Top universities in the UK for physics and maths 2025
| UK Physical Sciences Rank 2025 | Global Physical Sciences Rank 2025 | University | Overall | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook | Research Environment | Teaching |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | University of Cambridge | 95.4 | 95.7 | 88.4 | 95.9 | 99.2 | 92.3 |
| 2 | 8 | University of Oxford | 94.7 | 94.7 | 84.3 | 95.6 | 97.7 | 92.9 |
| 3 | 14 | Imperial College London | 89.6 | 90.4 | 73.7 | 95.9 | 91.8 | 87.1 |
| 4 | 38 | UCL | 75.4 | 92.6 | 69.1 | 96.1 | 62.3 | 61 |
| 5 | 40 | University of Edinburgh | 74.8 | 88.7 | 68.9 | 95.9 | 63.9 | 62.2 |
| 6 | 55 | University of Manchester | 71 | 87.4 | 72.5 | 93.5 | 62.6 | 51.1 |
| 7 | 63 | University of Bristol | 67.9 | 89.3 | 69.9 | 86.1 | 52.7 | 49.4 |
| 8 | =92 | King’s College London | 62.3 | 88.5 | 68.7 | 96.6 | 40.7 | 38.7 |
| 9 | 100 | University of Southampton | 61.3 | 79.4 | 70.3 | 94.9 | 47.1 | 40.8 |
| =10 | 101–125 | Durham University | 59.1–61.1 | 82.5 | 66.8 | 85 | 40.4 | 43.2 |
| =10 | 101–125 | University of Birmingham | 59.1–61.1 | 88.6 | 66.4 | 90.5 | 36.1 | 34.3 |
| =10 | 101–125 | University of Exeter | 59.1–61.1 | 95.3 | 59.7 | 86 | 35 | 27.6 |
| =10 | 101–125 | University of Leeds | 59.1–61.1 | 80.2 | 69.7 | 90.2 | 44.9 | 40.7 |
| =10 | 101–125 | University of Reading | 59.1–61.1 | 83.6 | 84.9 | 87.4 | 38 | 37.1 |
| =10 | 101–125 | University of Warwick | 59.1–61.1 | 75.2 | 70.2 | 94.9 | 47.7 | 44.7 |
| =16 | 126–150 | University of Liverpool | 56.0–59.0 | 82.3 | 61.3 | 94 | 32.2 | 33.5 |
| =16 | 126–150 | University of Sheffield | 56.0–59.0 | 85.5 | 67.5 | 83.7 | 34.4 | 34.5 |
| =16 | 126–150 | University of St Andrews | 56.0–59.0 | 75.3 | 71.3 | 93.4 | 37.2 | 40.2 |
| =19 | 151–175 | Queen Mary University of London | 54.4–55.9 | 87.3 | 63.1 | 96.4 | 26.4 | 27.7 |
| =19 | 151–175 | Queen’s University Belfast | 54.4–55.9 | 85.8 | 74 | 97.7 | 26.4 | 25.9 |
| =19 | 151–175 | University of Glasgow | 54.4–55.9 | 78.9 | 69.4 | 92.8 | 34.8 | 32.8 |
| =19 | 151–175 | University of Nottingham | 54.4–55.9 | 83.7 | 70.2 | 84.7 | 33.2 | 31.6 |
| =19 | 151–175 | University of Sussex | 54.4–55.9 | 93.3 | 69.8 | 95.1 | 20.8 | 24 |
| 24 | 176–200 | Cardiff University | 52.6–54.3 | 84.5 | 68.3 | 89.3 | 26.1 | 26.8 |
| =25 | 201–250 | Lancaster University | 49.7–52.5 | 81.9 | 53.6 | 91.6 | 24 | 29.2 |
| =25 | 201–250 | Newcastle University | 49.7–52.5 | 86.9 | 70.2 | 76.3 | 23.3 | 18.7 |
| =25 | 201–250 | Swansea University | 49.7–52.5 | 86.4 | 55.6 | 83.3 | 25.9 | 22.4 |
| =25 | 201–250 | University of Leicester | 49.7–52.5 | 82.5 | 56.1 | 88.9 | 26.1 | 23.1 |
| =25 | 201–250 | University of Surrey | 49.7–52.5 | 82.5 | 73.6 | 92.5 | 24.3 | 25.9 |
| =30 | 251–300 | Bangor University | 47.1–49.6 | 78.5 | 54.8 | 83.1 | 21.3 | 25.1 |
| =30 | 251–300 | Brunel University of London | 47.1–49.6 | 80 | 52.4 | 96.7 | 18.8 | 17.6 |
| =30 | 251–300 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 47.1–49.6 | 81.7 | 49.3 | 89.1 | 21.2 | 20.3 |
| =30 | 251–300 | University of Aberdeen | 47.1–49.6 | 65.3 | 92.7 | 95.6 | 27.8 | 25.8 |
| =30 | 251–300 | University of East Anglia | 47.1–49.6 | 83.2 | 51.2 | 80.5 | 20.8 | 20.9 |
