The brand new Complete University Guide for 2026 is out, and includes really detailed rankings for pretty much every UK uni subject under the sun. So here, are the best three unis for each course.
Oxbridge isn’t actually top for every single subject. Plenty of less famous UK unis are really good for particular subjects. The University of St Andrews isn’t a Russell Group uni, but it made it into the top three for 17 different subjects. The University of Bath is ranked really high for six courses.
The Complete University Guide’s rankings are based on lots of factors, including graduate prospects, how high the entry requirements are, and how happy students are with their teaching.
So, here are the best three UK unis for every subject, according to the Complete University Guide for 2026.
Accounting and finance
1. The London School of Economics and Political Science
2. University of Bath
3. University of Warwick
Aeronautical and aerospace engineering
1. Imperial College London
2. University of Southampton
3. University of Bristol
African and Middle Eastern studies
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Edinburgh
3. University of Cambridge
Agriculture and forestry
Presumably forestry students just flounce through the woods like a fairy all day?
1. Queen’s University Belfast
2. Newcastle University
3. University of Reading
American studies
1. University College London (UCL)
2. University of Manchester
3. University of Sussex
Anthropology
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of St Andrews
Archaeology
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
2. University College London (UCL)
Architecture
1. Loughborough University
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Sheffield
Art and design
1. University College London (UCL)
2. University of Oxford
3. University of Glasgow
Asian Studies
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Nottingham
Biological sciences
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. Durham University
Biomedical sciences
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Bath
3. Queen’s University Belfast
Building
1. Loughborough University
2. University of Reading
3. University of Nottingham
Business and management studies
Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford
(Credit: Anders Sandberg)
1. University of Oxford
2. University of St Andrews
3. University of Bath
Celtic studies
1. Cardiff University
2. Aberystwyth University
3. Bangor University
Chemical Engineering
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. Imperial College London
Chemistry
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of St Andrews
3. University of Oxford
Childhood and youth studies
1. University of Leeds
2. University of Sheffield
3. University of Sussex
Civil engineering
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. Imperial College London
Classics
It’s somewhat useless but you do get to look at pretty pots x
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. University of St Andrews
Communication and media studies
1. University of Birmingham
2. Loughborough University
3. University of Sheffield
Complementary medicine
1. Swansea University
2. Glasgow Caledonian University
3. University of South Wales
Computer science
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. Imperial College London
Counselling, psychotherapy and occupational therapy
1. University of East Anglia (UEA)
2. Cardiff University
3. University of Southampton
Creative writing
1. University of Warwick
2. University of Leeds
3. Royal Holloway, University of London
Dentistry
1. University of Dundee
2. University of Liverpool
3. Queen’s University Belfast
Drama, dance and cinematics
Theatre kids with no other context
1. University of Manchester
2. Lancaster University
3. University of Surrey
Economics
1. University of Cambridge
2. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
3. University of Oxford
Education
1. University of Cambridge
2. Durham University
3. University of Bristol
Electric and electronic engineering
1. University of Cambridge
2. Imperial College London
3. University of Oxford
English
1. University of St Andrews
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Oxford
Food science
Maybe these students can actually cook?
1. University of Surrey
2. Queen’s University Belfast
3. University of Glasgow
Forensic science
1. University of Strathclyde
2. University of Dundee
3. Nottingham Trent University
French
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of St Andrews
3. University of Oxford
General engineering
1. University of Bristol
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Sheffield
Geography and environmental science
1. University of Oxford
2. Durham University
3. University of Cambridge
Geology
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of St Andrews
3. University of Oxford
German
1. University of St Andrews
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Oxford
Health studies
1. King’s College London (KCL)
2. University of Lincoln
3. Leeds Beckett University
History
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. University of St Andrews
History of art, architecture and design
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of St Andrews
3. University of Oxford
Iberian languages
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. University of St Andrews
Information technology and systems
1. University of Surrey
2. Queen’s University Belfast
3. University of Portsmouth
Italian
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of St Andrews
3. University College London (UCL)
Land and property management
1. University of Reading
2. Sheffield Hallam University
3. Ulster University
Law
The terrifying Cambridge law library
1. University of Cambridge
2. University College London (UCL)
3. Durham University
Linguistics
1. University of Cambridge
2. Lancaster University
3. University of Oxford
Manufacturing and production engineering
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Southampton
3. University of Glasgow
Marketing
1. University of Bath
2. University of Leeds
3. University of Liverpool
Materials technology
1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. Imperial College London
Mathematics
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. University of St Andrews
Mechanical engineering
1. Imperial College London
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Oxford
Medical technology and bioengineering
1. Imperial College London
2. University College London (UCL)
3. University of Liverpool
Medicine
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. Imperial College London
Music
Experts on your Spotify wrapped
1. Durham University
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Bristol
Nursing and midwifery
1. University of Sheffield
2. University of Glasgow
3. University of Edinburgh
Optometry, ophthalmics and orthoptics
1. Ulster University
2. Cardiff University
3. University of Bradford
Paramedic science
1. University of East Anglia (UEA)
2. University of Stirling
3. University of Lincoln
Pharmacology and pharmacy
1. University of Cambridge
2. Ulster University
2. University of Strathclyde
Philosophy
1. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of Oxford
Physics and astronomy
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. Durham University
Physiotherapy
1. University of Southampton
2. Robert Gordon University
3. Glasgow Caledonian University
Politics
A generic pic of the University of Oxford
1. University of Oxford
2. University of St Andrews
3. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Psychology
1. University of Oxford
2. University of St Andrews
3. University of Cambridge
Russian and East European languages
=1. University of Oxford
=1. University of Cambridge
3. University of St Andrews
Social policy
1. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
2. University of Birmingham
2. University of Bristol
Social work
1. Queen’s University Belfast
2. Glasgow Caledonian University
3. University of Bath
Sociology
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Oxford
3. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Speech and language therapy
=1. Newcastle University
=1. University of Reading
3. University of Strathclyde
Sports science
Notts netball girls
1. Loughborough University
2. University of Bath
3. University of Nottingham
Theology and religious studies
1. Durham University
2. University of Cambridge
3. University of St Andrews
Tourism, transport, travel and heritage studies
1. University of Stirling
2. Arts University Bournemouth
3. University of Surrey
Town and country planning and landscape design
1. University of Cambridge
2. University College London (UCL)
3. University of Sheffield
Veterinary medicine
1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Liverpool
3. University of Nottingham
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