Sorry gals, but these 25 UK unis rank among the worst in the world for 2026

Times Higher Education’s new World University Rankings is finally here. The league table reveals where all our UK unis stand in comparison to universities from 115 other countries. I’m afraid it’s not looking great, gang. 25 UK unis ranked very, very close to the bottom in the world league table for 2026.

Now, not every higher education institution in the UK is listed in Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings – but 109 are. The league tables are based on slightly different factors to the UK-based university guides you’re used to seeing. The world rankings put a bigger emphasis on what academics think of each uni. Student satisfaction and grad prospects aren’t featured.

Outside of the top 200 unis, Times Higher Education doesn’t bother assigning each one a specific rank, but groups them into bands. I’m afraid there are plenty of UK unis kicking about in the bottom groups.

So, here are the 25 UK unis that rank worst in the world, according to Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2026:

801 to 1,000 – exceptionally mediocre

An average night at Oxford Brookes

Seven UK unis just about clawed their way into the top 1,000 unis worldwide. This still puts them among the worst uni in the UK, though. The UK unis ranked between 801 to 100 are: Birmingham City University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Kingston University, Leeds Beckett University, Oxford Brookes University, Robert Gordon University, and Sheffield Hallam University.

1,001 to 1,200 – really rubbish

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The University of Lancashire was called the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) until a few months ago
(Credit: University of Lancashire / YouTube)

The 1,001 to 1,200 group contains seven UK unis: University of Bedfordshire, Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of East London, Edge Hill University, University of Gloucestershire, University of Lancashire, and York St John University.

York St John University is officially the least industrious in the UK. Times Higher Education only gave it a score of 16.0 for how much money it made from industry, and how many patents referenced its research. That’s the joint-lowest industry score out of any uni in the world. Edge Hill University is the UK uni with the least international outlook. Only nine per cent of its students are international.

1,201 to 1,500 – embarrassingly awful 

Not only is the University of Winchester low-ranking, but it’s in Winchester
(Credit: Basher Eyre)

Five UK unis are lurking in the 1,201 to 1,500 band: Canterbury Christ Church University, University of South Wales, University of Staffordshire, University of West London and the University of Winchester.

The University of West London received the lowest teaching score of all. For context, the University of Oxford scored 98.2 out of 100 for the quality of its teaching environment. The University of West London got 15.4. Yikes.

1,500+ – the absolute worst UK unis for 2026

Erm, apparently the staff at Sunderland should be writing more papers
(Credit: Paulhaustead)

Six UK unis were listed as being below the top 1,500 unis in the world. They are officially the absolute worst unis in the UK right now (out of the 109 ranked by Times Higher Education, anyway). The University of Sunderland received the lowest score for research environment out of any UK uni – a measly 9.6 out of 100. The University of the Arts London ranked the lowest for research quality, meaning its papers weren’t used by other scholars very much.

The UK unis listed as below 1,500th are: University of the Arts London, University of Chester, Liverpool Hope University, University of Northampton, University of Sunderland and the University of Worcester.

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Featured image of the University of Gloucestershire by SamCoplandUniGlos.