Notable UK university alumni

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

Mickey Levy

police officer · b. 1951

Speaker of the 24th Knesset, former police officer

University of Derby

Mirza Tahir Ahmad

Khalifa · 1928–2003

Fourth Caliph of the Messiah (1928–2003)

SOAS University of London

Mo Ibrahim

entrepreneur · b. 1946

Sudanese-British businessman

University of Birmingham · University of Bradford

Mohamed Tahir Ayala

politician · 1951–2025

Sudanese politician

Cardiff University

Mr. Scruff

club DJ · b. 1972

British DJ and record producer

Sheffield Hallam University

Muhtar Kent

entrepreneur · b. 1952

Turkish-American businessperson (born 1952)

University of Hull

Nana Kagga

chemical engineer · b. 1979

Ugandan screenwriter, filmmaker and actress

University of Birmingham

English author, novelist, game writer and television producer (born 1974)

University of East Anglia UEA

former derivatives broker

Middlesex University

Nicky Wire

singer · b. 1969

Welsh musician and songwriter

Swansea University

Nicolai Cleve Broch

film actor · b. 1975

Norwegian actor

Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Nikolai Mladenov

politician · b. 1972

Bulgarian politician

King's College London, University of London

Greek racing car designer

Imperial College London

Norma Varden

film actor · 1898–1989

English actress (1898-1989)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

British professional wrestler and actor (1937-2004)

University of Liverpool

Pat Symonds

engineer · b. 1953

British motorsport engineer

Cranfield University

Paul Bennett

rower · b. 1988

British rower

King's College London, University of London

Paul Bérenger

foreign minister · b. 1945

Prime Minister of Mauritius from 2003 to 2005

Bangor University

Paul Nuttall

researcher · b. 1976

British politician

Edge Hill University · Liverpool Hope University · University of Central Lancashire

Peter Asher

television actor · b. 1944

British guitarist, singer, manager and record producer

King's College London, University of London

British film director

Leeds Beckett University

Philip Pettit

philosopher · b. 1945

Irish philosopher and political theorist

Queen's University Belfast

Prakash Karat

university teacher · b. 1948

Indian politician

The University of Edinburgh

Prince Abdul Azim of Brunei

activist · 1982–2020

Bruneian Royal (1982–2020)

Oxford Brookes University

Nigerian physicist and academic

University of Reading

Raghbir Singh Bhola

field hockey player · 1927–2019

Indian field hockey player (1927-2019)

Cranfield University

Raj Patel

political activist · b. 1972

British academic (born 1972)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Ralph Brown

film actor · b. 1957

English actor and writer

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Ralph Erskine

urban planner · 1914–2005

Swedish architect (1914–2005)

University of Westminster, London

Reginald McKenna

banker · 1863–1943

British banker and Liberal politician (1863-1943)

ARU London

Richard Bonynge

pianist · b. 1930

Australian conductor and pianist

Royal College of Music

English actor

University of York

Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane

philosopher · 1856–1928

British politician (1856-1928)

The University of Edinburgh

Richard Wiseman

non-fiction writer · b. 1966

British psychologist

The University of Edinburgh

Richmal Crompton

humorist · 1890–1969

English short-story writer and novelist (1890–1969)

Royal Holloway, University of London

British actress

University of Southampton

athletics competitor (1939–2022)

Loughborough University

Robert Morison

botanist · 1620–1683

British botanist (1620-1683)

University of Aberdeen

Rosa Namises

politician · b. 1958

Namibian politician and human rights activist

ARU London

Ross Murdoch

swimmer · b. 1994

Scottish swimmer

University of Stirling

Film Director

University of the Arts London

Ruth Kelly

banker · b. 1968

British politician and Cabinet minister (born 1968)

London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London

Ruth Ware

novelist · b. 1977

British author of crime thrillers

University of Manchester

Samuel L. Mitchill

ichthyologist · 1764–1831

American politician (1764-1831)

The University of Edinburgh

Sarah Brown

activist · b. 1963

British campaigner for global health and education

University of Bristol

Sarah Goldberg

actor · b. 1985

Canadian actress

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Sarah Lucas

installation artist · b. 1962

English photographer and sculptor (born 1962)

Goldsmiths, University of London

Savina Yannatou

songwriter · b. 1959

Greek singer and composer

Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Sigala

recording artist · b. 1993

English DJ and record producer

University of Westminster, London

Simon Bird

film actor · b. 1984

British actor and comedian

Birkbeck, University of London

Simon Wells

film director · b. 1961

English film director

De Montfort University

Sir James Outram, 1st Baronet

military commander · 1803–1863

British general (1803–1863)

University of Aberdeen

Sorley MacLean

school teacher · 1911–1996

Scottish poet (1911–1996)

The University of Edinburgh

British game designer

Harper and Keele Veterinary School