Notable UK university alumni

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

Micky Dolenz

singer · b. 1945

American actor and musician

Open University

Miguel Alcubierre

theoretical physicist · b. 1964

Mexican theoretical physicist (born 1964)

Cardiff University

Mikie Sherrill

naval officer · b. 1972

American politician, naval aviator, and prosecutor (born 1972)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Nikos Dendias

lawyer · b. 1959

Greek politician

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Patrick Bauchau

film actor · b. 1938

Belgian actor

University of Oxford

British Formula One team owner

University of Birmingham

Pavlos Kontides

sailor · b. 1990

Cypriot yacht racer

University of Southampton

Pearl Mackie

television actor · b. 1987

English actress

University of Bristol

Peter Mark Roget

lexicographer · 1779–1869

English physician and philologist (1779-1869)

The University of Edinburgh

Prince Louis of Luxembourg

aristocrat · b. 1986

third son of the Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg

Birkbeck, University of London · Richmond American University London

R. S. Thomas

librettist · 1913–2000

Welsh poet (1913–2000)

Bangor University

Richard Lovelace

poet · 1617–1658

English writer and poet (1617-1658)

University of Oxford

Robert Rubin

finance minister · b. 1938

American banking executive, 70th US Treasury Secretary

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Robert Sobukwe

activist · 1924–1978

South African teacher, Pan-Africanist, and anti-apartheid activist (1924-1978)

ARU London

Robert Swinhoe

scientific collector · 1836–1877

British diplomat and naturalist (1836-1877)

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

Roy Wood

horn player · b. 1946

English rock musician (born 1946)

University of Derby

Salma Jayyusi

anthologist · 1926–2023

Palestinian poet, writer, translator and anthologist (1926–2023)

SOAS University of London

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

composer · 1875–1912

English composer and conductor (1875–1912)

Royal College of Music

SuRie

singer · b. 1989

English singer

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Susan Cooper

science fiction writer · b. 1935

English-American fantasy writer

University of Oxford

Taiye Selasi

writer · b. 1979

British-American writer and photographer of Nigerian and Ghanaian origin

University of Oxford

Tatiana Schlossberg

journalist · 1990–2025

American journalist and author (1990–2025)

University of Oxford

Tom Wolf

governor · b. 1948

Governor of Pennsylvania from 2015 to 2023

ARU London

Victoria Wood

stand-up comedian · 1953–2016

British comedian (1953–2016)

University of Birmingham

Walter Rodney

activist · 1942–1979

Guyanese Marxist, Pan-Afrianist, and historian (1942-1980)

SOAS University of London

William Cameron Menzies

producer · 1896–1957

American film production designer and art director (1896-1957)

The University of Edinburgh

William Sterndale Bennett

music educator · 1816–1875

British musician (1816-75)

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Yakir Aharonov

university teacher · b. 1932

Israeli physicist

University of Bristol

Yemi Osinbajo

university teacher · b. 1957

14th Vice President of Nigeria

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Zawe Ashton

film director · b. 1984

British actress

Manchester Metropolitan University

Zeinab Badawi

radio journalist · b. 1959

Sudanese-British broadcaster (born 1959)

SOAS University of London

Alex Kapranos

songwriter · b. 1972

Scottish rock musician

University of Aberdeen · University of Strathclyde

Alok Sharma

investment banker · b. 1967

British politician (born 1967)

University of Salford

Andrea Barber

film actor · b. 1976

American actress (born 1976)

University of York

Anna Soubry

journalist · b. 1956

British politician

University of Birmingham

Anne Dudley

music arranger · b. 1956

English composer and pop musician

King's College London, University of London

Antonio Pappano

bass singer · b. 1959

British born, Italian naturalized conductor and pianist

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Armando Iannucci

satirist · b. 1963

Scottish comedian, film director and producer

University of Glasgow

Arthur Brown

songwriter · b. 1942

English singer (born 1942)

ARU London · University of Reading

August Zaleski

university teacher · 1883–1972

Polish economist, politician, and diplomat (1883-1972)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Ayobami Adebayo

novelist · b. 1988

Nigerian author

University of East Anglia UEA

Ben Daniels

film actor · b. 1964

British actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Icelandic politician (1924-2010)

University of Oxford

Benjamin Smith Barton

botanical collector · 1766–1815

American physician, professor, and botanist (1766-1815)

The University of Edinburgh

British writer (1923–2004)

Cardiff University

Birbal Sahni

paleobotanist · 1891–1949

Indian botanist (1891-1949)

ARU London

Burn Gorman

film actor · b. 1974

British actor (born 1974)

Manchester Metropolitan University

Carl I. Hagen

public relations executive · b. 1944

Norwegian politician

University of Sunderland

Carlyle Glean

politician · 1932–2021

Grenadian politician (1932–2021)

University of East Anglia UEA

Charlie Whiting

sports executive · 1952–2019

Formula One race director

London South Bank University

Cicely Saunders

nurse · 1918–2005

English writer, doctor, founder of the hospice care movement, palliative care activist

King's College London, University of London

Claire Keegan

short story writer · b. 1968

Irish writer of short stories

Cardiff University

Clive Standen

film actor · b. 1981

English actor (born 1981)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Dana Ivey

film actor · b. 1941

American actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Dave Holland

recording artist · b. 1946

British jazz musician

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

David Blunkett

diarist · b. 1947

British politician (born 1947)

University of Sheffield

David Slade

manufacturer · b. 1969

British film and television director

Sheffield Hallam University