Some of the country’s very highest performing universities have held onto their places for another year, in a prestigious UK league table.
The Guardian’s latest university guide for the 2026 academic year has now been released. This annual guide ranks more than 120 universities from across the UK, giving each an overall score out of 100. Its in-depth methodology means that student satisfaction, staff numbers, spending and future career prospects for students are all taken into account.
It also ranks universities by individual subject, and new for this year, the paper has included a special table featuring the universities and courses “that graduates were least likely to regret”. But it warned that as with any league table, prospective students should try to get a broader picture of what a university could offer them too. “Rankings change annually, and some universities may benefit from temporary measures such as funding boosts or changes to their student intake. Don’t forget that universities languishing at the bottom of the overall table can be top for certain subjects,” it added.
We’ve taken a look at the universities from across the UK which came out on top in the latest guide, with institutions across England and Scotland earning top spots this year. As well as their overall scores, we have added a few key details likely to be important to sixth form students considering studying there - including a score representing how satisfied final year students were with their teaching, as well as the proportion of recent graduates either employed in a graduate-level job or undertaking further study 15 months after their course finished.
Here were The Guardian’s top 20, for 2026’s aspiring students:
17. University of Exeter
This university is based in Exeter, down in Devon, in England’s South West. It climbed one place, up from 18th in last year’s ranking. The Guardian gave it an overall score of 67.5 out of 100. It had a rating of 87.7 for students satisfied with their teaching, and 86% of recent graduates were either employed or in further study after 15 months. | English Heritage/Heritage Images/Getty Images
18. University of Aberdeen
This Scottish university is based up in Aberdeen, and fell from 12th place last year down to 18th. The Guardian gave it an overall score of 65.7 out of 100. It had a rating of 89.4 for students satisfied with their teaching, and 84% of recent graduates were either employed or in further study after 15 months. | Google
19. University of Strathclyde
Another Scottish university, this one is headquartered in Glasgow. It fell from 17th place to 19th in this year’s league table. The Guardian gave it an overall score of 64.8 out of 100. It had a rating of 89.3 for students satisfied with their teaching, and 84% of recent graduates were either employed or in further study after 15 months. | Google
20. University of Southampton
Rounding out the top 20 for 2026 is Southampton’s namesake university, in England’s South East. It has seen a two-place rise, up from 22nd last year. The Guardian gave it an overall score of 64.6 out of 100. It had a rating of 86.6 for students satisfied with their teaching, and 85% of recent graduates were either employed or in further study after 15 months. | Google