Being an Oxbridge graduate isn’t quite the flex it once was – at least if you go by The Times and Sunday Times UK University Ranking 2026. For the first time in the guide’s 32-year history, Oxford and Cambridge have slipped out of the top three.
Taking their place? The London School of Economics and Political Science, crowned the best university in the nation, with St Andrews in second and Durham in third.
Cambridge landed in fourth, while Oxford trailed just behind in fifth. The academic powerhouses did still beat the likes of Imperial College London and Bristol in the top 10, though.
So what’s behind the shake-up? The ranking didn’t just measure academic clout (where Oxbridge will likely always reign supreme). It also weighed up graduate prospects, student satisfaction with teaching and wider experience, research quality and entry standards.
This year, student satisfaction (or lack thereof) ultimately caused Oxbridge’s downfall. According to the Times, lukewarm feedback in the National Student Survey made all the difference.
On the flip side, third-place Durham University was named The Times and Sunday Times University of the year for 2026, followed by the University of Strathclyde. Durham outperformed many of its Russell Group rivals, scoring highly for teaching, research and overall student happiness. It also shone on the career front, coming in just behind Imperial College London for graduate employment.
Other universities in the top 10 included University College London, University of Warwick and University of Bath. You can see the full list below.
The top 10 UK universities in 2026, according to The Times
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- University of St Andrews
- Durham University
- University of Cambridge
- University of Oxford
- Imperial College London
- University of Bath
- University of Warwick
- University College London
- University of Bristol
Find the ranking in full on the Sunday Times website here.
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