Six unexpected UK unis have been voted the best in 2025 by education experts

Education experts have weighed in on what they think are the six best UK unis in 2025, and the results are really unexpected.

As part of the Times Higher Education Awards, experts including management staff and the heads of exam boards have been voting for the University of the Year. Six unis have been shortlisted for this award. They’re not especially famous unis – in fact, only one is a Russell Group. But all these unis have achieved really impressive things within the last year.

So, here are the six UK unis that made the shortlist for 2025’s University of the Year, plus a summary of the reasons they were chosen as the best.  Yay for them.

University of East London

This uni isn’t very famous, but it’s growing rapidly. Apparently its scores in the annual Graduate Outcomes survey are improving more quickly than any other UK uni’s.

I will take any opportunity to remind you all how cool the accom at UEL looks
(Credit: O.F.E)

Heriot-Watt University

The uni exceeded its inclusion targets, which is fabulous. Heriot-Watt Uni also managed to open a £110 million campus in Dubai.

University of Hertfordshire

Crikey, this uni’s been busy. The uni has opened a shiny new School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Science, that cost a huge £100 million. They’re also starting a Biodetection Technologies Hub, and have launched bids to open a film school and a medical school.

Queen Mary University of London

This is the only Russell Group uni on the list. Queen Mary became the first Russell Group uni where students could get degree apprentices, and Ofsted really praised these courses.

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Teesside University

This uni in Middlesbrough really tries to widen access to higher education. 84.7 per cent of students in the 2023-2024 academic year came from disadvantaged backgrounds. The uni also handed out 2,400 iPads to students.

University of Worcester

97 per cent of students went to state schools, which is way above the average for UK unis. Yay. This uni is also great at helping students get jobs. A huge 96 per cent of grads had jobs or were in further study after 15 months.

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Featured image of Teesside University by LTees.