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Oxford remains to be high of the category however UK universities carry out their worst in a decade amid warning of ‘new world order’

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By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR

Published: | Updated:

Oxford is still the best university in the world despite the worst performance in a decade from the UK overall, according to new rankings.

This year’s Times Higher Education (THE) league tables found that while some of our universities are still world-leading, there are ‘clear warning signs of UK decline’.

It comes amid a financial crisis in the sector, caused by rising costs and a reduction in the number of international students following changes to visa rules.

Experts said it represented a ‘shift in the balance of power’ from Western universities to the ‘rising stars of the East’ as part of a ‘new world order’.

Yesterday, Professor Irene Tracey, Oxford’s vice chancellor, said she was ‘honoured’ to get first place but warned of ‘a time of real strain for UK higher education’.

She added: ‘Sustaining a dynamic and globally competitive sector requires renewed investment and support, so that universities can continue to drive discovery, opportunity and economic growth for future generations.’

The respected rankings, which have been running for 21 years, placed 49 UK universities in its top 500.

This is the first time since 2016 that the UK has featured fewer than 50 times. 

The UK is now the joint fourth most represented country in the rankings, down from joint third last year, and lagging behind the USA, India and Japan. 

A total of 28 UK universities lost ground in the ranking, more than double the 13 that made improvements, while 64 retained their positions.

The UK did well in some areas, but saw a fall in scores for research strength, and the student-staff ratio grew from 16.8 to 20.5 students per teacher.

Phil Baty of THE said: ‘There are clear warning signals of serious decline for the UK’s “jewel in the crown” university sector, as the full extent of the sector’s financial crisis kicks in with mass redundancies and course closures.’

‘This year’s rankings highlight a dramatic and accelerating trend – the shift in the balance of power in research and higher education excellence from the long-established, dominant institutions of the West to rising stars of the East.

‘We appear to be shifting towards a new world order and a new, Eastern centre of gravity for new knowledge creation and innovation, and the UK must act to support its university sector if it is not to miss out.’

