Notable UK university alumni

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

Robert Watson-Watt

university teacher · 1892–1973

physicist (1892-1973)

University of Dundee

Sarah Rafferty

film actor · b. 1972

American actress

University of Oxford

Thomas Cavalier-Smith

evolutionary biologist · 1942–2021

British biologist (1942–2021)

King's College London, University of London

Tiwa Savage

musician · b. 1980

Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress

University of Kent

Tony Brooks

Formula One driver · 1932–2022

British racing driver

University of Manchester

Tracy Chevalier

novelist · b. 1962

American writer

University of East Anglia UEA

William Joyce

radio personality · 1906–1946

British fascist and propaganda broadcaster (1906-1946)

Birkbeck, University of London

William Lane Craig

Protestant theologian · b. 1949

American Christian apologist and theologian

University of Birmingham

William Paley

philosopher · 1743–1805

Christian apologist, natural theologian, utilitarian; (1743-1805)

University of Cambridge

Adonxs

singer · b. 1995

Slovak singer

BIMM University

Alexander Siddig

film actor · b. 1965

Sudanese-born English actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Andreas Mogensen

astronaut · b. 1976

Danish astronaut

Imperial College London

Anthony Taylor

association football referee · b. 1978

English football referee

Manchester Metropolitan University

Anya Chalotra

actor · b. 1995

British actress

Guildhall School of Music & Drama · LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Arnold Bax

classical composer · 1883–1953

English composer, poet, and author (1883–1953)

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Avdullah Hoti

politician · b. 1976

Kosovan politician

University of Staffordshire

Ben Hardy

film actor · b. 1991

British actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Bill Bradley

senior advisor · b. 1943

American basketball player and politician (born 1943)

University of Oxford

Bryn Terfel

opera singer · b. 1965

Welsh bass-baritone

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Carme Chacón

university teacher · 1971–2017

Spanish Defense Minister (1971–2017)

University of Manchester

Christian Coulson

film actor · b. 1978

British actor

University of Cambridge

George Buchanan

linguist · 1506–1582

Scottish historian and humanist scholar (1506-1582)

University of St Andrews

Grigol Mgaloblishvili

official · b. 1973

Georgian politician and diplomat; Prime Minister of Georgia (2008-2009)

University of Oxford

Hannah John-Kamen

film actor · b. 1989

British actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

British geophysicist and statistician (1891–1989)

Durham University · Newcastle University · University of Cambridge

Harry Govier Seeley

paleontologist · 1839–1909

British paleontologist (1839-1909)

University of Cambridge

Hasan al-Turabi

theologian · 1932–2016

Sudanese religious and political leader (1932–2016)

King's College London, University of London

Hu'akavameiliku

politician · b. 1970

Prime Minister of Tonga from 2021 to 2024

University of Oxford

British embryologist (1944–2023)

University of Cambridge · University of Nottingham

Isabel dos Santos

socialite · b. 1973

Angolan businesswoman (born 1973)

King's College London, University of London

James Barry

military physician · 1789–1865

19th century British surgeon known for medical reforms and personal life

The University of Edinburgh

James Fox

film actor · b. 1939

English actor (born 1939)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

James Frain

film actor · b. 1968

English stage and screen actor (born 1968)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London · University of East Anglia UEA

Jeremy Northam

film actor · b. 1961

British actor (born 1961)

ARU London

Jess Wade

physicist · b. 1988

British physicist, Wikimedian, and campaigner for gender inclusion in science

Imperial College London

Joe Alwyn

film actor · b. 1991

English actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London · University of Bristol

John Arbuthnot

mathematician · 1667–1735

Scottish physician, satirist and polymath in London (1667-1735)

University of Oxford · University of St Andrews

John Hersey

essayist · 1914–1993

American journalist, novelist, professor (1914-1993)

University of Cambridge

English philosopher

University of Cambridge

John Swinney

politician · b. 1964

Scottish politician (born 1964)

The University of Edinburgh

Jolyon Palmer

Formula One driver · b. 1991

British racing driver

University of Nottingham

Joseph Luns

foreign minister · 1911–2002

Dutch politician and diplomat (1911–2002)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Kate Atkinson

short story writer · b. 1951

English writer of novels, plays and short stories

University of Dundee

Katharine Burr Blodgett

chemist · 1898–1979

American physicist (1898-1979)

University of Cambridge

Lewis Fry Richardson

peace and conflict researcher · 1881–1953

UK mathematician & polymath (1881–1953)

Newcastle University

Lindsay Duncan

film actor · b. 1950

Scottish actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Madeleine Carroll

film actor · 1906–1987

English actress (1906–1987)

University of Birmingham

Malcolm Arnold

jazz musician · 1921–2006

English composer and conductor (1921–2006)

Royal College of Music

Malcolm McLaren

conceptual artist · 1946–2010

English artist, performer and fashion designer (1946–2010)

Goldsmiths, University of London

Margareta of Romania

diplomat · b. 1949

Head of the House of Romania (2017 - present)

The University of Edinburgh

Mark Oliphant

governor · 1901–2000

nuclear physicist, Governor of South Australia (1901–2000)

University of Cambridge

Martin Parr

deltiologist · 1952–2025

British photographer (1952–2025)

Manchester Metropolitan University · Ulster University

Maurice Bishop

politician · 1944–1983

Revolutionary and Grenada 's second Prime Minister (1979-1983)

King's College London, University of London · London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Michael Lewis

economic journalist · b. 1960

American writer

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London