Notable UK university alumni

Mulk Raj Anand

translator · 1905–2004

Indian English writer (1905–2004)

University of Cambridge

Robert Recorde

philosopher · 1510–1558

Welsh mathematician and inventor of the symbol '='

University of Cambridge · University of Oxford

Seymour Papert

artificial intelligence researcher · 1928–2016

MIT mathematician, computer scientist, and educator (1928–2016)

University of Cambridge

Stacy Keach

film actor · b. 1941

American actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Stephen Rea

film actor · b. 1946

Irish actor

Queen's University Belfast

Sylvia Pankhurst

oil painter · 1882–1960

English feminist and socialist (1882–1960)

Manchester Metropolitan University

Talulah Riley

film actor · b. 1985

British actress

Open University

Tony Goldwyn

film actor · b. 1960

American actor and director

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Vikram Sarabhai

physicist · 1919–1971

father of Indian space programme (1919–1971)

University of Cambridge

Virginia Wade

tennis player · b. 1945

British tennis player

University of Sussex

W. S. Gilbert

cabaret performer · 1836–1911

English dramatist, poet and illustrator (1836–1911)

King's College London, University of London

Adi Shamir

cryptologist · b. 1952

Israeli cryptographer (born 1952)

University of Warwick

Alain de Botton

philosopher · b. 1969

Swiss-born British philosopher and writer

King's College London, University of London

Alan Baker

university teacher · 1939–2018

English mathematician (1939-2018)

University of Cambridge

Andy Whitfield

film actor · 1971–2011

Welsh actor (1971–2011)

Sheffield Hallam University

Claire Bloom

autobiographer · b. 1931

British actress (born 1931)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama · Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Damien Hirst

assemblage artist · b. 1965

English sculptor and installation artist

Goldsmiths, University of London

Emily Davison

suffragist · 1872–1913

British activist who fought for women's suffrage

ARU London · Royal Holloway, University of London

Enoch Powell

classical philologist · 1912–1998

British politician (1912–1998)

University of Cambridge

American political scientist (1928-2018)

University of Oxford

George Shaw

non-fiction writer · 1751–1813

English botanist and zoologist (1751–1813)

University of Oxford

Hanif Kureishi

novelist · b. 1954

English writer (born 1954)

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

Iwan Rheon

film actor · b. 1985

British actor and musician

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

American novelist (1921-1994)

University of Birmingham

Jayant Vishnu Narlikar

science fiction writer · 1938–2025

Indian astrophysicist and writer (1938–2025)

University of Cambridge

Joseph Needham

historian of science · 1900–1995

British biochemist, historian and sinologist (1900–1995)

University of Cambridge

Julian Sands

film actor · 1958–2023

English actor (1958-2023)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Martin O'Neill

Gaelic football player · b. 1952

Northern Irish association football player and manager (born 1952)

Queen's University Belfast

Mihajlo Pupin

university teacher · 1858–1935

Serbian-American physicist, physical chemist and philanthropist (1858–1935)

University of Cambridge

Ossip Zadkine

printmaker · 1888–1967

French sculptor and painter of Russian origin (1888–1967)

University of Westminster, London

Robert Stephenson

railway engineer · 1803–1859

British railway engineer and locomotive designer (1803-1859)

The University of Edinburgh

Sarah Mullally

Anglican bishop · b. 1962

British Anglican archbishop

London College · London South Bank University

Stephen Wolfram

opinion journalist · b. 1959

British-American scientist and businessman (born 1959)

University of Oxford

Zara Tindall

event rider · b. 1981

British Olympic equestrian; daughter of Anne, Princess Royal

University of Exeter

Ali Smith

short story writer · b. 1962

British author and journalist

University of Aberdeen

Alice Krige

film actor · b. 1954

South African actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Scottish novelist (1922–1987)

University of Glasgow

Anthony Caro

visual artist · 1924–2013

English abstract sculptor (1924-2013)

University of Westminster, London

Benjamin Rush

university teacher · 1746–1813

American physician, educator, and author (1746-1813)

The University of Edinburgh

Bobby Jindal

politician · b. 1971

American politician and 55th governor of Louisiana (born 1971)

University of Oxford

C. Northcote Parkinson

novelist · 1909–1993

British naval historian (1909–1993)

King's College London, University of London

Carlos Alvarado Quesada

journalist · b. 1980

President of Costa Rica (2018-2022)

University of Sussex

Charles Bell

neuroscientist · 1774–1842

Scottish physician, painter and theologian (1774–1842)

The University of Edinburgh

Chris Hoy

autobiographer · b. 1976

British racing driver and former track cyclist

The University of Edinburgh

Daniel Tammet

pedagogue · b. 1979

British writer, mathematician, essayist and autistic savant

Open University

Emeli Sandé

pop musician · b. 1987

British singer

University of Glasgow

Eva Kaili

journalist · b. 1978

Greek politician and newscaster

University of Oxford

Francesca Albanese

international law scholar · b. 1977

Italian lawyer and academic (born 1977), independent United Nations human rights expert

SOAS University of London

Gaston Browne

politician · b. 1967

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda since 2014

University of Manchester

George Pell

Catholic deacon · 1941–2023

Australian Catholic cardinal (1941–2023)

University of Oxford

Jacqueline du Pré

cellist · 1945–1987

British cellist (1945–1987)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

English actor (1933–1995)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Jessica Ennis-Hill

athletics competitor · b. 1986

British heptathlete

University of Sheffield

John Boyne

short story writer · b. 1971

Irish novelist (born 1971)

University of East Anglia UEA

Jojo Moyes

novelist · b. 1969

British novelist and journalist

Royal Holloway, University of London

KT Tunstall

recording artist · b. 1975

Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1975)

Royal Holloway, University of London

Marek Belka

finance minister · b. 1952

Polish economist and politician

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Mary Cartwright

mathematician · 1900–1998

British mathematician (1900–1998)

University of Oxford

Nicholas Liverpool

diplomat · 1934–2015

President of Dominica (1934-2015)

University of Hull · University of Sheffield

Nick Griffin

politician · b. 1959

British politician (born 1959)

University of Cambridge