Top universities in the UK By subject

89 universities are included in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. 

Covering 54 different subjects, this year’s subject rankings are the easiest way to see which top UK universities for your chosen area of study. 

Need inspiration to help you choose where to study in the UK? Here is a breakdown of which university is best in the UK for each of the 54 subjects in this year’s rankings. 

Accounting & finance  

There are 40 UK institutions in the rankings for accounting and finance, including eight in the world top 50. The highest ranked of these is the University of Oxford, which ranks fourth globally. 

Agriculture & forestry 

There are 422 schools that offer courses in agriculture and forestry in the ranking this year, 22 of which are found in the UK. The highest ranking of these in the University of Reading which ranks 16th overall and achieves very high scores for the citations per paper and H-index indicators. 

Anatomy & physiology 

16 out of 150 anatomy and physiology courses are found in UK universities, 11 of which are in the top 50 worldwide. The top-ranking university this year is the University of Oxford in both the UK and global rankings. 

Anthropology 

The UK retains its dominance at the top of the table for anthropology, with the University of Oxford claiming first place globally. A further 13 UK anthropology programmes feature in the global rankings, including seven in the top 50. 

Archaeology 

Out of 240 archaeology programmes in the global rankings, the UK is the second best-represented country in the world with 28 universities featured. The top three globally is completely made up of UK programmes: University of Cambridge (first), University of Oxford (second) and UCL (third). 

Architecture 

18 UK universities are in the 2023 rankings for architecture, including four in the global top 50. The Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL is the UK’s highest ranked university for architecture, rising two places this year to rank number one globally. 

Art & design 

The UK continues its dominance in the art and design rankings with the Royal College of Art in first place globally again this year, followed closely by the University of the Arts London in second. A further 28 British schools feature in the art and design rankings, including seven in the global top 50. 

Art history

There are 20 universities that offer courses in art history, six of which are found in the UK and all placing in the global top 15. The top-ranking university for art history in the UK and the world is the Royal College of Art which received a perfect score for academic reputation. 

Biological sciences 

46 UK universities feature in the biological sciences rankings, one of the largest rankings with 651 universities featured globally. The University of Oxford comes out on top in the UK, in fourth place worldwide. 

Business & management 

The UK, particularly London, is a world business hub so its unsurprising that 61 UK schools make it into the rankings for business and management including seven in the global top 50. The best of these is London Business School, ranked third globally. 

Chemistry 

There are 36 UK universities featured in the chemistry rankings this year, including five in the global top 50. The University of Cambridge is the UK’s highest ranked chemistry school, in third place globally. 

Chemical engineering 

24 UK institutions feature in the chemical engineering subject rankings this year, including five in the global top 20. The highest ranked chemical engineering programme in the UK can be found at the University of Cambridge, in third place globally. 

Civil & structural engineering 

There are 25 UK universities in the ranking for civil and structural engineering this year, including six in the global top 50. The top ranked programme in the UK can be found at the University of Cambridge, in sixth place worldwide after dropping one place this year. 

Classics & ancient history 

The classics and ancient history ranking is one of the smallest with only 90 schools included worldwide. 13 of these are based in the UK, including the regionally highest-ranked University of Oxford. 

Communication & media studies 

The communication and media studies ranking features 32 UK schools, including seven in the global top 50. The highest-ranked of these is the London School of Economics and Political Science, which ranks third globally. 

Computer science & information systems 

One of the largest rankings, featuring 686 schools worldwide: a total of 57 universities feature in the computer science and information systems rankings. The University of Oxford is the highest-ranked UK school, placing fifth globally. 

Data science

There are 20 universities in the global rankings for data science this year including four that are located in the UK. The highest-ranked of these is University of Oxford which ranks very highly for citations per paper and employer reputation. 

Dentistry 

Dentistry is a relatively small subject ranking this year, with only 80 universities featured worldwide. There are nine UK institutions featured in the dentistry rankings this year, including the highest-ranking King’s College London in ninth place. 

Development studies 

There are 23 UK universities featured in the rankings for development studies, with 10 of these in the global top 50. The University of Sussex takes first place worldwide, achieving a perfect score for academic reputation. 

Earth & marine sciences 

The earth and marine sciences ranking features 28 UK schools, including 10 in the global top 50. The top spot in the UK is claimed by the University of Oxford in fourth place globally. 