Times Higher Education’s top universities in the UK for 2026 
UK Rank 2026 WUR Rank 2026 University Overall Teaching Research Environment Research Quality Industry International Outlook
1 1 University of Oxford 98.2 97.2 100 97.7 99.9 96.4
2 3 University of Cambridge 97.2 96.2 99.9 97.1 87.6 96.3
3 8 Imperial College London 94.7 90.6 94.9 98 91.9 98.2
4 22 UCL 87.5 77.8 85.9 97.6 74.7 97.5
5 29 University of Edinburgh 82.5 75.7 74.7 94.8 71 96.2
6 38 King’s College London 78.7 64.2 72.1 95.5 72.3 96.9
7 52 London School of Economics and Political Science 75.4 60.5 71.2 93.4 46.8 94.2
8 56 University of Manchester 74.9 61.2 65.9 92.4 74 94.5
9 80 University of Bristol 69.7 51.4 56.5 94.4 74.6 91.8
10 84 University of Glasgow 68.9 50.6 52.2 95.9 73.2 95.5
11 98 University of Birmingham 66.3 47.7 48.4 93.7 74.2 94.3
12 108 University of Sheffield 65.4 49.7 49.1 88.3 79.4 90.4
13 118 University of Leeds 64.9 48.3 50.3 87.2 71.6 93.6
14 122 University of Warwick 64.1 48.1 49.3 85.6 69.4 95.6
15 129 University of Southampton 63.4 44.6 45.4 89.6 73.1 96.1
16 134 Queen Mary University of London 62.9 38.7 42.6 95.7 76.5 97.5
17 143 University of Liverpool 62.2 43.5 42 91.2 68 95
18 144 Newcastle University 62.1 39.8 43.2 93 80 89.5
19 145 University of Nottingham 62 45.8 43.3 87.3 72.1 91.8
20 154 University of York 61.5 44.1 43.9 87.5 67.6 90.6
21 162 University of St Andrews 60.9 50.6 43.3 78.2 71.9 94.4
22 170 University of Exeter 60.6 36.6 42.1 94 59.1 93.4
23 175 Durham University 60.3 45.2 44.9 81 62.8 94.6
24 184 Lancaster University 59.7 40.9 40.8 86.7 67.2 95.1
25 192 University of Leicester 59.2 35.4 34.9 95.9 69 94.8
26 198 Queen’s University Belfast 58.8 34.7 38.4 90.8 70 98.3
27 201-250 Cardiff University 56.4-58.6 35.9 39.1 86 70.3 88.4
27 201-250 University of Aberdeen 56.4-58.6 38 34.8 82.3 79.6 96.4
27 201-250 University of Reading 56.4-58.6 41.7 38.1 85.2 66.9 94.2
27 201-250 University of Surrey 56.4-58.6 36.3 34.4 89.5 71.6 96
27 201-250 University of Sussex 56.4-58.6 34.3 36 88.9 64.8 94.8
32 251-300 University of Bath 54.3-56.3 39.8 35.1 81 67.1 93.2
32 251-300 University of East Anglia 54.3-56.3 34.7 30.2 89.1 62 87.3
34 301-350 Birkbeck, University of London 51.6-54.2 34.2 32.2 76 65.5 91.6
34 301-350 Loughborough University 51.6-54.2 34.8 32.9 76.1 70.2 89.4
34 301-350 Swansea University 51.6-54.2 30.8 30.6 87.4 58.3 88.6
34 301-350 University of Dundee 51.6-54.2 28.5 32.6 82.1 87 91.7
34 301-350 University of Essex 51.6-54.2 30.1 30.2 81 61.2 97.3
39 351-400 City St George’s, University of London 49.9-51.5 23.6 24.8 91.8 65 95.6
39 351-400 University of Strathclyde 49.9-51.5 37 35.2 66.4 79.7 90.5
41 401-500 Aston University 46.2-49.8 21.7 26.2 83.6 64.6 95.7
41 401-500 Bournemouth University 46.2-49.8 18.8 21.7 89.3 46.4 89.2
41 401-500 Brunel University of London 46.2-49.8 24 26.6 81.8 64.9 98.1
41 401-500 Heriot-Watt University 46.2-49.8 33.4 30.3 58.8 70.3 95.5
41 401-500 Northumbria University 46.2-49.8 23.6 25.5 80.5 47.8 91.4
41 401-500 Royal Holloway, University of London 46.2-49.8 32.3 28.9 72.2 65.1 92.5
41 401-500 SOAS University of London 46.2-49.8 38.7 34.7 59.9 38.9 79.9
41 401-500 University of Kent 46.2-49.8 29.5 28.4 73.2 64.4 92.6
41 401-500 University of Portsmouth 46.2-49.8 22 20.1 88.7 51.1 94.5
50 501-600 Bangor University 43.6-46.1 28.3 26 70.3 63.2 87.1
50 501-600 Goldsmiths, University of London 43.6-46.1 28.2 23.5 71.2 48.8 80.8
50 501-600 Keele University 43.6-46.1 23.5 22.6 75.5 63.8 82.3
50 501-600 Liverpool John Moores University 43.6-46.1 19.7 19.7 83.8 51.2 79.9
50 501-600 Middlesex University 43.6-46.1 22.4 18.7 76.1 45.3 92.5
50 501-600 Royal Veterinary College 43.6-46.1 31.9 21.5 66.2 64.4 93
50 501-600 University of Bradford 43.6-46.1 21.4 21.4 76.1 58.5 93.3
50 501-600 University of Huddersfield 43.6-46.1 25.6 23.9 73.9 51.3 89.3
50 501-600 University of Hull 43.6-46.1 27.3 23.8 72.9 57.5 87.8
50 501-600 University of Plymouth 43.6-46.1 23 21.2 77.9 65.8 82.2
50 501-600 University of Stirling 43.6-46.1 24.4 26.3 74.6 45.6 91.1
61 601-800 Aberystwyth University 39.0-43.5 26.9 22.2 61.9 62.1 83.1
61 601-800 Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) 39.0-43.5 18.5 14.6 83.6 34.1 91
61 601-800 Coventry University 39.0-43.5 21.6 15.1 73.5 44.9 94.4
61 601-800 De Montfort University 39.0-43.5 17.7 16.4 70.5 50.4 92.9
61 601-800 Edinburgh Napier University 39.0-43.5 17.5 19.7 75.3 41.2 90.3
61 601-800 London Metropolitan University 39.0-43.5 16.6 14.4 76.6 30.2 91.3
61 601-800 London South Bank University 39.0-43.5 18.5 13 75.6 48.1 95.9
61 601-800 Manchester Metropolitan University 39.0-43.5 20.8 19.5 78.3 42.7 83
61 601-800 Nottingham Trent University 39.0-43.5 20.8 14.1 83.3 38.1 89.1
61 601-800 SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) 39.0-43.5 25.2 14.9 75.4 28 65.4
61 601-800 Teesside University 39.0-43.5 20.6 14.3 72.9 29.8 87.9
61 601-800 Ulster University 39.0-43.5 22.8 22.8 65.7 54.3 95
61 601-800 University of Brighton 39.0-43.5 19.9 19.3 63.4 64.9 84.7
61 601-800 University of Derby 39.0-43.5 19 14.1 74 34.6 80.2
61 601-800 University of Greenwich 39.0-43.5 17.6 16.5 81.6 39.1 97.1
61 601-800 University of Hertfordshire 39.0-43.5 18.2 13.2 76.5 44.8 92.1
61 601-800 University of Lincoln 39.0-43.5 20.5 18.5 77.2 34.1 86.9
61 601-800 University of the West of Scotland 39.0-43.5 19.5 15.5 69.7 66.1 91
61 601-800 UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) 39.0-43.5 18.8 14.6 73.3 59.2 81.2
80 801-1000 Birmingham City University 35.5-38.9 17.9 13.4 65.5 25.2 86.3
80 801-1000 Glasgow Caledonian University 35.5-38.9 17.8 15.2 63.7 48.7 83.5
80 801-1000 Kingston University 35.5-38.9 20.4 15.4 54.6 48.3 90.9
80 801-1000 Leeds Beckett University 35.5-38.9 19.2 15.9 69.2 48 74.9
80 801-1000 Oxford Brookes University 35.5-38.9 26.9 23.1 53.9 30.6 88.1
80 801-1000 Robert Gordon University 35.5-38.9 17.3 13.9 69.9 39.2 90.1
80 801-1000 Sheffield Hallam University 35.5-38.9 18 14.1 65.5 34.9 73.2
80 801-1000 The Open University 35.5-38.9 17.8 14.3 67 48 61.5
80 801-1000 University of Roehampton 35.5-38.9 18.9 22.8 55 27.6 88.2
80 801-1000 University of Salford 35.5-38.9 19 14.8 64.9 57 84.8
80 801-1000 University of Westminster 35.5-38.9 19 16.5 63.1 48.7 85.4
80 801-1000 University of Wolverhampton 35.5-38.9 20.3 15.6 59.3 47.3 78.8
92 1001-1200 Cardiff Metropolitan University 32.1-35.4 20.7 14.4 51.3 26.8 86.8
92 1001-1200 Edge Hill University 32.1-35.4 18.5 14.2 62.2 30.7 58.7
92 1001-1200 University of Bedfordshire 32.1-35.4 18.1 14 55.3 32.9 86.7
92 1001-1200 University of East London 32.1-35.4 23.6 15.3 49.5 32.2 87.5
92 1001-1200 University of Gloucestershire 32.1-35.4 18.5 14.2 58.7 27.1 72.2
92 1001-1200 University of Lancashire 32.1-35.4 18.7 13.4 57.2 38.7 82.6
92 1001-1200 York St John University 32.1-35.4 17.3 15.4 60.1 16 66.1
99 1201-1500 Canterbury Christ Church University 27.3-32.0 18 13.5 46.3 19 74.1
99 1201-1500 University of South Wales 27.3-32.0 18.2 11.7 35.7 52.3 78.6
99 1201-1500 University of Staffordshire 27.3-32.0 16.3 12.3 48 23.8 73.4
99 1201-1500 University of West London 27.3-32.0 15.4 10.5 53.3 20.7 90
99 1201-1500 University of Winchester 27.3-32.0 19 15.4 45.4 18 61.2
104 1501+ Liverpool Hope University 10.3-27.2 19.5 16.8 30.2 19 77.2
104 1501+ University of Chester 10.3-27.2 19.8 12.9 31 27.9 69.8
104 1501+ University of Northampton 10.3-27.2 16.1 11 40.4 18.7 80.3
104 1501+ University of Sunderland 10.3-27.2 19.3 9.6 34.6 33.7 72
104 1501+ University of the Arts London 10.3-27.2 23.9 11.8 25.4 19.3 74.1
104 1501+ University of Worcester 10.3-27.2 17.1 12 37.9 23.6 59.2

