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.
Alan Cox
blogger · b. 1968
British computer programmer
Swansea University
Alfred J. Lotka
biophysicist · 1880–1949
American mathematician (1880–1949)
University of Birmingham
Alice Oseman
young adult author · b. 1994
English author of young adult fiction
Durham University
Alistair Darling
biographer · 1953–2023
British Labour Party politician (1953–2023)
University of Aberdeen
Andy Goldsworthy
environmental artist · b. 1956
British sculptor and photographer (born 1956)
University of Bradford · University of Central Lancashire
Angel Coulby
film actor · b. 1980
English actress
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
Angela Beesley Starling
researcher · b. 1977
co-founder of Wikia
Aston University, Birmingham
Angus Macfadyen
film actor · b. 1963
Scottish actor
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London · The University of Edinburgh
Anne Sofie von Otter
opera singer · b. 1955
Swedish mezzo-soprano (born 1955)
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Arlene Foster
politician · b. 1970
British politician (born 1970)
Queen's University Belfast
Arnon Milchan
art collector · b. 1944
Israeli film producer and spy (born 1944)
London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
Charles Kennedy
journalist · 1959–2015
British politician (1959-2015)
University of Glasgow
Colin Baker
explorer · b. 1943
English actor
LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
film actor · b. 1986
American actress
University of Oxford
Dario Marianelli
film score composer · b. 1963
Italian composer
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
David Cox
statistician · 1924–2022
English statistician (1924–2022)
University of Leeds
David Lewis
philosopher · 1941–2001
American philosopher (1941–2001)
University of Oxford
Deng Yaping
table tennis player · b. 1973
Chinese table tennis player
University of Nottingham
Derren Brown
hypnotist · b. 1971
British illusionist and writer
University of Bristol
Edward Walter Maunder
astronomer · 1851–1928
English astronomer studying sunspots
King's College London, University of London
Emma Donoghue
literary historian · b. 1969
Irish novelist, playwright, short-story writer and historian
University of Cambridge
Eniola Aluko
association football player · b. 1987
English association football player (born 1987)
Brunel University of London
Eric Garcetti
climate activist · b. 1971
American politician and diplomat (born 1971)
London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
Frederic Bartlett
university teacher · 1886–1969
British psychologist and academic (1886–1969)
University of Cambridge
Frederick Griffith
microbiologist · 1877–1941
British bacteriologist
University of Liverpool
Fredrik Barth
social anthropologist · 1928–2016
Norwegian social anthropologist (1928–2016)
University of Cambridge
Graeme Le Saux
association football player · b. 1968
English footballer (born 1968)
Kingston University
Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich, Grand Duke of Russia
art collector · 1917–1992
pretender to the Russian throne from 1938–1992; son of Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich and Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
ARU London
Grant Shapps
minister · b. 1968
British politician, Secretary of State for Defence
Manchester Metropolitan University
Harrison Birtwistle
music educator · 1934–2022
English composer (1934–2022)
Royal Academy of Music, University of London
Henry Wood
university teacher · 1869–1944
English conductor (1869–1944)
Royal Academy of Music, University of London
Ian Hacking
philosopher · 1936–2023
Canadian philosopher (1936–2023)
University of Cambridge
Ibn Warraq
journalist · b. 1946
Pakistani writer
The University of Edinburgh
James Braid
hypnotherapist · 1795–1860
Scottish surgeon, hypnotist, and hypnotherapist (1795–1860)
The University of Edinburgh
James Callis
film actor · b. 1971
British actor
LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art) · University of York
James David Forbes
glaciologist · 1809–1868
Scottish physicist and glaciologist (1809–1868)
The University of Edinburgh
James Herriot
autobiographer · 1916–1995
veterinary surgeon and writer (1916-1995)
University of Glasgow
John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer
aristocrat · 1924–1992
British peer (1924-1992); father of Diana, Princess of Wales
Royal Agricultural University
Joseph Bell
pathologist · 1837–1911
Scottish physician (1837–1911)
The University of Edinburgh
Karla Souza
film actor · b. 1985
Mexican actress (born 1985)
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London
Kate Nelligan
film actor · b. 1950
Canadian actress
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London
Mark Feuerstein
film actor · b. 1971
American actor
LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)
Martin Lowry
chemist · 1874–1936
English chemist (1874–1936)
Imperial College London
Mary Midgley
ethicist · 1919–2018
British philosopher and ethicist (1919–2018)
Durham University · Newcastle University
Matt Hancock
economist · b. 1978
British politician (born 1978)
University of Cambridge · University of Oxford
Max Irons
film actor · b. 1985
British actor
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Michael Tippett
musicologist · 1905–1998
English composer (1905-1996)
Royal College of Music
MyAnna Buring
film actor · b. 1979
Swedish actress
LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)
Naledi Pandor
minister · b. 1953
South African politician
ARU London
Neelie Kroes
politician · b. 1941
Dutch politician (born 1941)
University of Hull
Park Won-soon
politician · 1956–2020
Korean lawyer, Mayor of Seoul (1956-2020)
ARU London · London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
Paul Young
recording artist · b. 1956
English musician (born 1956)
Imperial College London
Ray Davies
rock musician · b. 1944
British singer and musician
Middlesex University · University of West London
Robert Stirling
cleric · 1790–1878
clergyman, engineer, inventor of the Stirling engine (1790–1878)
The University of Edinburgh · University of Glasgow
Roger Whittaker
recording artist · 1936–2023
British singer-songwriter and musician
Bangor University
Russell Kirk
peace activist · 1918–1994
American political theorist, moralist, historian, social critic, literary critic, and writer (1918–1994)
University of St Andrews
Said Musa
politician · b. 1944
3rd Prime Minister of Belize from 1998 to 2008
University of Manchester
Sara Danius
literary scholar · 1962–2019
Swedish academic
University of Nottingham
Silvester Belt
pop singer · b. 1997
Lithuanian singer and songwriter
University of Westminster, London
Simon Callow
film actor · b. 1949
British actor
Queen's University Belfast