Economics & econometrics 

An impressive 53 UK institutions are featured in the rankings for economics and econometrics this year, including seven in the global top 50. Unsurprisingly, the London School of Economics and Political Science is the highest-ranked UK institution for the subject, in seventh place worldwide. 

Education 

46 education institutions in the UK feature in the global rankings this year, with 10 of these in the world top 50. The highest-ranked institution in the UK, and the world, is found at UCL Institute of Education at University College London and the school earns a perfect score in the academic reputation indicator this year. 

Electrical & electronic engineering 

One of the largest rankings, 37 UK universities feature in the electrical and electronic engineering table this year. The highest-ranked of these is the University of Cambridge which retains its global position of fifth in the global rankings. 

English language & literature 

Unsurprisingly, the UK performs very well for english language and literature, with 45 schools in the rankings, including 15 in the global top 50. The University of Oxford is in first place globally with a perfect score for academic reputation, closely followed by its rival, the University of Cambridge in second. 

Environmental sciences 

There are 40 UK institutions featured in the environmental science ranking this year, including eight in the global top 50. The highest-ranked university in the UK is the University of Oxford, in third place globally. 

Geography  

The UK performs very well for geography this year, with 32 universities featured, including 15 in the global top 50. The top three places in the world are taken up by UK institutions: the University of Oxford in first, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in second and the University of Cambridge in third. 

Geology  

The UK claims 26 of the top 231 schools in the world for geology. The University of Oxford claims the first place in the UK and fifth globally. 

Geophysics 

25 schools offering geophysics courses are found in the UK this year. The best UK school to study geophysics is the University of Cambridge, in fourth place globally, which receives an almost perfect score for employer reputation and citations per paper. 

History 

History is another strong ranking for UK institutions, with 32 universities featured and 10 in the global top 50. The highest-ranked history programme in the UK can be found at The University of Oxford, in second place globally and achieving a perfect score in academic reputation. 

Hospitality & leisure management 

22 UK schools feature in the rankings for hospitality and leisure management, including three in the global top 25. The highest ranked of these is the University of Surrey, in 15th place worldwide. 

Law 

UK law schools make up 37 of the 352 schools featured worldwide. There are eight UK schools featured in the global top 50, including the UK’s highest-ranked school the University of Oxford, in second place globally. 

Library & information management 

The library and information management ranking is small with only 70 universities featured across the world. The UK claims seven of these, including the highest ranked university globally, The University of Sheffield, which earns a perfect score for academic reputation. 

Linguistics 

There are 29 linguistic programmes in the UK featured in the 2023 rankings, including seven in the global top 50. The highest-ranked programme in the UK can be found at the University of Cambridge which places second in the world. 

Marketing

Of the 20 universities in the marketing ranking this year, three are found in the UK: University of Cambridge (fourth), London Business School (10th) and The London School of Economics and Political Science (15th). 

Materials science 

27 material science programmes in the UK feature in the rankings this year, including five in the global top 50. The University of Cambridge takes the top spot in the UK, placing second globally.  

Mathematics 

One of the largest subject rankings, with 531 schools featured globally, an impressive 38 UK schools are in the mathematics rankings, including seven in the global top 50. The highest-ranked UK mathematics programme can be found at the University of Cambridge, in fourth place globally. 

Mechanical, aeronautical & manufacturing engineering 

40 UK institutions feature in the rankings for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering this year, including six in the global top 50. The highest-ranked school in the UK is the University of Cambridge, ranked fourth worldwide. 

Medicine 

An impressive 47 UK universities feature in the rankings for medicine this year including nine in the global top 50. The highest-ranked programme can be found at the University of Oxford, in second place globally. 

Mineral & mining engineering 

There are three UK universities in the rankings for mineral and mining engineering rankings this year: University of Exeter (15th), University of Aberdeen (33rd) and University of Birmingham (51-70). 

Modern languages 

Of the 339 modern language schools globally, 32 are in the UK. The University of Cambridge is the best university in the UK for modern languages, in first place globally. In total, six UK schools feature in the global top 50. 

Nursing 

The UK performs well for nursing this year with six out of the 21 British schools featured in the ranking making it into the global top 50. The highest-ranked nursing programme in the UK can be found at King’s College London which ranks second worldwide. 

Performing arts 

An impressive 25 schools feature in the performing arts rankings this year, including a staggering 13 in the global top 50. The highest-ranked programme can be found at the Royal College of Music which retains the top spot globally. 

