University of Sheffield rises to 16th place in the Guardian University Guide 2026

The University of Sheffield has risen to 16th place nationally in the 2026 Guardian University Guide rankings.

Rising four places from last year, there are also 12 of the university’s subjects ranked within the top 10 of their respective tables.

This includes: Aerospace engineering (2nd), construction surveying and planning (3rd), architecture (4th), general engineering (4th), mechanical engineering (4th), accounting and finance (5th), earth and marine sciences (5th), journalism (5th), chemical engineering (6th), civil engineering (6th), geography (8th), and politics (8th).

The university’s vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts said the recognition highlights the “exceptional efforts of our staff and the ambition of our students”.

He added: “Our focus on student achievement is evident in our forward-thinking curriculum, cutting-edge facilities, and close collaborations with industry. We are committed to preparing our students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and create meaningful change.”

Other recent successes for the university include retaining its status as a top 100 in the QS World University Rankings and, for the third year running, ranking as the top Russell Group university in the National Student Survey.

Elsewhere in the Guardian’s 2026 rankings, four London universities made the top 10 and the University of Oxford, University of St Andrews, and University of Cambridge made the top three.

The universities of Exeter, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester all placed behind the University of Sheffield this year.

Sheffield Hallam University was ranked 88th, down from 75th in 2025.

The guide offers students and their families detailed insights to support university choices, ranking 66 subjects and assessing performance across student and post-graduate life.

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It draws on eight key measures, from entry standards, student continuation rates, and satisfaction with teaching quality and class size, to graduate outcomes, such as the proportion securing graduate-level jobs or pursuing further professional or higher education within 15 months of graduation.

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