Which UK university ranks #1 in The Guardian UK University Guide 2026?

University of Oxford ranks #1 among UK universities in The Guardian UK University Guide 2026.

How many UK universities are in the The Guardian UK University Guide 2026 ranking?

118 UK universities are ranked in the The Guardian UK University Guide 2026 league table.

Where can I find the official The Guardian UK University Guide methodology?

The official methodology for the The Guardian UK University Guide is published at https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2024/sep/07/the-guardian-university-guide-2025-the-rankings.

The Guardian UK University Guide — 2026

The Guardian guide ranks UK universities from a student-experience angle, emphasising teaching quality, value added, and graduate career outcomes (rather than research).

118 UK universities · data refreshed 21 May 2026

Showing 118 universities

Rank	University	Score
TEF G · #1	University of Oxford Research quality Courses	—
TEF S · #2	University of St Andrews Research quality Courses	—
TEF B · #3	University of Cambridge Research quality Courses	—
#4	London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London Research quality Courses	—
#5	Durham University Research quality Courses	—
#6	Imperial College London Research quality Courses	—
#7	University of Warwick Research quality Courses	—
#8	University of Bath Research quality Courses	—
#9	University of the Arts London Research quality Courses	—
#10	UCL (University College London) Research quality Courses	—
#11	Loughborough University Research quality Courses	—
#12	University of Essex Research quality Courses	—
#13	The University of Edinburgh Research quality Courses	—
#14	Lancaster University Research quality Courses	—
#15	University of Bristol Research quality Courses	—
#16	University of Sheffield Research quality Courses	—
#17	University of Exeter Research quality Courses	—
#18	University of Aberdeen Research quality Courses	—
#19	University of Strathclyde Research quality Courses	—
#20	University of Southampton Research quality Courses	—
#21	King's College London, University of London Research quality Courses	—
#21	University of Liverpool Research quality Courses	—
#23	University of Surrey Research quality Courses	—
#24	University of Glasgow Research quality Courses	—
#25	Nottingham Trent University Research quality Courses	—
#26	University of Dundee Research quality Courses	—
#27	University of Sunderland Research quality Courses	—
#28	University of Birmingham Research quality Courses	—
#28	University of Chichester Research quality Courses	—
#28	University of Leeds Research quality Courses	—
#31	Heriot-Watt University Research quality Courses	—
#32	Swansea University Research quality Courses	—
#33	Manchester Metropolitan University Research quality Courses	—
#33	University of East London Research quality Courses	—
#35	University of Manchester Research quality Courses	—
#35	University of Portsmouth Research quality Courses	—
#37	Cardiff University Research quality Courses	—
#38	University of York Research quality Courses	—
#40	University of Leicester Research quality Courses	—
#41	University of West London Research quality Courses	—
#42	Liverpool John Moores University Research quality Courses	—
#43	Keele University Research quality Courses	—
#43	University of South Wales Research quality Courses	—
#45	Queen's University Belfast Research quality Courses	—
#46	Edge Hill University Research quality Courses	—
#47	Northumbria University, Newcastle Research quality Courses	—
#48	Aston University, Birmingham Research quality Courses	—
#49	University of Hertfordshire Research quality Courses	—
#50	Abertay University Research quality Courses	—
#51	University of Nottingham Research quality Courses	—

Subject tables in the The Guardian UK University Guide

See how universities rank for a specific subject rather than overall.

Accounting and finance 100 Aerospace engineering 32 Anatomy and physiology 26 Animal science and agriculture 20 Animation and game design 58 Anthropology and archaeology 28 Architecture 56 Biology 83 Biomedical science 68 Business and management 118 Chemical engineering 29 Chemistry 49 Children's nursing 55 Civil engineering 53 Classics and ancient history 23 Computer science and information systems 110 Construction, surveying and planning 41 Creative writing 28 Criminology 87 Dentistry 16 Drama and dance 80 Earth and marine sciences 38 Economics 71 Education 91 Electrical and electronic engineering 58 English 84 Fashion and textiles 46 Film production and photography 70 Fine art 57 Forensic science 25 General engineering 27 General nursing 76 Geography 62 Graphic design 64 Health professions 71 History 81 History of art 19 Hospitality, event management and tourism 45 Interior design 35 International relations 46 Journalism 40 Languages and linguistics 49 Law 110 Marketing and public relations 76 Mathematics 55 Mechanical engineering 69 Media and film studies 75 Medicine 36 Mental health nursing 67 Midwifery 54 Music 79 Nutrition and food science 30 Paramedic science 41 Pharmacy and pharmacology 40 Philosophy 42 Physics 44 Physiotherapy 47 Politics 60 Product design 41 Psychology 115 Social work 78 Sociology and social policy 91 Sports science 85 Theology and religious studies 15 Veterinary science 8 Zoology 29

How The Guardian UK University Guide is calculated

Uses NSS teaching, NSS feedback, NSS overall satisfaction, student/staff ratio, expenditure per student, average entry tariff, value-added score, and career prospects 15 months after graduation.

Official methodology →