British entomologist (1914–1999)

Imperial College London

Ruaridh Mollica

actor · b. 2001

Scottish-Italian actor (born 1998/1999)

Heriot-Watt University

Rui Moreira

politician · b. 1956

Portuguese politician of the 3rd republic

University of Greenwich

Pakistani writer of novels, short stories, poetry and plays

University of Reading · University of the Arts London

Russell Leetch

guitarist · b. 1982

British musician

University of Staffordshire

British poet and author

University of Manchester

English footballer (born 1980)

Nottingham Trent University

Saada Salum

minister · b. 1975

Tanzanian politician

Heriot-Watt University

Saleemul Huq

botanist · 1952–2023

Bangladeshi-British scientist

Imperial College London

English woman falsely convicted of murder

University of Southampton

Welsh rugby union player

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Sandy Gall

foreign correspondent · 1927–2025

British journalist (1927–2025)

University of Aberdeen

Sara Pascoe

stand-up comedian · b. 1981

English writer, stand-up comedian and actress

University of Sussex

Sarah Champion

politician · b. 1969

British politician

University of Sheffield

Sarah Crossan

young adult author · b. 1981

Irish writer

University of Warwick

Scott Hutchison

singer · 1981–2018

Scottish musician (1981-2018)

Glasgow School of Art

Seán Gallagher

reality television participant · b. 1962

Irish businessperson and reality television personality

Ulster University

British actor

Queen Mary University of London

British actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Shirani Bandaranayake

lawyer · b. 1958

former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka

SOAS University of London

Iranian / British Triathlete

Durham University

Shreela Ghosh

television actor · b. 1962

British actress

University of Warwick

Zimbabwean politician

De Montfort University · Leeds Beckett University · University of Leeds

British actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat

politician · 1667–1747

Scottish Jacobite and Chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat (1667-1747)

University of Aberdeen

Simon Stephens

playwright · b. 1971

British playwright

University of York

Sinan Al Shabibi

academic · 1941–2022

Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (1941–2022)

University of Bristol · University of Manchester

Soo Wincci

beauty pageant contestant · b. 1985

Malaysian Miss World delegate

University of Reading

British actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Minister in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe (1941-2012)

SOAS University of London

Saint Lucian administrator and governor-general

Swansea University

Starry Lee

politician · b. 1974

President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee

University of Manchester

Stefan Rahmstorf

climate activist · b. 1960

German oceanographer and climatologist

Bangor University

Stéphanie Yon-Courtin

legal counselor · b. 1974

French politician

University of Bristol

Stephen Amoah

consultant · b. 1970

Ghanaian politician

University of Derby

Stephen Blackmore

botanist · b. 1952

British botanist

University of Reading

Stephen Cottrell

Anglican priest · b. 1958

Archbishop of York since 2020

University of Westminster, London

Stephen Doughty

columnist · b. 1980

Welsh politician and MP (born 1980)

University of St Andrews

Australian historian

University of Birmingham

Stephen Gill

political scientist · b. 1950

British political scientist

University of Birmingham

Stephen Joseph Perry

astrophysicist · 1833–1889

English Jesuit (1833-1889)

London College

Steve Backshall

non-fiction writer · b. 1973

English naturalist and television presenter

Canterbury Christ Church University · University of Exeter

Steve Beresford

jazz musician · b. 1950

English musician

University of York

Steve Borthwick

rugby union player · b. 1979

English rugby union coach and former player

University of Bath · University of Hertfordshire

Steve Mattin

car designer · b. 1964

automobile designer

Coventry University

British actor

Loughborough University

Steven Marshall

business executive · b. 1968

Australian politician

Durham University

Scottish actor

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Stewart Stevenson

banker · b. 1946

Scottish politician (born 1946)

University of Aberdeen · University of Strathclyde

Sue Black

forensic anthropologist · b. 1961

forensic anthropologist; anatomist

University of Aberdeen