best uk unis 2024 for each subject

So, which UK unis are really the best for each subject in 2024?

Loads of non-Russell Group unis topped The Times’s league tables


It’s that awful time of year for sixth form students when teachers thrust a load of leaflets in their faces and they have to somehow pick where they want to spend three years and 60 grand. To simplify everyone’s search, we have compiled a list of the best three UK unis to study each subject at in 2024. If you’re already at uni, then you can fantasise about where you should have gone to instead.

These are the best three UK unis at the top of The Times’s new league tables for each subject in 2024. You can analyse the full league table here, and read where the hell The Times got all these numbers from here.

Although Russell Group unis are supposed to be the extra academic ones, there are loads of non-Russell Group unis that have snuck onto this list. The University of St Andrews made it into the top three for 13 different subjects on The Times’s league table. Loughborough University also made it into the best three UK unis for a subject six times in 2024.

So, here are the best three UK unis to study each subject at in 2024, according to The Times’s new league tables:

Accounting and finance

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of Warwick, University College London (UCL)

Aeronautical and manufacturing engineering

Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol

Agriculture and forestry

Queen’s University Belfast, Aberystwyth University, Bangor University

American studies

University College London (UCL), University of Sussex, Manchester Metropolitan University

Anatomy and physiology

University of Edinburgh, University of Aberdeen, Queen’s University Belfast

Animal science

University of Glasgow, University of Bristol, University of Manchester

Anthropology

University of St Andrews, University of Oxford, Durham University

Archaeology and forensic science

University of Oxford, University College London (UCL), Durham University

Architecture

Loughborough University, University of Sheffield, Cardiff University

Art and design

University of Oxford, University College London (UCL), Loughborough University

Bioengineering and biomedial engineering

University of Dundee, Imperial College London, University of Oxford

Biological sciences

University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of St Andres

Building

Loughborough University, University of Nottingham, Heriot-Watt University

Business, management and marketing

University of Warwick, University of Oxford, University of Bath

Celtic studies

Cardiff University, Swansea University, Queen’s University Belfast

Chemical engineering

University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Oxford

Chemistry

University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, University of Oxford

Civil engineering

University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Oxford

Classics and ancient history

University of St Andrews, University of Oxford, Durham University

the times uni rankings best uk unis for all the subjects

The Uni of Cambridge did not make it into the top three for Classics, even though it has a whole museum for just Classical scuplture

Communication and media studies

Loughborough University, University of Strathclyde, University of Sheffield

Computer science

University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University of Cambridge

Creative writing

Newcastle University, University of Warwick, Royal Holloway, University of London

Criminology

Loughborough University, University of Sheffield, University College London

Dentistry

Queen’s University, Belfast, University of Glasgow, University of Bristol

Drama, dance and cinematics

University of Glasgow, University of Manchester, Queen Mary University of London

East and South Asian studies

University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Nottingham

Economics

University of Warwick, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of Cambridge

Education

Durham University, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge

Electrical engineering

University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London

English

University of St Andrews, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge

Food science

Queen’s University Belfast, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Surrey

French

University of St Andrews, University of Cambridge, Lancaster University

General engineering

Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol

Geography and environmental science

Durham University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge

Geology

University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, University of Exeter

German

University of St Andrews, University of Cambridge, University of Bristol

History

University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, University of Oxford

best uk unis for each subject in 2024.

Who said history was a dead subject?

History of art, architecture and design

University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, University College London (UCL)

Hospitality leisure, recreation and tourism

University of Birmingham, Glasgow Caledonian University, Liverpool John Moores University

Iberian languages

University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, Lancaster University

Information systems and management

University College London (UCL), Ulster University, Edge Hill University

Italian

University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Warwick

Land and property management

University of Cambridge, University of Manchester, University of Reading

Law

University College London (UCL), University of Cambridge, University of Glasgow

Liberal arts

University College London (UCL), University of Warwick, King’s College London

Linguistics

University of Cambridge, University College London (UCL), Lancaster University

Materials technology

University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London

Mathematics

Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford

Mechanical engineering

Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford

Medicine

University of Oxford, University of Dundee, University of Glasgow

Middle Eastern and African studies

University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Exeter

Music

University of Cambridge, Durham University, Imperial College London

Natural sciences

University of Cambridge, University of Exeter, Durham University

Nursing

University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, University of Sheffield

Pharmacology and pharmacy

University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow, Ulster University

Philosophy

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of St Andrews, University of Warwick

Physics and astronomy

University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, University of Oxford

uk unis best subjects 2024

Science is just pouring liquids into little bottles, right?

Physiotherapy

Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Southampton, Robert Gordon University

Politics

University of St Andrews, University of Oxford, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Psychology

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of St Andres, University of Cambridge

Radiography

Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, University of Exeter

Russian and eastern European languages

University of Cambridge, University of Bristol, University of Oxford

Social policy

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde

Social work

Lancaster University, University of Kent, University of Edinburgh

Sociology

University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Oxford

Sports science

University of Glasgow, University of Bath, University of Exeter

Subjects allied to medicine

University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University

Theology and religious studies

University of Cambridge, Durham University, University of Glasgow

Town and country planning and landscape

Loughborough University, University of Edinburgh, University of Sheffield

Veterinary medicine

University of Liverpool, University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh

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