Northern students, listen up! Alongside your cheaper rent and access to an abundance of bars serving trebles, you now have one more reason to be smug about attending a superior uni. Because Newcastle University has just been named the best institution in the UK for student life by Uni Compare. And the top three universities in the ranking are all based in the north. Oxbridge could never.
For 2025, Uni Compare ranked 209 institutions based on 28,430 verified student reviews. The student life category assessed universities across multiple categories including nightlife, societies, campus culture, events, and community atmosphere. Universities required a minimum of 10 verified reviews to qualify for inclusion.
Newcastle claimed the top spot for student life with a social score of 4.48, alongside a perfect 100 percent recommendation rate from students. The ranking wrote: ‘Newcastle's standout performance in social experiences suggests a vibrant campus community with strong student engagement across societies, events, and social activities.’ Hurrah for Newcastle!
The uni in the northeast climbed two spots from its 2024 ranking, and was closely followed by Nottingham Trent University with a social score of 4.42 and a 98 percent recommendation rate. The report noted Trent’s ‘excellent’ campus culture and ‘community atmosphere’.
In third, climbing one place from 2024 was Liverpool John Moores University, also in the north of England. Liverpool John Moores had a social score of 4.38 and 97 percent recommendation rate. Last year’s winner, the University of Liverpool, dropped three places to fourth with a score of 4.34, however 99 percent of student reviews said they would recommend the uni.
Owen O'Neill, founder of Uni Compare, said: ‘What sets these top-ranking universities apart is their ability to create genuine community connections beyond the lecture hall. Newcastle's perfect recommendation rate alongside its exceptional social score demonstrates how universities that invest in student societies, events, and campus culture see real returns in student satisfaction.
‘The data shows students value institutions that understand university life extends beyond academics – they want vibrant social environments, active student unions, and opportunities to build lasting friendships. Universities achieving 95 percent or higher recommendation rates consistently excel at balancing academic rigour with meaningful social experiences, creating environments where students genuinely want to recommend their institution to others.’
More education with Time Out
Want to compare university rankings? This is the best British university to study medicine, according to the 2026 Complete University Guide. Plus, seven British universities are in the top 50 in the world for 2026, according to the QS University Rankings. And these are the 10 best universities in Britain right now, according to the Complete University Guide.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country