The best (and worst) universities in Britain have been named by the Daily Mail

This morning (August 14) thousands of students across the nation found out whether they did enough in their A-Levels to get into their first choice university. For those that don’t quite get the grades they needed, there’s this thing called clearing. It lets students apply last-minute for university courses with places still available and is open from now until September. And just in time for the student now weighing up their options (or thinking about where to apply next year), the Daily Mail has released its guide to the best and worst universities in Britain for 2026. 

Claiming the number one spot for the third year in a row is Imperial College London. The Mail said: ‘Imperial's success is rooted in academic excellence and an unparalleled record in graduate destinations where high-quality jobs and high salaries are the norm.’

Imperial ranked first for chemistry, mechanical engineering, high-skilled jobs and graduate salaries but didn’t do so well when it came to student experience (30th) and student support (122nd). The Mail also boasted that it was the first to list Imperial as the top UK uni, but others like the QS World University Rankings have followed suit.  

Number two and three on the list were two institutions that are no strangers to the top spot: the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. The London School of Economics and Politics, which ‘has more alumni who have gone on to run countries around the world than any other university’ landed in fourth place, and University College London was awarded fifth place. 

Then, way down at the bottom of the pack is Arts University Plymouth. But take that rank with a pinch of salt – AUP was named the South West University of the Year in 2024, based on the opinions of its own students, and was fifth in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2026. Plus, the Mail doesn’t really have too many bad things to say about it.

The paper said: ‘AUP is undone by a predictably poor showing in our graduate jobs and salary measures (ask any creative about lousy pay) and not participating in the last Research Excellence Framework, which predated AUP's elevation to full university status. The former is no surprise and the latter is no hinderance to the record number now studying here. Most staff are experienced practitioners whose teaching is embellished by their extensive experience in the creative industries.’

Ranking just above AUP in 127th out of 128 was the Royal Agricultural College, then it was Hartpury University in Gloucestershire in 126th and York St John University joint with London Metropolitan University at number 125. 

These are Britains 10 best unis, according to the Daily Mail

1. Imperial College London
2. University of Oxford 
3. University of Cambridge
4. London School of Economics and Political Science
5. University College London
6. University of Strathclyde
7. University of Warwick
8. University of Bristol 
9. University of Bath 
10. University of St Andrews

See the Daily Mail’s full ranking of UK universities here. 

ICYMI: The underrated UK university named best for teaching in 2025/26. 

Plus: The northern Russell Group university named best for student life in the UK.