Notable UK university alumni

James Heappey

politician · b. 1981

British politician (born 1981)

University of Birmingham

James Key Caird

mathematician · 1837–1916

British mathematician (1837–1916)

University of St Andrews

founder of Mayday rescue, White Helmets

Aberystwyth University · Ulster University

James McGill

merchant · 1744–1813

founder of McGill University, Montreal (1744-1813)

University of Glasgow

James McIlroy

explorer · 1879–1968

British surgeon (1879–1968)

University of Birmingham

James Scott

film actor · b. 1979

British actor, born 1979

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Jamie King

film actor · b. 1981

British actor

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Janet Fitch

novelist · b. 1955

American writer

Harper and Keele Veterinary School

Jason Tahincioğlu

racing automobile driver · b. 1983

Turkish-British race driver (born 1983)

University of Bath

Jazmin Sawyers

long jumper · b. 1994

British long jumper

University of Bristol · University of Sheffield

American dancer, choreographer and actress

University of Birmingham

Jean Taylor

university teacher · b. 1944

American mathematician

University of Warwick

Nigerian ecofeminist

University of Sussex

Jenny Gilruth

politician · b. 1985

Scottish politician

University of Glasgow

Jim Allister

barrister · b. 1953

Northern Irish politician (born 1953)

Queen's University Belfast

Jiří Stivín

flautist · b. 1942

Czech flautist, composer, jazz musician, multi-instrumentalist, educator and saxophonist

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

British egyptologist

University of Manchester

British composer (1920–1998)

Royal College of Music

John Anderson

natural philosopher · 1726–1796

scientist, philosopher, and educator of the Scottish Enlightenment; (1726-1796)

University of Glasgow

John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell

jurist · 1779–1861

British politician (1779-1861)

University of St Andrews

English writer and journalist

Boston College

John Davies

university teacher · 1938–2015

Welsh historian and television and radio broadcaster (1938-2015)

Cardiff University

John Gibson Lockhart

linguist · 1794–1854

Scottish writer and editor (1794-1854)

University of Glasgow

John Jackson

university teacher · 1887–1958

Scottish astronomer (1887-1958)

University of Glasgow

John Joubert

composer · 1927–2019

British composer of South African descent (1927–2019)

Durham University · Royal Academy of Music, University of London

John Marshall

jazz musician · 1941–2023

British drummer (1941–2023)

University of Reading

English bass-baritone

University of Liverpool

John Simon

pathologist · 1816–1904

British pathologist (1816–1904)

King's College London, University of London

Jon Schofield

kayaker · b. 1985

British canoeist

Loughborough University

Joseph Parry

composer · 1841–1903

Welsh composer (1841–1903)

Royal Academy of Music, University of London

Ugandan organic farmer and women's rights activist

University of Birmingham

Australian actress

University of Bristol

British artist (born 1958)

Goldsmiths, University of London

Julian Smith

politician · b. 1971

Member of United Kingdom Parliament (born 1971)

University of Birmingham

English actor

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

Julie Girling

council member · b. 1956

British independent politician (born 1956)

University of Liverpool

Karen Dawisha

opinion journalist · 1949–2018

American political scientist (1949–2018)

Lancaster University

Pentathlete and teacher

University of Surrey

Katie Hopkins

columnist · b. 1975

British media personality and far-right activist

University of Exeter

Kenza Tazi

alpine skier · b. 1996

Moroccan alpine skier

Imperial College London

Kevin Penkin

composer · b. 1992

Australian composer

Royal College of Music

Kevin Volans

musicologist · b. 1949

South African-Irish composer (born 1949)

University of Aberdeen

Kirsty Smith

association football player · b. 1994

Scottish footballer

Heriot-Watt University

Nigerian politician and a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State

University of Surrey

Kwabena Donkor

consultant · b. 1958

Ghanaian politician

University of Bristol · University of Leicester

Laure Prouvost

video artist · b. 1978

French artist (born 1978)

Goldsmiths, University of London

Leonard Hussey

anthropologist · 1891–1964

British explorer (1891–1964)

King's College London, University of London

English actor (1946-2013)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

Lizzie Simmonds

swimmer · b. 1991

British swimmer, Olympic athlete, Commonwealth Games silver medallist

Loughborough University

Louise Bours

politician · b. 1968

British politician (born 1968)

Lancaster University

Louise Haigh

politician · b. 1987

British politician

University of Nottingham

British actress

Lancaster University

Mabel Cheung

director · b. 1950

Hong Kong film director and screenwriter

University of Bristol

Magid Magid

environmentalist · b. 1989

Somali-British politician and activist (born 1989)

University of Hull

Marc Evans

director · b. 1963

Welsh film director

University of Bristol

Marcus Wyatt

skeleton racer · b. 1991

British skeleton racer

Swansea University

Ghanaian academic and diplomat

University of Leicester

British actress (1926–2011)

LAMDA (London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art)

British marine biologist (1876-1971)

Durham University · University of Leeds

Mary Lee Woods

programmer · 1924–2017

British mathematician and computer programmer (1924-2017)

University of Birmingham