The best three UK unis for each subject in 2026, according to the Complete University Guide

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

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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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