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The 2026 student voice table

Rank universities by what students actually experienced.

Built solely from the National Student Survey: what recent final-year undergraduates said about their university and course, made steadier by averaging 2025 and 2026.

Choose a subject →Build your own ranking
26 common questions130 universities164 subjects
Two years.
One clearer view.
02
Lincoln Bishop University89.90%
01
Birmingham Newman University90.74%
Top university
03
University of St Andrews88.66%
↑
Year-on-year movement
See who is rising, not just who is first.
One public source · Student opinion only

A league table about the experience of studying—not institutional prestige.

Every score comes from published NSS responses about teaching, learning, assessment, support, organisation, resources, student voice and wellbeing information. These were students answering at the end of their course; for an applicant choosing now, they are the people who have already lived the experience.

See the official NSS source data ↗
Included26 answers from recent students

Every common question contributes equally.

ExcludedResearch reputation and output

A strong research profile cannot rescue a weak student experience here.

ExcludedEntry grades and selectivity

Being difficult to enter is not treated as evidence of better teaching.

ExcludedStaff ratios, spending and graduate salaries

Useful context, but none of it is a past student’s opinion of the course.

Why this table can look very different

Popular league tables mix unlike things into one score.

The Guardian’s 2026 table combines eight measures across the student lifecycle—including entry standards, student–staff ratios, spending, continuation and careers—with selected NSS measures. The Complete University Guide also brings research and institutional metrics into its result. Those tables can be useful, but their final rank cannot tell you how much is student experience and how much is reputation, resources, selectivity or outcomes.

Our deliberate limitation is also our point: no research score, prestigious intake, staff ratio or spending figure can compensate for students reporting weaker teaching, feedback, support or organisation.

Guardian 2026 methodology ↗Complete University Guide methodology ↗
Three ways to explore

Start broad. Then make it yours.

01

Overall ranking

Every provider with current-year NSS data, with each eligible subject contributing equally.

View the table → 02

Top 10 guides

Read one of 164 standalone “best universities for…” articles, with the headline result, context and a link to the full table.

Browse every guide → 03

Build your ranking

Decide which of the 26 common NSS questions matter more—or less—to you.

Adjust the weights →
Overall league table

University rankings 2026

2026

2025 + 2026 average
The 2025 position uses 2024+2025; each prior position shows its actual data coverage.

