Notable UK university alumni

Spencer Davis

guitarist · 1939–2020

British musician (1939–2020)

University of Birmingham

Stereo Mike

musicologist · b. 1978

Greek singer

Leeds Beckett University · University of Westminster, London

British javelin thrower

Loughborough University

Susan Dougan

politician · b. 1955

Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (2019-2026)

ARU London

Sybil Thorndike

suffragist · 1882–1976

British actress (1882–1976)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Greek academic and politician

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

British writer (1787-1869)

The University of Edinburgh

Tom Scott

science journalist

British science communicator

University of York

Trevor Jones

film score composer · b. 1949

South African film score composer

Royal Academy of Music, University of London · University of York

Varun Gandhi

politician · b. 1980

Indian politician

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

W. O. Bentley

automotive engineer · 1888–1971

British automotive engineer (1888-1971)

King's College London, University of London

William Phillips

economist · 1914–1975

New Zealand economist (1914–1975)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

William Robertson

historian · 1721–1793

British historian, minister of religion, and principal of the University of Edinburgh (1721-1793)

The University of Edinburgh

Zack Polanski

hypnotherapist · b. 1982

British politician (born 1982)

Aberystwyth University

Alastair Reynolds

science fiction writer · b. 1966

British science fiction author (born 1966)

Newcastle University · University of St Andrews

Alexander Windsor, Earl of Ulster

military personnel · b. 1974

only son of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

King's College London, University of London

Alison Goldfrapp

musician · b. 1966

English musician and record producer (born 1966)

Middlesex University

Jamaican-English author

Middlesex University · Open University

Ara Malikian

violinist · b. 1968

Armenian musician

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Archibald Menzies

scientific collector · 1754–1842

Scottish surgeon, botanist and naturalist (1754-1842)

The University of Edinburgh

Arthur Benjamin

music educator · 1893–1960

Australian composer, pianist, conductor and teacher

Royal College of Music

Arthur St. Clair

military officer · 1737–1818

American soldier and politician (1737-1818)

The University of Edinburgh

Asha de Vos

marine biologist · b. 1979

marine biologist

University of Oxford · University of St Andrews

Asha Philip

trampoline gymnast · b. 1990

British sprinter

Kingston University

Balfour Stewart

meteorologist · 1828–1887

British scientist (1828–1887)

The University of Edinburgh · University of St Andrews

Barbara Thompson

jazz musician · 1944–2022

English jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer (1944–2022)

Royal College of Music

British actor (1938–2013)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Beth Tweddle

artistic gymnast · b. 1985

British artistic gymnast (born 1985)

Liverpool John Moores University

Brandon Lewis

politician · b. 1971

British politician (born 1971)

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

Bruce Babbitt

jurist · b. 1938

American lawyer and politician

Newcastle University

Bruno Heller

director · b. 1960

British screenwriter and producer (born 1960)

University of Sussex

Carl Barât

guitarist · b. 1978

English musician

Brunel University of London

Charles Blagden

physical chemist · 1748–1820

British physician and scientist (1748–1820)

The University of Edinburgh

Charles Wyville Thomson

biologist · 1830–1882

Scottish marine zoologist (1830-1882)

The University of Edinburgh

Chelsie Giles

judoka · b. 1997

British judoka

University of Wolverhampton

Christopher Tin

film score composer · b. 1976

American composer

Royal College of Music · University of Oxford

Dan Smith

singer-songwriter · b. 1986

English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

University of Leeds

Dave Ball

musician · 1959–2025

English record producer and electronic musician (1959–2025)

Leeds Beckett University

David Adjaye

furniture designer · b. 1966

architect (born 1966)

London South Bank University

David Almond

young adult author · b. 1951

British children's writer (born 1951)

University of East Anglia UEA

David Beaton

Catholic bishop · 1494–1546

Catholic cardinal (1494-1546)

University of Glasgow · University of St Andrews

David Douglas

explorer · 1799–1834

Scottish botanist (1799–1834)

University of Glasgow

David Mackenzie

film producer · b. 1966

British film director

University of Dundee

David Oakes

television actor · b. 1983

English actor (born 1983)

University of Manchester

Denise Mina

comics writer · b. 1966

British crime writer and playwright

University of Glasgow · University of Strathclyde

Dukinfield Henry Scott

botanist · 1854–1934

British botanist (1854-1934)

University of Oxford

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche

commentator · b. 1961

Buddhist master, writer and filmmaker

SOAS University of London

Edith Abbott

social worker · 1876–1957

American economist (1876-1957)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Edmund Ho

politician · b. 1955

Chinese politician

University of York

Edmund Rubbra

musicologist · 1901–1986

British composer (1901-1986)

Royal College of Music · University of Reading

Edward Albert Sharpey-Schäfer

physiologist · 1850–1935

English physiologist (1850–1935)

The University of Edinburgh

Edwin Morgan

visual poet · 1920–2010

Scottish poet and translator (1920-2010)

University of Glasgow

Ellen Wilkinson

trade unionist · 1891–1947

British Labour Party politician (1891–1947)

University of Manchester

Governor-General of Belize from 1981 to 1993

University of Birmingham · University of Nottingham

Emily Blackwell

obstetrician · 1826–1910

English-born American physician

The University of Edinburgh

Evelyn Underhill

novelist · 1875–1941

British mystic, poet, and novelist (1875–1941)

King's College London, University of London

Frederick G. Donnan

university teacher · 1870–1956

Irish scientist (1870-1956)

Queen's University Belfast

Gabriela Montero

music arranger · b. 1970

Venezuelan musician

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Gemma Gibbons

judoka · b. 1987

British judoka

The University of Edinburgh · University of Bath · University of East London

Gordon Pirie

athletics competitor · 1931–1991

athletics competitor (1931–1991)

St Mary's University, Twickenham