Notable UK university alumni
13,528 people who studied at a UK university and have Wikipedia coverage. Ranked by international notability (number of language Wikipedias they appear in). Sourced from Wikidata.
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
Rik Mayall
autobiographer · 1958–2014
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
Harold Jeffreys
geophysicist · 1891–1989
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
Ian Wilmut
embryologist · 1944–2023
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
John Michell
natural philosopher · 1724–1793
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