Two-year average One-year data
130 universities
Current pos.2025+2026 tablePrevious pos.2024+2025 tableChangeUniversityScoreCurrent score dataBreadthDetails
1 5Mixed year coverage ↑ 4 Birmingham Newman UniversityMixed year coverage 90.74% Mixed year coverage 20 subjects
2 1Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 Lincoln Bishop UniversityMixed year coverage 89.90% Mixed year coverage 11 subjects
3 4Mixed year coverage ↑ 1 University of St Andrews2025–2026 average 88.66% 2025–2026 average 22 subjects
4 9Mixed year coverage ↑ 5 The University of SurreyMixed year coverage 87.40% Mixed year coverage 48 subjects
5 2Mixed year coverage ↓ 3 Liverpool Hope University2025–2026 average 87.40% 2025–2026 average 29 subjects
6 22Mixed year coverage ↑ 16 Leeds Trinity UniversityMixed year coverage 86.93% Mixed year coverage 20 subjects
7 6Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 Prifysgol AberystwythMixed year coverage 86.92% Mixed year coverage 39 subjects
8 11Mixed year coverage ↑ 3 The University of West LondonMixed year coverage 86.89% Mixed year coverage 40 subjects
9 15Mixed year coverage ↑ 6 The University of LeicesterMixed year coverage 86.87% Mixed year coverage 48 subjects
10 8Mixed year coverage ↓ 2 The University of SheffieldMixed year coverage 86.86% Mixed year coverage 61 subjects
11 38Mixed year coverage ↑ 27 University of East LondonMixed year coverage 86.69% Mixed year coverage 48 subjects
12 29Mixed year coverage ↑ 17 Abertay UniversityMixed year coverage 86.67% Mixed year coverage 15 subjects
13 20Mixed year coverage ↑ 7 The University of ChichesterMixed year coverage 86.58% Mixed year coverage 32 subjects
14 41Mixed year coverage ↑ 27 University of HertfordshireMixed year coverage 86.44% Mixed year coverage 53 subjects
15 342024–2025 average ↑ 19 Leeds Arts University2025–2026 average 86.44% 2025–2026 average 6 subjects
16 10Mixed year coverage ↓ 6 University of SunderlandMixed year coverage 86.34% Mixed year coverage 43 subjects
17 242024–2025 average ↑ 7 University of StrathclydeMixed year coverage 86.30% Mixed year coverage 48 subjects
18 56Mixed year coverage ↑ 38 University of WolverhamptonMixed year coverage 86.25% Mixed year coverage 53 subjects
19 14Mixed year coverage ↓ 5 Teesside UniversityMixed year coverage 86.21% Mixed year coverage 42 subjects
20 21Mixed year coverage ↑ 1 Nottingham Trent UniversityMixed year coverage 86.11% Mixed year coverage 73 subjects
21 36Mixed year coverage ↑ 15 The University of EssexMixed year coverage 86.02% Mixed year coverage 53 subjects
22 32Mixed year coverage ↑ 10 Loughborough University2025–2026 average 85.99% 2025–2026 average 41 subjects
23 30Mixed year coverage ↑ 7 Swansea UniversityMixed year coverage 85.96% Mixed year coverage 58 subjects
24 13Mixed year coverage ↓ 11 The University of HullMixed year coverage 85.92% Mixed year coverage 44 subjects
25 672024–2025 average ↑ 42 Birmingham City UniversityMixed year coverage 85.90% Mixed year coverage 59 subjects
26 31Mixed year coverage ↑ 5 Leeds Beckett UniversityMixed year coverage 85.79% Mixed year coverage 55 subjects
27 26Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 University of the West of ScotlandMixed year coverage 85.68% Mixed year coverage 34 subjects
28 64Mixed year coverage ↑ 36 Buckinghamshire New UniversityMixed year coverage 85.65% Mixed year coverage 33 subjects
29 58Mixed year coverage ↑ 29 University of KeeleMixed year coverage 85.60% Mixed year coverage 41 subjects
30 232024–2025 average ↓ 7 Liverpool John Moores UniversityMixed year coverage 85.58% Mixed year coverage 59 subjects
31 12Mixed year coverage ↓ 19 University of AberdeenMixed year coverage 85.57% Mixed year coverage 46 subjects
32 39Mixed year coverage ↑ 7 The University of WarwickMixed year coverage 85.49% Mixed year coverage 49 subjects
33 60Mixed year coverage ↑ 27 University of WorcesterMixed year coverage 85.45% Mixed year coverage 37 subjects
34 81Mixed year coverage ↑ 47 The University of BirminghamMixed year coverage 85.32% Mixed year coverage 63 subjects
35 85Mixed year coverage ↑ 50 Edge Hill UniversityMixed year coverage 85.31% Mixed year coverage 39 subjects
36 25Mixed year coverage ↓ 11 Manchester Metropolitan UniversityMixed year coverage 85.28% Mixed year coverage 68 subjects
37 512024–2025 average ↑ 14 Robert Gordon University2025–2026 average 85.25% 2025–2026 average 29 subjects
38 17Mixed year coverage ↓ 21 Coventry UniversityMixed year coverage 85.23% Mixed year coverage 58 subjects
