Strictly EMBARGOED until 06:00 June 2 2026
NORTHERN IRELAND. June 2nd, 2026 –
The Complete University Guide has released its league tables that rank the best universities in the UK overall and in 74 subject areas. It includes 164 institutions.Queen’s University Belfast is in 23rd place – up one place from last year, while Ulster University is in 47th place – up seven places from last year.
Each year, the Complete University Guide publishes its UK university and subject league tables to help prospective students make informed choices about their future, including those weighing up late decisions or exploring Clearing options.
Regional tables are also available, making it easier for students to find the right university close to home. This release follows last month’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards, where students themselves recognised and celebrated outstanding universities across a range of categories nationwide.
The main league table is based on 10 measures: entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, research intensity, academic services spend, facilities spend, continuation, student-staff ratio, graduate prospects – outcomes, and graduate prospects – on track.
There are many pockets of subject-level excellence. While some universities may not rank especially highly overall in the tables, they are among the best in the UK for particular subjects. This reinforces the importance of looking beyond the overall ranking.
Queen’s University Belfast is top in the UK for Social Work, and for Agriculture and Forestry. Ulster University climbs three to take third place in Health Studies; it also ranks third for Land and Property Management.
Overall, the University of Cambridge has retained the top position in this year’s annual Complete University Guide rankings, with the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, University of St Andrews and Imperial College London completing the top five.
In the top ten, the University of Warwick climbs two places to seventh, achieving its best result in over ten years; it last ranked seventh in the 2016 league tables.
There is notable movement further down the table too. The University of Dundee makes the biggest leap of any institution in the top 30 by climbing 14 spots from last year to 25th place, and in the top 50, Brunel University goes up 19 places to 48th and University of Suffolk is up 11 to 44th. The highest climber in the UK is the University of East London, with a rise of 30 places in the overall league table.
Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Chair of the Complete University Guide Advisory Board, said: “Congratulations to Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University for supporting their students to achieve their ambitions. Our methodology draws on a range of trusted, independent measures that reflect what students care most about – teaching quality, student satisfaction and graduate outcomes.
“Our regional tables show the strength and quality of higher education throughout the UK. Whether making early choices or preparing for Clearing, our university and subject league tables, along with regional insights, are here to help students navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives.”
Across the sector, on average 72% of graduates have successfully transitioned into graduate-level or professional roles, or are pursuing postgraduate education, just over a year after graduation. However, this year’s Complete University Guide shows that some universities are exceptional in this regard and, no doubt, this is also a reflection of the dedication and tenacity of their students.
At Queen’s University Belfast, 83.6% of graduates have successfully transitioned into graduate-level or professional roles, or are pursuing further study – well above the national average and among the stronger performing universities in the UK in this measure. At Imperial College London, the figure rises to 92.4%, while at the University of St Andrews it is 87.8%.
Simon Emmett, Chief Executive Officer, IDP UK, said: “What stands out in this year’s data is the breadth of opportunity across UK higher education. The fact that more universities in the top 40 are welcoming a wider range of students, while maintaining strong graduate outcomes, is a genuine positive for prospective applicants – and a sign of a sector adapting well to a changing landscape.
“It is also encouraging to see student continuation rates improve. Universities have clearly been investing in the support students need to succeed, and that is showing in the data. IDP Education is proud to support the Complete University Guide in providing students, families and institutions with the data and insight they need to make informed decisions.”
ENDS