The Guardian publishes 2026 UK university rankings

The Guardian has released its 2026 University Guide rankings, ranking UK institutions across multiple performance metrics including teaching quality and graduate outcomes.

• St Andrews placed second overall with an overall score of 98.4, after ranking second in the previous year.
• Cambridge ranked third, recording a continuation rate of 98.4% for students progressing to second year.
• Nottingham Trent rose 24 places from 49th to 25th, the largest upward movement among institutions in the table.
• The London School of Economics ranked fourth, with 93% of graduates in graduate-level jobs or further study within 15 months.