Notable UK university alumni

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

Michaela Coel

manufacturer · b. 1987

British actress and screenwriter

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Mikolas Josef

pop singer · b. 1995

Czech singer-songwriter and former model

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Mohammad Shtayyeh

economist · b. 1958

former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Government under Abbas and Fattah

University of Sussex

Nancy Kwan

television actor · b. 1939

Chinese-American actress

University of Cambridge

Nicholas Kaldor

politician · 1908–1986

Hungarian-British economist

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Nicole Krauss

novelist · b. 1974

American novelist (born 1974)

Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

Patricia Routledge

film actor · 1929–2025

British actress (1929–2025)

University of Liverpool

Rachel Reeves

economist · b. 1979

British politician and current Chancellor of the Exchequer (born 1979)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Rory Kinnear

film actor · b. 1978

English actor (born 1978)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Rupert Sheldrake

parapsychologist · b. 1942

English biochemist, author and parapsychological researcher (*1942)

University of Cambridge

Salmaan Taseer

chartered accountant · 1944–2011

Pakistani politician (1944-2011)

University of Cambridge

Sara Ahmed

cultural studies scholar · b. 1969

British-Australian scholar (b. 1985)

Cardiff University

Sarah Gilbert

immunologist · b. 1962

British vaccinologist

University of East Anglia UEA · University of Hull

Sidney Webb

sociologist · 1859–1947

English socialist economist, 1859–1947 (1859–1947)

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

Sigrid Kaag

diplomat · b. 1961

Dutch diplomat and politician

University of Exeter

Taye Atske Selassie

diplomat · b. 1956

Ethiopian politician and diplomat

Lancaster University

Austrian astrophysicist (1920-2004)

University of Cambridge

William Prout

chemist · 1785–1850

British chemist (1785-1850)

The University of Edinburgh

Yang Jiechi

diplomat · b. 1950

Politburo member of the Chinese Communist Party

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London · University of Bath

A. N. R. Robinson

politician · 1926–2014

President and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago (1926-2014)

ARU London · University of Oxford

Alexander McCall Smith

novelist · b. 1948

British writer

The University of Edinburgh

Alfred Austin

novelist · 1835–1913

British writer and poet (1835–1913)

ARU London

Amir Khan

boxer · b. 1986

British boxer

University of Greater Manchester

Amrit Kaur

freedom fighter · 1889–1964

Indian politician (1889–1964)

University of Oxford

Andrew Smith

explorer · 1797–1872

Scottish surgeon, explorer, ethnologist and zoologist (1797–1872)

The University of Edinburgh

Anne McClain

helicopter pilot · b. 1979

American astronaut

University of Bath · University of Bristol

Antony Flew

philosopher · 1923–2010

British analytic and evidentialist philosopher (1923-2010)

SOAS University of London

British painter (born 1931)

Goldsmiths, University of London · Loughborough University

C. S. Forester

novelist · 1899–1966

British novelist, "Hornblower" author (1899–1966)

King's College London, University of London

Chung Il-kwon

autobiographer · 1917–1994

South Korean general, politician (1917–1994)

University of Oxford

Danny Blanchflower

sports commentator · 1926–1993

Northern Irish footballer (1926-1993)

University of St Andrews

Emily Beecham

film actor · b. 1984

English-born British-American actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Eric Liddell

rugby union player · 1902–1945

Scottish athlete, sprinter, Olympian, Protestant missionary (1902-1945)

The University of Edinburgh

Esha Gupta

beauty pageant contestant · b. 1985

Indian actress

Newcastle University

Example

rapper · b. 1982

British musician

Royal Holloway, University of London

Flora Nwapa

novelist · 1931–1993

Nigerian writer

The University of Edinburgh

Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum

equestrian · b. 1982

Crown Prince of Dubai

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Harini Amarasuriya

academic · b. 1970

Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

The University of Edinburgh

British novelist (1929–2022)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce

legal counselor · 1838–1922

British academic (1838-1922)

University of Glasgow

James D'Arcy

film actor · b. 1975

British actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

James Edward Smith

scientific collector · 1759–1828

English botanist, founder of the Linnean Society of London (1759–1828)

The University of Edinburgh

John Kerr

cleric · 1824–1907

Scottish physicist and pioneer in the field of electro-optics (1824–1907)

University of Glasgow

English theatre, film, television, and radio director

University of Cambridge

John Martyn

recording artist · 1948–2009

British musician (1948–2009)

Glasgow School of Art

Joseph Ngute

minister · b. 1954

Prime Minister of Cameroon

University of Warwick

Justine Greening

economist · b. 1969

British politician (born 1969)

University of Southampton

Indian biochemist (1911–1998)

University of Cambridge

Kamisese Mara

cricketer · 1920–2004

President of Fiji (1920-2004)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Lennie James

television actor · b. 1965

British actor

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

English writer of detective fiction, editor (1904–1966)

University of Westminster, London

Mark Phillips

event rider · b. 1948

English equestrian; first husband of Anne, Princess Royal

Royal Agricultural University