University rankings in the UK undergo a significant shift as Oxford and Cambridge no longer hold their usual spots in the top three, marking the first time this has happened.
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026: A New Era in Higher Education Rankings
The UK's higher education landscape has undergone significant changes, as revealed in the recently published Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.
For the second consecutive year, the London School of Economics (LSE) has secured the top spot, moving up from fourth place last year. LSE was also awarded University of the Year for Academic Performance, Russell Group University of the Year, and joint runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment.
Notably, Oxford and Cambridge universities, which have held the top three positions for 32 years, have fallen out of the top three for the first time. The University of Liverpool has been named University of the Year, with Durham University in third place and the University of St Andrews in second. Oxford and Cambridge shared the fourth position.
The University of Bath, University College London, the University of Warwick, and the University of Bristol follow Imperial College London in the new league table. Imperial College London, which was previously in first place, now ranks sixth.
The guide also highlights the challenges faced by UK universities, with almost one in 10 courses being scrapped in the past year. Lower-tariff universities are most likely to have reduced their course offerings, while social sciences are the subjects most likely to have been dropped.
In an effort to meet the interests of today's students and equip the next generation, new degrees are launching in electrical and electronic engineering with robotics, AI, and public policy.
Regional universities of the year were LSE in London, Durham in the north and north-east, Cambridge in the east, Warwick in the Midlands, Bath in the south-west, Oxford in the south-east, and Queen's Belfast University in Northern Ireland.
The rankings are based on student satisfaction, entry standards, research quality, sustainability, and graduate prospects, as outlined by The Times University Guide 2026. However, universities in the UK face an uncertain time due to increasing fees and the prospect of a levy on international students.
St Andrews scores highly for the calibre and consistency of the student experience and its research quality. The University of Strathclyde was named as runner-up University of the Year. Durham University improved in teaching quality and student experience, contributing to its rise in the rankings.
In a separate ranking by The Guardian University Guide 2026, Oxford is ranked first and Cambridge is third. These rankings provide valuable insights into the current state of UK higher education and offer a glimpse into the future of the sector.
