It’s hard to form a judgement on which Russell Group unis are actually the best, since there are about a gazillion different league tables that rank UK unis on slightly different factors. We wanted a definitive, totally objective, entirely fool-proof, super reliable ranking of all the Russell Group unis… so we turned to ChatGPT. It was so, so jarring to read. Oxbridge wasn’t top.
Apologies to students at the University of Sheffield and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). ChatGPT failed to register that these unis are also part of the Russell Group. I have truly no idea why ChatGPT’s is so obsessed with Harry Potter and birds.
So, here is ChatGPT’s ranking of the UK’s Russell Group unis, from best to worst. Enjoy.
My Ranked List: Russell Group Universities (Best → Lower) (with a sense of humour)
1. Imperial College London
- A world-leading specialist in science, engineering, medicine, and business, holding an exceptional global position. Its research intensity, extensive industry links, and academic excellence make it stand out.
- The scientific Avengers. If you like equations more than socialising, you’ll fit right in. Their labs probably have better coffee machines than most people’s kitchens.
2. University of Oxford
- One of the oldest and most prestigious universities worldwide, renowned for excellence across disciplines, rigorous tutorials, and research depth.
- Hogwarts without the owls. You get tutorials with professors instead of magic lessons, but it’s still full of cloaks and confusing staircases.
3. University of Cambridge
- A historic powerhouse with outstanding research, tutorial-led learning, and a global reputation, particularly strong in science, humanities, and engineering.
- Similar to Oxford, except their rivalry has lasted longer than most marriages. Great for science, rowing, and pretending you understand Latin mottos.
4. UCL (University College London)
- A versatile, research-intensive institution excelling across a broad array of subjects; consistently among the top global institutions.
- Smack in the middle of London — your lectures might be in historic buildings, your lunch in a Pret, and your evenings calculating how to pay rent in Zone 1.
5. University of Edinburgh
- Scotland’s flagship university combines strong research, international reach, and a respected global standing.
- Academic prestige meets cobblestone streets. You’ll love it — unless you own shoes with zero grip in icy weather.
6. King’s College London (KCL)
This King’s campus really deserves a mention
- Known for clinical training, humanities, and professional disciplines, with strong presence in the capital and in research output.
- Perfect for those who want the London experience without quite as much rent shock as UCL… but still a fair bit of rent shock.
7. University of Manchester
- A multi-disciplinary powerhouse known for impactful research, diverse faculties, and high student intake.
- Great research, buzzing student life, and the weather… well, you’ll become a connoisseur of rain jackets.
8. University of Warwick
- Standout performance in a relatively younger institution; strong in social sciences, business, and engineering.
- Not technically in Warwick. But hey, you get great academics and a campus bubble where geese outnumber people.
9. University of Birmingham
- A large, established university offering a wide range of subjects, with gradually improving research and teaching performance.
- Massive campus, lots of green space, and a clock tower that looks suspiciously like it could launch into space at any moment.
10. University of Glasgow
- A charismatic, research-led university with a global reputation and strength across disciplines.
- Hogwartsy architecture with Scottish charm. Don’t be surprised if lectures start with “Now, it’s a wee bit windy today…”
11. University of Southampton
- Noted for engineering, oceanography, and computer science, and active in collaborative global research.
- Excellent for engineering and oceanography. You might even study the sea while the British weather tries to drown you in it.
12. University of Bristol
Bristol girlies feat. that photogenic bridge
- Strong in both research and teaching, especially in engineering, medicine, and applied sciences.
- Academic powerhouse with a strong artsy vibe. Also famous for its hills — walking to lectures counts as leg day.
13. University of Leeds
- Large and comprehensive, with strong regional impact, and improving rankings, particularly in humanities, engineering, and business.
- Great for music, nightlife, and pretending you’re not cold when you go out in winter without a coat.
14. Queen Mary University of London
- A strong research and teaching university with rising performance, though currently lower ranked in the group.
- London campus by the canal — perfect for studying and accidentally dropping your pen in the water.
15. Durham University
- Exceptional college system, strong in humanities and social sciences, with excellent student satisfaction and reputation.
- Hogwarts with more rowing. Colleges here are like mini-Houses, but without the Sorting Hat… just a lot of paperwork.
16. University of Nottingham
The gorgeous campus in question
- Known for subject strengths in law, veterinary science, geography, and international appeal through global campuses.
- Gorgeous campus, strong academics, and ducks that believe they own the place.
17. Newcastle University
- Making strides in reputation, awarded “best for student life” in 2025 for campus culture and social engagement.
- Known for incredible student nights and people who wear T-shirts in the snow. Also very good at actual degrees, in case you were wondering.
18. University of Liverpool
- Showing strong improvement, also making global expansion with an India campus due by 2026.
- Proud history, vibrant culture, and a Beatles connection. If you’re musical, you’ll fit right in — if not, at least you can hum along.
19. University of Exeter
- High-quality campus-based university, though global ranking is lower, providing strong student experience and research.
- Sunny (for the UK), scenic, and perfect for outdoor lovers. Also has more seagulls than you’ll ever want to meet.
20. University of York
Ta-da
- Solid reputation in humanities and social sciences, though lower in global ranking.
- Lovely medieval city and a great uni. You’ll spend most of your time avoiding goose attacks on campus.
21. Cardiff University
- Ranked in the 201–250 range globally; quality varies by discipline but still strong regionally.
- Strong regional pride, bilingual street signs, and more rugby than you can shake a pint glass at.
22. Queen’s University Belfast
- Also in the 201–250 range; strong civic impact but lower global ranking among RG peers.
- Friendly vibe, historic campus, and you’ll leave with a PhD in making tea for guests.
Fyi: The UCL and King’s campuses are really close to each other, and students from both unis live all over London. It’s absolutely not the case that all UCL students live in Zone 1 of the London Underground and spend more on rent than King’s students. ChatGPT appears to have written that Newcastle Uni won an award for student life because this uni came top of University Compare’s ranking for this.
When ChatGPT alludes to global rankings, it’s talking about the QS World University Rankings 2026. After some nudging, ChatGPT also cited seven The Tab articles that I actually wrote as sources. It attempted to feed some of my own jokes back to me. Fun times.
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