Top universities in the UK for physics and maths 2026
| UK physical scienc rank 2026 | Global physical science rank 2026 | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
| 1 | =5 | University of Cambridge | 95.8 | 92.4 | 99.5 | 96.8 | 85.2 | 96 |
| 2 | 8 | University of Oxford | 94.8 | 92.8 | 97.9 | 94.8 | 88.1 | 95.2 |
| 3 | =12 | Imperial College London | 90.4 | 88.6 | 92.5 | 90.6 | 75.3 | 96.2 |
| 4 | 38 | UCL | 76.9 | 64.1 | 64.7 | 92.6 | 68.6 | 96.2 |
| 5 | =41 | University of Edinburgh | 76.3 | 66.6 | 65.2 | 89.4 | 64 | 96.1 |
| 6 | =51 | University of Manchester | 72.5 | 54.5 | 64.7 | 87.3 | 76.2 | 93.4 |
| 7 | =62 | University of Bristol | 69.2 | 51.9 | 55.6 | 89.1 | 70.2 | 85.5 |
| 8 | =99 | King’s College London | 62.1 | 42.6 | 41.1 | 84.8 | 67.4 | 96.6 |
| =9 | 101–125 | Durham University | 59.4–62.0 | 42.4 | 44.8 | 84.3 | 64.9 | 84.8 |
| =9 | 101–125 | University of Birmingham | 59.4–62.0 | 35.5 | 37.2 | 87.7 | 68 | 90.8 |
| =9 | 101–125 | University of Exeter | 59.4–62.0 | 33 | 38 | 95.5 | 61.3 | 86.2 |
| =9 | 101–125 | University of Leeds | 59.4–62.0 | 42.4 | 45.8 | 81.3 | 69 | 90.2 |
| =9 | 101–125 | University of Reading | 59.4–62.0 | 40.9 | 38.3 | 83.4 | 75.2 | 88.3 |
| =9 | 101–125 | University of Southampton | 59.4–62.0 | 38.5 | 44.4 | 78.5 | 71 | 94.7 |
| =9 | 101–125 | University of Warwick | 59.4–62.0 | 47.2 | 47.9 | 75.5 | 68.2 | 94.7 |
| =16 | 126–150 | Queen’s University Belfast | 56.7–59.2 | 27.2 | 29.4 | 89.7 | 72.4 | 97.7 |
| =16 | 126–150 | University of Glasgow | 56.7–59.2 | 38.4 | 37.1 | 79.9 | 68.7 | 92.1 |
| =16 | 126–150 | University of Liverpool | 56.7–59.2 | 35.8 | 34.7 | 83.3 | 72.4 | 94 |
| =16 | 126–150 | University of Sheffield | 56.7–59.2 | 37.9 | 34.9 | 84.2 | 67.6 | 83.7 |
| =16 | 126–150 | University of St Andrews | 56.7–59.2 | 43 | 37.6 | 77.1 | 78.3 | 93.3 |
| =21 | 151–175 | Queen Mary University of London | 54.9–56.6 | 29.2 | 29.4 | 86.7 | 64.6 | 95.5 |
| =21 | 151–175 | University of Nottingham | 54.9–56.6 | 33.1 | 30.7 | 81.8 | 70.3 | 84.6 |
| =21 | 151–175 | University of Surrey | 54.9–56.6 | 29.3 | 25.2 | 86.9 | 71 | 93.7 |
| =21 | 151–175 | University of Sussex | 54.9–56.6 | 28 | 22.4 | 93.7 | 69.8 | 96.6 |
| 25 | 176–200 | Lancaster University | 53.7–54.8 | 31.6 | 26.1 | 82.9 | 54.2 | 92.6 |
| =26 | 201–250 | Bangor University | 50.6–53.6 | 25.5 | 23.1 | 80.6 | 76.6 | 82.8 |
| =26 | 201–250 | Cardiff University | 50.6–53.6 | 26 | 28.1 | 84.3 | 67.1 | 87.5 |
| =26 | 201–250 | Newcastle University | 50.6–53.6 | 23.2 | 25.1 | 88.7 | 68.3 | 80.1 |
| =26 | 201–250 | Swansea University | 50.6–53.6 | 26.7 | 27.2 | 85.7 | 59.5 | 83.4 |
| =26 | 201–250 | University of Leicester | 50.6–53.6 | 25.9 | 27.3 | 80.6 | 58.4 | 88.8 |
| =31 | 251–300 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 47.7–50.5 | 24.9 | 20 | 82.5 | 49.9 | 86.8 |
| =31 | 251–300 | University of Aberdeen | 47.7–50.5 | 28.8 | 26.3 | 65.2 | 93.7 | 95.6 |
| =31 | 251–300 | University of Bath | 47.7–50.5 | 32.9 | 24.4 | 67 | 66.5 | 82.6 |
| =31 | 251–300 | University of East Anglia | 47.7–50.5 | 24.6 | 20.6 | 83.3 | 53.9 | 80 |
| =31 | 251–300 | University of Portsmouth | 47.7–50.5 | 15.1 | 14.8 | 88.8 | 52.7 | 94 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Heriot-Watt University | 43.0–47.6 | 25.7 | 24.2 | 59.5 | 69 | 91.8 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Liverpool John Moores University | 43.0–47.6 | 14.7 | 16.1 | 89.4 | 42.5 | 80.6 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Loughborough University | 43.0–47.6 | 22.9 | 20.2 | 67 | 65.6 | 81.7 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 43.0–47.6 | 13.8 | 13.4 | 86.3 | 42.4 | 81.4 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Northumbria University | 43.0–47.6 | 15.7 | 20 | 83.6 | 39 | 86.3 |