Of the top performers, Oxford was placed number one for the 10th consecutive year, due to its research and teaching excellence.

Meanwhile, Cambridge rose to third position and Imperial College London has rose to eighth position.

The UK had 11 universities in the global top 100, including University College London, Edinburgh and King’s College London.

However, other top universities suffered losses, with London School of Economics (LSE) suffering its worst ever performance by dropping from joint 50th to 52nd place.

Warwick also had its worst year on record, dropping to 122nd from 106.

Mr Baty said that while UK universities were losing ground, ‘East Asian nations, led by China, continue to thrive and surge up the table’.

Universities in China took 12th and 13th, the National University of Singapore came in 17th, and the University of Tokyo rose up two places to 26th.

The rankings are built on analysis of almost 19 million research papers, 1.5 million votes in a survey and data on more than 30,000 universities.

Oxford (pictured) is still the best university in the world despite the worst performance in a decade from the UK overall, according to new rankings

Oxford (pictured) is still the best university in the world despite the worst performance in a decade from the UK overall, according to new rankings

They include factors such as teaching reputation, research reputation and strength, and institutional, research and industry income.

Last month, the Sunday Times, which uses different metrics for its league tables, ranked the LSE as top and Oxbridge slipped out of the top three for the first time.

A Universities UK spokesman said: ‘The UK’s universities are world leading, and continue to punch above their weight in global league tables and research partnerships.

‘But other governments around the world are making the decision to invest in their universities while funding in the UK has decreased in real terms.

‘With a commitment from Government to a long-term and lasting funding settlement, this slight downturn can be reversed.’

For more rankings information, visit the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 website 

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