Notable UK university alumni

Amanda Donohoe

film actor · b. 1962

British actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Anjem Choudary

Islamic extremist · b. 1967

British Muslim social and political activist

University of Southampton

Ann Todd

film actor · 1907–1993

British actress (1907–1993)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Anna Chancellor

film actor · b. 1965

English actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Anton Lesser

film actor · b. 1952

English actor

University of Liverpool

Archibald Geikie

volcanologist · 1835–1924

British geologist (1835–1924)

The University of Edinburgh

Arthur Bliss

choreographer · 1891–1975

English composer and conductor (1891–1975)

Royal College of Music

Ashley Jensen

film actor · b. 1969

British actress

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Ben Elton

stand-up comedian · b. 1959

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director

University of Manchester

Bevil Rudd

athletics competitor · 1895–1948

athletics competitor (1894–1948)

University of Oxford

English playwright, screenwriter and novelist

Open University

Chang Taek-sang

journalist · 1893–1969

Prime Minister of South Korea (1893-1969)

The University of Edinburgh

American sociologist (1929–2008)

University of Oxford

Charlie Brooker

journalist · b. 1971

journalist, broadcaster and writer from England

University of Westminster, London

Chris Lowe

keyboardist · b. 1959

British musician, singer, and member of Pet Shop Boys

University of Liverpool

Clem Burke

drummer · 1954–2025

American drummer (1954–2025)

University of Gloucestershire

Cornelius Sim

Catholic bishop · 1951–2021

Catholic bishop (1951–2021)

University of Dundee

Nigerian author (1921-2007)

ARU London

Damson Idris

television actor · b. 1991

British actor

Brunel University of London

David Gandy

model · b. 1980

British model (born 1980)

University of Gloucestershire

British-born Australian botanist and ecologist (1914-2018)

Imperial College London

David Warren

adviser · 1925–2010

Australian inventor (1925-2010)

Imperial College London

Ehsan Yarshater

writer · 1920–2018

Iranian historian and linguist (1920–2018)

SOAS University of London

Eric Lander

epidemiologist · b. 1957

director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Science Advisor to the President

University of Oxford

Fatima Bhutto

journalist · b. 1982

Pakistani writer

SOAS University of London

Fei Xiaotong

anthropologist · 1910–2005

Chinese anthropologist, sociologist (1910-2005)

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

Frances Yates

philosophy historian · 1899–1981

English historian of the Renaissance (1899–1981)

ARU London

Froyla Tzalam

anthropologist · b. 1971

Governor-General of Belize

University of Sussex

Gary Stevens

beach soccer player · b. 1963

English association football player (born 1963)

University of Salford

Geoffrey Burbidge

university teacher · 1925–2010

British astronomer (1925–2010)

ARU London · University of Bristol

George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon

diplomat · 1827–1909

British politician (1827–1909)

University of Oxford

English artist (1903–1980)

Goldsmiths, University of London

English songwriter, musician and record producer

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Helen Dunmore

novelist · 1952–2017

British novelist (1952–2017)

University of York

Hilary Benn

politician · b. 1953

British politician (born 1953)

University of Sussex

Huỳnh Thị Thanh Thủy

model · b. 2002

Vietnamese beauty pageant titleholder

University of Greenwich

Isaac HaLevy Herzog

rabbi · 1888–1959

1st Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Israel (1888–1959)

ARU London

James Faulkner

film actor · b. 1948

English actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

James Legge

sinologist · 1815–1897

Scottish missionary and translator (1815–1897)

University of Aberdeen

Jean-Marc Barr

film actor · b. 1960

French-American actor and director

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Jemma Redgrave

film actor · b. 1965

British actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Jim Carter

film actor · b. 1948

British actor

University of Sussex

Joakim Bonnier

Formula One driver · 1930–1972

Swedish racing driver

University of Oxford

John Bull

music professor · 1562–1628

English composer, musician and organ builder

University of Oxford

John Leslie

linguist · 1766–1832

British mathematician and physicist (1766–1832)

The University of Edinburgh · University of St Andrews

Jonathan Coe

novelist · b. 1961

English novelist

University of Warwick

Karim Ahmad Khan

barrister · b. 1970

British lawyer, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court

King's College London, University of London

Kate Raworth

university teacher · b. 1970

English economist

University of Oxford

Kelly Sotherton

athletics competitor · b. 1976

Welsh athletics (sport) competitor

Brunel University of London

Kelvin Felix

Catholic bishop · 1933–2024

Dominican Catholic cardinal (1933–2024)

University of Bradford

Leonie Benesch

film actor · b. 1991

German actress

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Lina M. Khan

legal scholar · b. 1989

American legal scholar and jurist (born 1989)

University of Oxford

Linda Park

film actor · b. 1978

South Korean actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Little Boots

recording artist · b. 1984

English electronic musician and singer

University of Leeds

Lynden Pindling

politician · 1930–2000

Bahamian politician (1930-2000)

King's College London, University of London

Maisie Richardson-Sellers

film actor · b. 1992

English actress

University of Oxford

Mark Millar

comics writer · b. 1969

Scottish comic book writer

University of Glasgow

American-Canadian actor and musician (b. 1941)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Michael Morpurgo

young adult author · b. 1943

British children's writer

King's College London, University of London

Michael Ruse

philosopher · 1940–2024

British-Canadian science philosopher (1940–2024)

University of Bristol