| =36 | 301–400 | Nottingham Trent University | 43.0–47.6 | 19.8 | 10.1 | 80.5 | 40.3 | 89.4 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Hertfordshire | 43.0–47.6 | 19.1 | 12.8 | 84.2 | 33.6 | 97.4 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Hull | 43.0–47.6 | 20.8 | 16.9 | 69.8 | 62.6 | 88.4 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Plymouth | 43.0–47.6 | 16.2 | 15.4 | 77.6 | 41.1 | 76.4 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of Strathclyde | 43.0–47.6 | 26.4 | 25.2 | 62.7 | 82 | 83.8 |
| =36 | 301–400 | University of York | 43.0–47.6 | 33.5 | 27.2 | 61.9 | 63.3 | 80.3 |
| =47 | 401–500 | London School of Economics and Political Science | 40.1–42.9 | 26.3 | 15.3 | 64 | 20.1 | 92.9 |
| =47 | 401–500 | SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) | 40.1–42.9 | 19.9 | 8.8 | 78.6 | 20.7 | 68.1 |
| =47 | 401–500 | University of Greenwich | 40.1–42.9 | 18.4 | 9.5 | 74.8 | 39 | 90.8 |
| =47 | 401–500 | University of Stirling | 40.1–42.9 | 21.7 | 14.1 | 71.7 | 33.8 | 88.2 |
| =47 | 401–500 | University of the West of Scotland | 40.1–42.9 | 15.3 | 12.1 | 77.3 | 36 | 75.1 |
| 52 | 501–600 | Aberystwyth University | 37.4–40.0 | 17 | 17.2 | 65 | 47.9 | 76.6 |
| =53 | 601–800 | Birkbeck, University of London | 32.8–37.3 | 20.1 | 15.2 | 50.1 | 57.8 | 93 |
| =53 | 601–800 | Kingston University | 32.8–37.3 | 14.6 | 8.5 | 60.3 | 33.5 | 88.2 |
| =53 | 601–800 | The Open University | 32.8–37.3 | 15 | 10.6 | 59.3 | 32.2 | 66.1 |
| =53 | 601–800 | UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) | 32.8–37.3 | 17.2 | 11.1 | 59.8 | 34.5 | 66.3 |
| =53 | 601–800 | University of Kent | 32.8–37.3 | 17.4 | 13.2 | 50 | 52.8 | 86.7 |
| 58 | 801–1000 | Keele University | 27.5–32.7 | 14.8 | 9.4 | 46.9 | 42.2 | 78 |
| 59 | 1001–1250 | University of South Wales | 20.9–27.4 | 14.1 | 9 | 24.6 | 37.5 | 74.3 |
Key Insights into the best universities for physics and maths in the UK 2026
- 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 59 universities in the UK are ranked in total.
- New entries this year include Kingston University and University of South Wales.
- 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
The physical sciences include mathematics, statistics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, environmental sciences and Earth and marine sciences. Courses in the physical sciences differ across universities and countries, but the core focus is on the understanding and application of mathematics in the natural world through practical and lab work.
In the UK, the physical sciences are also known as natural sciences, and courses at the undergraduate level typically run over three or four years.
In the UK, most university courses cover one discipline, such as chemistry, but some institutions offer a broader undergraduate course in the natural sciences. In these broader courses, students tend to study foundational topics in physics, maths and chemistry in the first two years before specialising from the third year onwards.
At postgraduate level students can choose between a taught master’s in a particular field or a research programme in which they undertake research in their chosen field and complete a written thesis.
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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