Notable UK university alumni

Alan Cox

blogger · b. 1968

British computer programmer

Swansea University

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

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

veterinary surgeon and writer (1916-1995)

University of Glasgow

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