Petroleum engineering 

The petroleum engineering rankings feature the top 162 schools globally for the subject. 14 of these schools are in the UK, with the highest-ranking UK university Imperial College London in sixth place worldwide.  

Pharmacy & pharmacology 

There are 28 UK institutions featured in the pharmacy and pharmacology rankings this year, including four in the global top 10. The highest-ranked university this year is the University of Oxford which ranks third worldwide which receives an almost perfect score in H-index citations. 

Philosophy 

23 UK universities feature in the rankings for philosophy this year, with 10 of these in the global top 50. The highest-ranked philosophy programme in the UK can be found at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in third place globally. 

Physics & astronomy 

There are 39 UK universities featured in the physics and astronomy rankings this year, including six in the global top 50. The University of Oxford is home to the country’s top-ranked programme, ranked third out of 621 universities globally. 

Politics & international studies  

The UK performs well in the politics ranking, with 30 programmes featured including eight in the global top 50. The highest-ranked programme in the UK can be found at the University of Oxford, which ranks second globally this year. 

Psychology 

An impressive 35 UK schools feature in the rankings for psychology this year, including seven in the global top 50. The highest-ranked programme in the country can be found at the University of Oxford which also places second globally. 

Social policy & administration 

There are 17 social policy and administration programmes in the UK featured in the rankings with over half of these in the global top 50. The highest-ranked programme can be found at the University of Oxford, in second place globally. 

Sociology 

41 UK institutions feature in the rankings for sociology this year, including eight in the global top 50. Once again, the University of Oxford is the highest-ranked university in the UK, in second place globally. 

Sports-related subjects  

Loughborough University remains the best school in the UK – and the world. A further 22 schools feature in the sports rankings, including eight in the global top 50. 

Statistics & operational research  

There are 25 UK universities in the statistics and operational research rankings, with nine of these featuring in the global top 50. The highest-ranked programme in the UK can be found at the University of Cambridge, in fourth place globally. 

Theology, divinity & religious studies 

Out of the 140 schools globally offering theology, divinity and religious studies courses, 16 are found in the UK. Eight of these schools place within the global top 50. The highest ranked programme can be found at the University of Oxford which falls one place this year to second in the world. 

Veterinary science 

Eight UK institutions feature in the rankings for veterinary science this year, including five in the global top 20. The Royal Veterinary College at the University of London is the world’s highest ranked university for the subject this year. It also earns a perfect score for academic reputation. 

Frequently asked questions

Which part of the UK is best to study?

There are many excellent universities that can be found all over the UK. The two that are consistently the highest-ranked in the country are University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, both located in the south of England. There are also many great universities in London which has been ranked the best student city in the world and is also in the south of England. 

However, there are many highly-ranked universities throughout the country. The University of Edinburgh in Scotland ranks fifth in the country and 22nd in the world. The University of Manchester in the North of England ranks just behind it in sixth and places 32nd in the world. Cardiff University is a high-ranking university in Wales at 24th nationally and Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland ranks 28th. 

What is the most prestigious university in the UK?

Both the University of Cambridge, which ranks first in the country overall this year, and the University of Oxford are equally regarded as the most prestigious universities in the UK. However, these and many other UK universities are included in the Russell Group, a self-selected association of universities which prioritise cutting edge research which are also considered very prestigious and are held in high esteem by employers. The Russell Group universities are: 

• University of Oxford 

• University of Cambridge 

• Imperial College London 

• University College London (UCL) 

• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) 

• King’s College London 

• University of Bristol 

• University of Warwick 

• University of Nottingham 

• University of Leeds 

• University of Sheffield 

• University of Birmingham 

• University of Southampton 

• University of Liverpool 

• University of York 

• University of Exeter 

• Queen’s University Belfast 

• Newcastle University 

• Durham University 

• Cardiff University 

• Queen Mary University of London 

• University of Edinburgh 

• University of Manchester 

• University of Glasgow 

Which university is best for international students in the UK?

All our top-ranked universities in the UK are great options for international students. Institutions such as London School of Economics and Political Science, Imperial College London, UCL, London Metropolitan University, Kings College London, Coventry University, University of Westminster, University of St Andrews, University of Greenwich and University of East London all receive a perfect score for their international student ratio. 

What is the toughest university to get into in the UK?

The two universities with the most complex application processes are University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. They also tend to have the highest volume of applicants given their reputation nationally and internationally and so receiving an offer to study tends to be more difficult for these universities.