Notable UK university alumni

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

Robert Reich

university teacher · b. 1946

American political economist (1946–)

University of Oxford

Ron Moody

film actor · 1924–2015

British actor (1924–2015)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Shirley Henderson

dub actor · b. 1965

British actress

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Simon Le Bon

songwriter · b. 1958

British singer; lead vocalist of Duran Duran

University of Birmingham

Stephen Baxter

science fiction writer · b. 1957

British writer

University of Cambridge · University of Reading · University of Southampton

William Boyd

film director · b. 1952

Scottish novelist, short story writer, and screen writer (born 1952)

University of Glasgow

English zoologist and marine biologist (1790/1–1836)

The University of Edinburgh · University of St Andrews

William Speirs Bruce

scientific collector · 1867–1921

Scottish marine biologist and polar explorer (1867-1921)

The University of Edinburgh

William Walker

filibuster · 1824–1860

American filibuster, physician, lawyer, journalist and mercenary (1824-1860)

The University of Edinburgh

American-Israeli author of Azerbaijani origin (1920-2010)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Albert O. Hirschman

social scientist · 1915–2012

German-American economist; member of the French Resistance

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Anna Kiesenhofer

sport cyclist · b. 1991

Austrian cyclist, mathematician

University of Cambridge

Arthur M. Schlesinger

university teacher · 1917–2007

American historian, social critic, and public intellectual (1917–2007)

University of Cambridge

Black

singer-songwriter · 1962–2016

English pop singer (1962–2016)

Liverpool John Moores University

Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao

statistician · 1920–2023

Indian-American mathematician (1920–2023)

University of Cambridge

Christiana Figueres

climate activist · b. 1956

Costa Rican diplomat engaged in UN

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Colin Davis

music educator · 1927–2013

British conductor (1927–2013)

Royal College of Music

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

sociologist · 1927–2003

American politician (1927-2003)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

David Chipperfield

designer · b. 1953

English architect (born 1953)

Kingston University

David Davis

politician · b. 1948

British Conservative Party politician (born 1948)

University of Warwick

Dawn French

film actor · b. 1957

British actress, comedian and writer (born 1957)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

American actor, director (1943–2014)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Elizabeth Dole

jurist · b. 1936

American politician

University of Oxford

Epeli Nailatikau

traditional leader or chief · 1941–2026

President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015 (1941–2026)

University of Oxford

Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia

benefactor · b. 1953

Head of the House of Romanov (born 1953)

University of Oxford

Herbert Edward Read

anarchist · 1893–1968

English anarchist, poet, and critic of literature and art (1893-1968)

University of Leeds

James Lind

surgeon · 1716–1794

Scottish physician and pioneer of naval hygiene

The University of Edinburgh

James Purefoy

film actor · b. 1964

British actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Jamie Bamber

film actor · b. 1973

English actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Jason Flemyng

film actor · b. 1966

British actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Jeffrey Jones

film actor · b. 1946

American character actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Jessie Ware

pop musician · b. 1984

British singer

University of Sussex

Jo Swinson

politician · b. 1980

British politician and leader of the Liberal Democrats (born 1980)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

John Pius Boland

tennis player · 1870–1958

Irish politician (1870-1958)

ARU London

John Prescott

trade unionist · 1938–2024

British politician (1938–2024)

University of Hull

British composer (1944-2013)

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Jonathan Glazer

director · b. 1965

British film director

Nottingham Trent University

Joseph Larmor

university teacher · 1857–1942

Irish physicist and mathematician (1857-1942)

Queen's University Belfast · University of Cambridge

Karl Jenkins

jazz musician · b. 1944

Welsh musician and composer (b. 1944)

Cardiff University · Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Khushwant Singh

journalist · 1915–2014

Indian author, lawyer, diplomat, journalist and politician (1914–2014)

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

Michael Manley

politician · 1924–1997

4th Prime Minister of Jamaica (1924–1997)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Michael Winterbottom

film editor · b. 1961

British film director (born 1961)

University of Bristol

Greek film and stage director (1922–2011)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Neil Kinnock

politician · b. 1942

British politician (1942-)

Cardiff University

Nevil Maskelyne

university teacher · 1732–1811

fifth Astronomer Royal (*1765 – †1811)

University of Cambridge

Paul Volcker

banker · 1927–2019

American economist (1927-2019)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Perry Christie

athletics competitor · b. 1943

Bahamian politician

University of Birmingham

Peter Maxwell Davies

opera composer · 1934–2016

English composer and conductor (1934-2016)

University of Manchester

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

aristocrat · b. 1932

Norwegian princess; elder sister of King Harald V of Norway

University of Oxford

Rachel Roberts

film actor · 1927–1980

British actress (1927-1980)

Aberystwyth University

Rami Hamdallah

linguist · b. 1958

Palestinian politician (born 1958)

Lancaster University · University of Manchester

Richard Ayoade

television actor · b. 1977

British comedian and actor (born 1977)

University of Cambridge

Richard Blumenthal

editor-in-chief · b. 1946

United States Senator from Connecticut since 2011

University of Cambridge

English actor, comedian and writer (1958–2014)

University of Manchester