Notable UK university alumni

Graham Swift

novelist · b. 1949

English writer (born 1949)

University of York

Harriet Harman

jurist · b. 1950

British politician (born 1950)

University of York

Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales

aristocrat · 1594–1612

eldest son and heir apparent of James VI and I

University of Oxford

Hugh Lofting

civil engineer · 1886–1947

British author (1886–1947)

University of Westminster, London

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy

barrister · 1892–1963

Bengali barrister and politician (1892–1963)

University of Oxford

Israel Zangwill

activist · 1864–1926

British Zionist author (1864–1926)

ARU London

Jack Davenport

film actor · b. 1973

British actor

University of East Anglia UEA

James Bay

recording artist · b. 1990

British singer-songwriter

BIMM University

Jason Kouchak

songwriter · b. 1969

pianist/composer

Royal College of Music · The University of Edinburgh

Jeff Wall

printmaker · b. 1946

Canadian photographer (born 1946)

Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

Jerome Flynn

film actor · b. 1963

English actor and singer

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Joe Abercrombie

science fiction writer · b. 1974

British fantasy writer and film editor (born 1974)

University of Manchester

John Edensor Littlewood

university teacher · 1885–1977

English mathematician (1885–1977)

University of Cambridge

British mathematician (1925–2015)

ARU London

Kwasi Kwarteng

historian · b. 1975

British politician (born 1975)

University of Cambridge

Mako Komuro

aristocrat · b. 1991

Japanese princess; eldest child of Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan, and Kiko, Crown Princess of Japan

The University of Edinburgh · University of Leicester

Marsha Thomason

film actor · b. 1976

British actress (born 1976)

Manchester Metropolitan University

Miriam Margolyes

film actor · b. 1941

British-Australian actress

University of Cambridge

Neville Marriner

violinist · 1924–2016

British conductor and violinist (1924–2016)

Royal College of Music

Nick Park

director · b. 1958

British animator and filmmaker (born 1958)

Sheffield Hallam University

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem

presbyter · b. 1952

Patriarch of Jerusalem

Durham University

Pravind Jugnauth

head of government · b. 1961

Prime Minister of Mauritius from 2017–2024

University of Buckingham

Radclyffe Hall

novelist · 1880–1943

British poet and author (1880–1943)

King's College London, University of London

Richard Borcherds

university teacher · b. 1959

mathematician

University of Cambridge

Rick Wakeman

session musician · b. 1949

English keyboardist

Royal College of Music

British actor (1925–2017)

University of Oxford

Salvador de Madariaga

literary scholar · 1886–1978

Spanish diplomat, writer and historian (1886-1978)

University of Oxford

Siân Phillips

film actor · b. 1933

British Actress

Cardiff University

British chemist (1761-1815)

The University of Edinburgh

Wavel Ramkalawan

parson · b. 1961

Seychellois politician

University of Birmingham

Zoë Wanamaker

film actor · b. 1949

American-born British actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Alasdair Gray

science fiction writer · 1934–2019

Scottish writer and artist (1934–2019)

Glasgow School of Art

Ben Chaplin

film actor · b. 1969

British actor

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Beth Mead

association football player · b. 1995

English footballer

Teesside University

Cherie Blair

barrister · b. 1954

British barrister and wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (born 1954)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Chris Vance

television actor · b. 1971

British actor

Newcastle University

British writer (1930-2017)

University of Cambridge

Daniela Ruah

television actor · b. 1983

American-Portuguese actress and director

London Metropolitan University

David Deutsch

non-fiction writer · b. 1953

British physicist

University of Oxford

Don Airey

session musician · b. 1948

English keyboardist

University of Nottingham

Donald Dewar

politician · 1937–2000

Scottish politician, 1st First Minister of Scotland (in office from 1999 to 2000)

University of Glasgow

Eileen Atkins

film actor · b. 1934

British actress

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Feroze Gandhi

freedom fighter · 1912–1960

Indian politician and journalist (1912-1960)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Ian Kershaw

opinion journalist · b. 1943

English historian of Nazi Germany (born 1943)

University of Liverpool

Ilan Pappé

university teacher · b. 1954

Israeli-British historian (born 1954)

University of Oxford

South African-British actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Jeremy Irvine

film actor · b. 1990

British actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Jerome of Prague

philosopher · 1380–1416

Czech philosopher

University of Oxford

John Barrow

theoretical physicist · 1952–2020

British physicist and mathematician (1952-2020)

University of Oxford

John Playfair

geologist · 1748–1819

Scottish scientist and mathematician (1748-1819)

University of St Andrews

Jonathan Stroud

young adult author · b. 1970

British writer of fantasy fiction

University of York

Jung Chang

autobiographer · b. 1952

Chinese-British author (born 1952)

SOAS University of London · University of West London · University of York

Ken Robinson

documentary participant · 1950–2020

UK writer (1950-2020)

ARU London · University of Leeds

Kevin McKidd

film actor · b. 1973

Scottish actor

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh · The University of Edinburgh

Marc Garneau

politician · 1949–2025

Canadian astronaut and politician (1949–2025)

Imperial College London

Navin Ramgoolam

politician · b. 1947

Prime Minister of Mauritius (1995–2000, 2005–2014, 2024–Present)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Pete Doherty

rock musician · b. 1979

English musician, actor and poet (born 1979)

Queen Mary University of London

Pippa Middleton

columnist · b. 1983

British socialite, author and columnist; sister of Catherine, Princess of Wales

The University of Edinburgh

Princess Kako of Akishino

aristocrat · b. 1994

Japanese princess; second daughter of Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan, and Kiko, Crown Princess of Japan

University of Leeds

Riek Machar

politician · b. 1953

first vice president of the independent Republic of South Sudan

University of Bradford