| =30 | 251–300 | University of Portsmouth | 47.1–49.6 | 87.5 | 53.4 | 92.8 | 14.9 | 17.7 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Heriot-Watt University | 42.4–46.9 | 61.3 | 78 | 91.1 | 26.1 | 25.8 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Liverpool John Moores University | 42.4–46.9 | 86.9 | 41 | 79.2 | 15.3 | 15.2 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Loughborough University | 42.4–46.9 | 65.8 | 66.4 | 81.3 | 19.4 | 23.3 |
| 301–400 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 42.4–46.9 | 83.5 | 37.7 | 79.9 | 11.9 | 12.6 | |
| =36 | 301–400 | Northumbria University | 42.4–46.9 | 81.3 | 38.1 | 85.9 | 18.7 | 15.9 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Nottingham Trent University | 42.4–46.9 | 78.9 | 39.7 | 86 | 9.4 | 17.6 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Bath | 42.4–46.9 | 66.6 | 66.7 | 79.6 | 25.2 | 28.4 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Greenwich | 42.4–46.9 | 77.5 | 43.3 | 91.1 | 11.9 | 19.9 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Hertfordshire | 42.4–46.9 | 77.8 | 32.6 | 97.6 | 12.2 | 20.1 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Hull | 42.4–46.9 | 72.4 | 63.7 | 83.5 | 18 | 19.1 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Plymouth | 42.4–46.9 | 82.2 | 41.9 | 73.7 | 14.9 | 14.9 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Stirling | 42.4–46.9 | 76.2 | 31.7 | 90.7 | 13.8 | 16.5 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Strathclyde | 42.4–46.9 | 66.6 | 78.8 | 84.3 | 25.5 | 25.5 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of York | 42.4–46.9 | 62.3 | 64.1 | 81.5 | 26.5 | 31.7 |
| =49 | 401–500 | Aberystwyth University | 39.7–42.3 | 65.5 | 47.1 | 75.9 | 19.8 | 17.6 |
| =49 | 401–500 | London School of Economics and Political Science | 39.7–42.3 | 67.3 | 19.5 | 93.3 | 14.9 | 25.4 |
| =49 | 401–500 | SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) | 39.7–42.3 | 78.1 | 20.1 | 74.8 | 9.1 | 19.3 |
| =49 | 401–500 | University of the West of Scotland | 39.7–42.3 | 75.5 | 33.9 | 79.2 | 11.7 | 16.6 |
| =53 | 601–800 | Birkbeck, University of London | 32.1–36.5 | 50.3 | 55.8 | 91.7 | 14.8 | 20.9 |
| =53 | 601–800 | The Open University | 32.1–36.5 | 61.8 | 31.3 | 66.7 | 11.5 | 14.7 |
| =53 | 601–800 | University of Kent | 32.1–36.5 | 47.5 | 54.3 | 84.7 | 12.5 | 15.2 |
| =53 | 601–800 | UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) | 32.1–36.5 | 57.2 | 37.1 | 63.9 | 11 | 16.1 |
| 57 | 801–1000 | Keele University | 26.1–32.0 | 50.1 | 42.9 | 78.6 | 8.8 | 13.8 |
Key Insights into the best universities for physics and maths in the UK 2025
- The University of Cambridge is the top university in the UK for the physical sciences.
- The top 10 contains three universities based in London, as well as universities in Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol.
- Some 57 universities in the UK are ranked in total.
- The physical sciences ranking ranks universities that offer courses in physics, chemistry, astronomy, maths, statistics, geology, environmental, earth and marine sciences.
Choosing the right university for physical sciences in the UK
Choosing the best school for physics, chemistry or maths is a crucial step for prospective students. The Times Higher Education Physical Science Rankings help identify universities with strong reputations in teaching, research, and industry collaboration.
The table for the best universities for physical sciences in the UK was derived from data collected for the THE World University Subject Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.
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