Notable UK university alumni

Parineeti Chopra

film actor · b. 1988

Indian actress and singer

University of Manchester

Princess Beatrice of York

philanthropist · b. 1988

elder daughter of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson

Goldsmiths, University of London

Robert Penn Warren

children's writer · 1905–1989

American poet, novelist, and literary critic (1905-1989)

University of Oxford

Sher Bahadur Deuba

politician · b. 1946

Prime Minister of Nepal

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson

journalist · b. 1975

prime minister of Iceland 2013 - 2016

University of Oxford

Anne Applebaum

non-fiction writer · b. 1964

American journalist and historian (born 1964)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Ben Barnes

film actor · b. 1981

British actor and singer

Kingston University

English novelist and physical chemist (1905–1980)

ARU London · University of Leicester

Charles Kingsley

novelist · 1819–1875

British clergyman, historian and novelist (1819–1875)

King's College London, University of London

Costas Simitis

university teacher · 1936–2025

Greek jurist, economist, academic and politician (1936–2025)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Damon Albarn

songwriter · b. 1968

British musician

Goldsmiths, University of London

Francis Hutcheson

philosopher · 1694–1746

Scottish philosopher (1694–1746)

University of Glasgow

Jetsun Pema

philanthropist · b. 1990

queen consort of Bhutan as the wife of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck

Regent's University London

Jonathan Pryce

improviser · b. 1947

Welsh actor (born 1947)

Edge Hill University

Lauren Cohan

film actor · b. 1982

American-British actress

University of Winchester

Rose Leslie

film actor · b. 1987

Scottish actress (born 1987)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Sylvanus Epiphanio Olympio

politician · 1902–1963

President of Togo (1902-1963)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Timothy Snyder

academic · b. 1969

American historian (born 1969)

University of Oxford

Tony Hoare

programmer · 1934–2026

British computer scientist

University of Oxford

Tsitsi Dangarembga

film director · b. 1959

Zimbabwean author and filmmaker

University of Cambridge

William Kingdon Clifford

philosopher · 1845–1879

English mathematician and philosopher

King's College London, University of London · University of Cambridge

Catherine Connolly

clinical psychologist · b. 1955

President of Ireland since 2025 (born 1955)

University of Leeds

Colin MacLaurin

mathematician · 1698–1746

Scottish mathematician (1698–1746)

University of Glasgow

Dan Stevens

film actor · b. 1982

British actor

University of Cambridge

Daniel Rutherford

botanist · 1749–1819

British physician, chemist, botanist and physicist (1749–1819)

The University of Edinburgh · University of Cambridge

Dominic Cooper

film actor · b. 1978

British actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

E. L. James

novelist · b. 1963

British writer

University of Kent

Frauke Petry

choir director · b. 1975

German politician

University of Reading

Jodie Whittaker

film actor · b. 1982

English actress (born 1982)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

John Clarke

materials scientist · b. 1942

British physicist (born 1942)

University of Cambridge

Irish scientist (1901-1971)

University of Cambridge

Joseph Morgan

film screenwriter · b. 1981

English actor and director

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

British anthropologist (1921–2007)

University of Oxford

Nicanor Parra

academic · 1914–2018

Chilean writer, poet, mathematician, and physicist (1914-2018)

University of Oxford

Nick Hornby

essayist · b. 1957

English novelist, screenwriter, essayist, and film producer (born 1957)

University of Cambridge

Priti Patel

politician · b. 1972

British politician (born 1972)

Harper and Keele Veterinary School

Richard Henderson

molecular biologist · b. 1945

Nobel prize winning British biochemist (born 1945)

The University of Edinburgh · University of Cambridge

Richard Roberts

molecular biologist · b. 1943

English biochemist and molecular biologist

University of Sheffield

Ronnie Wood

guitarist · b. 1947

British rock guitarist, member of The Rolling Stones

University of West London

Theo James

television actor · b. 1984

British actor and musician

University of Nottingham

Tom Odell

model · b. 1990

English singer and songwriter

BIMM University

Abbas Araghchi

diplomat · b. 1962

Iranian diplomat, Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1962)

University of Kent

Anote Tong

diplomat · b. 1952

I-Kiribati politician

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Arianna Huffington

blogger · b. 1950

Greek and American businesswoman (born 1950)

University of Cambridge

Arthur Sullivan

musicologist · 1842–1900

English composer of the Gilbert & Sullivan duo (1842-1900)

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Audrey Azoulay

beamter · b. 1972

French politician (1972-)

Lancaster University

Buchi Emecheta

children's writer · 1944–2017

Nigerian writer (1944–2017)

ARU London

English writer (1935–2025)

University of Birmingham

David Oyelowo

film actor · b. 1976

British actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

David Walliams

television maker · b. 1971

English actor, comedian and writer

University of Bristol

Donald Crisp

film screenwriter · 1882–1974

English film actor and film director (1882–1974)

University of Oxford

Emma Mackey

film actor · b. 1996

British-French actress and model

University of Leeds

Honor Blackman

film actor · 1925–2020

British actress

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Hugh Masekela

recording artist · 1939–2018

South African jazz trumpeter

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Iain Glen

television actor · b. 1961

Scottish actor

University of Aberdeen

Margaret Burbidge

university teacher · 1919–2020

British-born American astronomer (1919–2020)

ARU London

Marina Diamandis

recording artist · b. 1985

British singer

BIMM University · Middlesex University · University of East London

Milo Yiannopoulos

blogger · b. 1984

British political commentator

University of Manchester

Mohamed Muizzu

engineer · b. 1978

8th President of the Maldives since 2023

ARU London · University of Leeds

Natascha McElhone

autobiographer · b. 1971

British actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)