Notable UK university alumni

Emily Thornberry

barrister · b. 1960

British politician (born 1960)

University of Kent

Etienne Stott

canoeist · b. 1979

English slalom canoeist

University of Nottingham

Fernando Simón

epidemiologist · b. 1963

Spanish epidemiologist (born 1963)

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London

Frank Kermode

literary scholar · 1919–2010

Manx writer, literary critic and professor (1919–2010)

University of Liverpool

Gail Dines

feminist · b. 1958

anti-pornography campaigner

University of Salford

Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chiepe

diplomat · 1922–2025

Motswana politician (1922–2025)

University of Bristol

Gavin Douglas

linguist · 1474–1522

Scottish churchman, scholar, poet

University of St Andrews

George Carey

Anglican priest · b. 1935

Anglican bishop (1935-)

King's College London, University of London

Georgie Twigg

field hockey player · b. 1990

British field hockey player

University of Bristol

Giselle Ansley

field hockey player · b. 1992

British field hockey player

Loughborough University

Ugandan-South African researcher

University of Sunderland

Göran Malmqvist

sinologist · 1924–2019

Swedish linguist and sinologist, Member of the Swedish Academy (1924-2019)

ARU London

Greg Clark

politician · b. 1967

British politician (born 1967)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Gwyneth Jones

opera singer · b. 1936

Welsh operatic soprano

Royal College of Music

Haleh Afshar

political scientist · 1944–2022

British baroness

University of York

Hannah Macleod

field hockey player · b. 1984

British field hockey player

Loughborough University

Saudi Arabian professor

University of Manchester

Helen Joseph

trade unionist · 1905–1992

British-born South African activist (1905-1992)

King's College London, University of London

Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville

jurist · 1742–1811

Scottish advocate and politician (1742-1811)

The University of Edinburgh

Ibrahim Gambari

diplomat · b. 1944

Nigerian scholar and diplomat

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Jadwiga Piłsudska

aircraft pilot · 1920–2014

Polish pilot (1920-2014)

University of Liverpool

James Burnett, Lord Monboddo

anthropologist · 1714–1799

Scottish judge, scholar of language evolution and philosopher

The University of Edinburgh · University of Aberdeen

James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife

aristocrat · 1929–2015

Scottish noble (1929-2015)

Royal Agricultural University

James Cracknell

ocean rower · b. 1972

British rower

Brunel University of London · University of Reading

James Wilby

film actor · b. 1958

British actor

Durham University

James Wordie

explorer · 1889–1962

Scottish polar explorer (1889–1962)

University of Glasgow

Jason Cooper

drummer · b. 1967

British drummer

BIMM University

Jemima Goldsmith

activist · b. 1974

British screenwriter, television, film and documentary producer

SOAS University of London · University of Bristol

Jenny Meadows

middle-distance runner · b. 1981

British athletics competitor

Liverpool Hope University

murdered English journalist and television presenter (1961–1999)

Cardiff Metropolitan University · University Centre Weston

Jim McGreevey

lobbyist · b. 1957

former Governor of New Jersey

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

John C. Wells

esperantologist · b. 1939

British phonetician and Esperanto teacher

ARU London

John Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair

politician · 1847–1934

British politician, Governor General of Canada (1847-1934)

University of St Andrews

John Laurie

film actor · 1897–1980

Scottish actor (1897–1980)

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

John R. Saul

philosopher · b. 1947

Canadian writer, International PEN president and public intellectual

King's College London, University of London

John Rennie

civil engineer · 1761–1821

engineer from Scotland (1761-1821)

The University of Edinburgh

John Scott Russell

civil engineer · 1808–1882

British naval engineer (1808–1882)

University of Glasgow · University of St Andrews

John Sims

taxonomist · 1749–1831

English physician and botanist (1749–1831)

The University of Edinburgh

John Witherspoon

theologian · 1723–1794

Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and Founding Father of the United States (1723–1794)

The University of Edinburgh

Jon McLaughlin

association football player · b. 1987

Scottish association football player

Leeds Beckett University

José Ángel Gurría

general secretary · b. 1950

Mexican economist and diplomat

University of Leeds

Julia Sebutinde

jurist · b. 1954

Ugandan judge

The University of Edinburgh

Julian Richings

film actor · b. 1956

English Canadian actor

University of Exeter

Karmenu Vella

politician · b. 1950

politician

Sheffield Hallam University

British biologist (1954-2012) Professor of Animal Development at the University of Nottingham

ARU London

Swedish journalist (1987-2017)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Canadian rower

University of Bristol

English poet, academic, literary critic (1881-1938)

University of Manchester

László Andor

economist · b. 1966

Hungarian politician, economist and European Commissioner (1966–)

University of Manchester

Liam Tancock

swimmer · b. 1985

British swimmer, Olympic athlete, world champion, former world record-holder

Loughborough University

Lionel Zinsou

investment banker · b. 1954

French investment banker, economist and private banker

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

British artist (born 1977)

Falmouth University

Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon

physicist · 1928–2016

Indian physicist

University of Bristol

Margaret Archer

sociologist · 1943–2023

British sociologist (1943–2023)

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

British scholar in Iranian Studies (1920–2006)

SOAS University of London

Matthias Maurer

materials scientist · b. 1970

German ESA astronaut

University of Leeds

Max Beesley

jazz musician · b. 1971

British actor and musician

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Maxwell Tylden Masters

botanist · 1833–1907

British botanist (1833-1907)

King's College London, University of London · University of St Andrews

Michelle Donelan

politician · b. 1984

British politician

University of York

Mick Hucknall

musician · b. 1960

English singer, songwriter and lead singer of Simply Red

Manchester Metropolitan University