Notable UK university alumni

British composer (1878–1960)

Royal College of Music

author

University of Birmingham

British actor (1943–2014)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

advertising person · b. 1980

Ghanaian politician

University of Leicester

Santa Montefiore

writer · b. 1970

British author

University of Exeter

Sarah Darwin

botanist · b. 1964

British botanist

University of Reading

Sarah Gavron

film director · b. 1970

British film director

University of York

Sarah Harrison

journalist · b. 1982

journalist

Queen Mary University of London

Seamus Deane

literary scholar · 1940–2021

Irish writer and critic (1940-2021)

Queen's University Belfast

Pakistani philanthropist and businessman (1975–2023)

University of Buckingham

Shan Masood

cricketer · b. 1989

cricketer

Durham University

Canadian actor

University of York

Shridath Ramphal

diplomat · 1928–2024

Guyanese diplomat (1928-2024)

King's College London, University of London

Sidonie Goossens

music educator · 1899–2004

British musician (1899–2004)

Royal College of Music

Simon Hart

politician · b. 1963

Welsh Conservative party politician and MP (born 1963)

Royal Agricultural University

Scottish actress

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet

military officer · 1761–1827

Scottish soldier and colonial administrator

University of Glasgow

Sope Dirisu

stage actor · b. 1991

British actor

University of Birmingham

Stella Nyanzi

anthropologist · b. 1974

Ugandan medical anthropologist, human rights defender, social justice activist, politician, poet and Facebooker

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London

Stéphan Caron

swimmer · b. 1966

French swimmer

ESCP Business School

Stephanie Twell

athletics competitor · b. 1989

British runner

University of Winchester

Stephen Blackehart

television actor · b. 1967

American actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

field hockey player

Ulster University

British rower

Durham University

Steve Reed

politician · b. 1963

British politician (born 1963)

University of Sheffield

association football player from England (born 1967)

University of Central Lancashire

British actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas

philosopher · 1931–2026

Expert in Islamic studies and writer from Malaysia (1931–2026)

SOAS University of London

Nigerian civil servant (1925 – 2013)

Chesterfield College

Terry Deary

children's writer · b. 1946

English writer

University of Sunderland

Theo Travis

saxophonist · b. 1964

British saxophonist

University of Manchester

Theresa Lardi Awuni

politician · b. 1979

Ghanaian politician

Liverpool John Moores University

Tito Mboweni

economist · 1959–2024

South African politician

University of East Anglia UEA

Toby Flood

rugby union player · b. 1985

English rugby union footballer

Northumbria University, Newcastle

Tony Ross

picture book writer · b. 1938

English illustrator and writer of children's books (born 1938)

Liverpool John Moores University

Urooj Mumtaz

cricketer · b. 1985

Pakistani woman cricketer

University of Sheffield

Walter Feit

university teacher · 1930–2004

Austrian-American mathematician (1930-2004)

Oxford Brookes University

Walter O'Brien

white hat · b. 1978

Irish businessman, founder of Scorpion Computer Services

University of Sussex

William Bruce

architect · 1630–1710

Scottish architect (1630-1710)

University of St Andrews

William Eccles

meteorologist · 1875–1966

British physicist (1875–1966)

Imperial College London

William Henry Preece

civil engineer · 1834–1913

British scientist (1834–1913)

King's College London, University of London

William Wright

military physician · 1735–1819

British physician, botanist and slave owner (1735-1819)

University of St Andrews

Winnie Ewing

autobiographer · 1929–2023

Scottish politician (1929–2023)

University of Glasgow

Yvonne Brewster

director · 1938–2025

Jamaican actress, theatre director and theatre manager (1938–2025)

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Zoe Boyle

actor · b. 1989

English actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

British actress

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Abang Johari

politician · b. 1950

Premier of Sarawak since 2017

Brunel University of London

former Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari

University of Warwick

Abdullah Abdurahman

politician · 1872–1940

South African politician and physician (1872–1940)

University of Glasgow

Abigail Marshall Katung

politician · b. 1973

member of Leeds City Council

University of Leeds

Adar Poonawalla

businessperson · b. 1981

CEO of Serum Institute of India.

University of Westminster, London

Adrian Johns

naval officer · b. 1951

Royal Navy admiral

Imperial College London

Aikitu Tanakadate

geophysicist · 1856–1952

Japanese physicist

University of Glasgow

Aimee Willmott

swimmer · b. 1993

British swimmer, Olympic athlete, Commonwealth Games silver medallist

Teesside University · University of East London

Alan Milburn

administrator · b. 1958

British politician (born 1958)

Lancaster University

epidemiologist

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of London

Alenka Ermenc

military officer · b. 1963

Slovenian military officer

King's College London, University of London

Alexander Nix

director · b. 1975

British businessman

University of Manchester

British scientist

University of Aberdeen

Alfred Ainger

hymnwriter · 1837–1904

English biographer and critic (1837-1904)

King's College London, University of London