Notable UK university alumni

Scottish mathematician

The University of Edinburgh · University of St Andrews

James Steuart

economist · 1712–1780

Scottish economist

The University of Edinburgh

Jem

recording artist · b. 1975

Welsh singer, songwriter, and record producer

University of Sussex

British painter (born 1970)

Glasgow School of Art

Jill Scott

association football player · b. 1987

English association football player

Loughborough University

John Crawfurd

linguist · 1783–1868

British historian

The University of Edinburgh

John Gribbin

science fiction writer · b. 1946

British science writer

University of Sussex

John Leckie

engineer · b. 1949

British record producer

Ravensbourne University London

John Murray

botanist · 1841–1914

Scottish oceanographer, marine biologist and limnologist (1841-1914)

The University of Edinburgh

Jonathan Brownlee

triathlete · b. 1990

British triathlete

University of Leeds

Julio Alonso Ortega

sailor · b. 2000

Sailor and world champion

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

Karen Carney

reality television participant · b. 1987

English association football player (born 1987)

Loughborough University

Konstantinos Tsaldaris

head of government · 1884–1970

Prime Minister of Greece (1884-1970)

ARU London

Leslie Stephen

lexicographer · 1832–1904

English writer and mountaineer (1832–1904)

King's College London, University of London

Leyla Hussein

psychologist · b. 1980

British psychotherapist and social activist

University of West London

Lisa Brennan-Jobs

essayist · b. 1978

American writer

King's College London, University of London

Lucy Burns

feminist · 1879–1966

American suffragist (1879-1966)

University of Oxford

Manuel Esquivel

politician · 1940–2022

Belizean politician (1940–2022)

University of Bristol

Margaret MacDonald

visual artist · 1865–1933

British artist (1865-1933)

Glasgow School of Art

Marina Mahathir

activist · b. 1957

Daughter of Mahathir Mohamad

University of Sussex

Martyn Rooney

athletics competitor · b. 1987

athletics competitor

Loughborough University

English novelist (1916–2014)

Durham University

British stage and film actress (1933-1975)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Matt Haig

business consultant · b. 1975

British writer (born 1975)

University of Hull

Menzies Campbell

sprinter · 1941–2025

Scottish politician (1941–2025)

University of Glasgow

Michael Beck

actor · b. 1949

American actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Michael Malarkey

film actor · b. 1983

British-American actor and musician (born 1983)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Michael Victor Berry

theoretical physicist · b. 1941

British physicist

University of St Andrews

Minette Walters

novelist · b. 1949

British crime writer

Durham University

Mitch Hewer

film actor · b. 1989

English actor

University of Bristol

Vice President of Syria

The University of Edinburgh

Nalo Hopkinson

science fiction writer · b. 1960

Jamaican-born Canadian writer

Anglia Ruskin University

Neil Harbisson

experimental artist · b. 1984

British artist and cyborg activist

Falmouth University

Nexhat Daci

university teacher · 1944–2026

Kosovan politician

University of Bradford

Nicholas Stern, Baron Stern of Brentford

university teacher · b. 1946

British economist and academic (born 1946)

University of Oxford

Ola Brown

helicopter pilot · b. 1986

British-Nigerian medical doctor, healthcare entrepreneur

ARU London · University of Hull

Olivier Blanchard

university teacher · b. 1948

French economist and professor

ESCP Business School

Pamela Rendi-Wagner

women's rights activist · b. 1971

Austrian physician and politician (born 1971)

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London

Perrie Edwards

songwriter · b. 1993

British singer

Newcastle University

Peter Chelsom

film actor · b. 1956

British film director, actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Peter James

prose writer · b. 1948

British writer

Ravensbourne University London

Peter Lord

director · b. 1953

British animator

University of York

Peter Pears

opera singer · 1910–1986

English tenor (1910–1986)

Royal College of Music

English actor

University of Bristol

Phyllida Lloyd

opera director · b. 1957

British film and theatre director

University of Birmingham

Prafulla Chandra Ray

autobiographer · 1861–1944

Bengali chemist, educationist, poet, historian, industrialist and philanthropist (1861–1944)

The University of Edinburgh

Ralph Abercromby

military officer · 1734–1801

Scottish soldier and politician; (1734-1801)

The University of Edinburgh

Richard Briers

film actor · 1934–2013

English actor (1934–2013)

London South Bank University

Ricky Whittle

model · b. 1981

English actor and model

University of Southampton

Robert Edmond Grant

anatomist · 1793–1874

British anatomist and zoologist (1793-1874)

The University of Edinburgh

Robert Simson

historian of mathematics · 1687–1768

British mathematician; (1687-1768)

University of Glasgow

Roger Norrington

musician · 1934–2025

British conductor (1934–2025)

Royal College of Music

Roy Harrod

economist · 1900–1978

English economist (1900–1978)

University of Oxford

Sadiq al-Mahdi

politician · 1935–2020

Prime Minister of Sudan (1966–1967, 1986–1989)

University of Oxford

Salahuddin of Selangor

politician · 1926–2001

Sultan of Selangor (1926-2001)

SOAS University of London

Sam Battle

museum professional · b. 1989

English singer-songwriter, music producer and YouTuber (born 1989)

University of Hull

Samantha Harvey

university teacher · b. 1975

English writer (born 1975)

Bath Spa University

Samuel Daniel

playwright · 1563–1619

Poet and historian

University of Oxford

Sandrine Holt

film actor · b. 1972

British-born Canadian actress

ARU London

Sati Kazanova

singer · b. 1982

Russian pop music singer in the girl group Fabrika (b.1982)

Royal Academy of Music, University of London