39 62Mixed year coverage ↑ 23 University of DurhamMixed year coverage 85.16% Mixed year coverage 38 subjects
40 19Mixed year coverage ↓ 21 Roehampton UniversityMixed year coverage 85.07% Mixed year coverage 35 subjects
41 44Mixed year coverage ↑ 3 The University of ReadingMixed year coverage 85.05% Mixed year coverage 55 subjects
42 74Mixed year coverage ↑ 32 The London School of Economics and Political Science2025–2026 average 84.95% 2025–2026 average 16 subjects
43 42Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 Middlesex UniversityMixed year coverage 84.95% Mixed year coverage 37 subjects
44 43Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 University of DerbyMixed year coverage 84.93% Mixed year coverage 50 subjects
45 47Mixed year coverage ↑ 2 The University of LiverpoolMixed year coverage 84.91% Mixed year coverage 58 subjects
46 28Mixed year coverage ↓ 18 Bangor UniversityMixed year coverage 84.83% Mixed year coverage 40 subjects
47 27Mixed year coverage ↓ 20 University of PortsmouthMixed year coverage 84.74% Mixed year coverage 63 subjects
48 57Mixed year coverage ↑ 9 University of Salford, theMixed year coverage 84.72% Mixed year coverage 60 subjects
49 65Mixed year coverage ↑ 16 University of GreenwichMixed year coverage 84.66% Mixed year coverage 47 subjects
50 40Mixed year coverage ↓ 10 University of DundeeMixed year coverage 84.65% Mixed year coverage 40 subjects
51 55Mixed year coverage ↑ 4 Oxford Brookes UniversityMixed year coverage 84.65% Mixed year coverage 49 subjects
52 52Mixed year coverage — Royal Holloway and Bedford New CollegeMixed year coverage 84.57% Mixed year coverage 40 subjects
53 16Mixed year coverage ↓ 37 University of Wales: Trinity Saint DavidMixed year coverage 84.51% Mixed year coverage 21 subjects
54 82Mixed year coverage ↑ 28 University of SouthamptonMixed year coverage 84.43% Mixed year coverage 60 subjects
55 75Mixed year coverage ↑ 20 University of BedfordshireMixed year coverage 84.42% Mixed year coverage 32 subjects
56 33Mixed year coverage ↓ 23 University of LancashireMixed year coverage 84.35% Mixed year coverage 64 subjects
57 53Mixed year coverage ↓ 4 London Metropolitan UniversityMixed year coverage 84.30% Mixed year coverage 35 subjects
58 37Mixed year coverage ↓ 21 The University of LancasterMixed year coverage 84.21% Mixed year coverage 46 subjects
59 84Mixed year coverage ↑ 25 Canterbury Christ Church UniversityMixed year coverage 84.15% Mixed year coverage 35 subjects
60 972024–2025 average ↑ 37 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine2025–2026 average 84.15% 2025–2026 average 20 subjects
61 54Mixed year coverage ↓ 7 The University of Bath2025–2026 average 84.15% 2025–2026 average 37 subjects
62 482024–2025 average ↓ 14 St Mary’s University, TwickenhamMixed year coverage 84.11% Mixed year coverage 18 subjects
63 46Mixed year coverage ↓ 17 University of SuffolkMixed year coverage 84.11% Mixed year coverage 19 subjects
64 72024–2025 average ↓ 57 Arts University PlymouthMixed year coverage 84.10% Mixed year coverage 6 subjects
65 61Mixed year coverage ↓ 4 University of UlsterMixed year coverage 84.10% Mixed year coverage 53 subjects
66 69Mixed year coverage ↑ 3 Norwich University of the Arts2025–2026 average 84.03% 2025–2026 average 10 subjects
67 59Mixed year coverage ↓ 8 Southampton Solent UniversityMixed year coverage 83.93% Mixed year coverage 36 subjects
68 80Mixed year coverage ↑ 12 University of SussexMixed year coverage 83.86% Mixed year coverage 50 subjects
69 72Mixed year coverage ↑ 3 University of Northumbria at NewcastleMixed year coverage 83.81% Mixed year coverage 49 subjects
70 103Mixed year coverage ↑ 33 University of BristolMixed year coverage 83.79% Mixed year coverage 56 subjects
71 502024–2025 average ↓ 21 Edinburgh Napier UniversityMixed year coverage 83.62% Mixed year coverage 32 subjects
72 71Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 The University of WestminsterMixed year coverage 83.62% Mixed year coverage 38 subjects
73 79Mixed year coverage ↑ 6 University of StaffordshireMixed year coverage 83.62% Mixed year coverage 38 subjects
74 63Mixed year coverage ↓ 11 York St John UniversityMixed year coverage 83.62% Mixed year coverage 43 subjects
75 86Mixed year coverage ↑ 11 University of Nottingham, theMixed year coverage 83.57% Mixed year coverage 68 subjects
76 77Mixed year coverage ↑ 1 Queen's University of BelfastMixed year coverage 83.56% Mixed year coverage 58 subjects
77 91Mixed year coverage ↑ 14 Bath Spa UniversityMixed year coverage 83.56% Mixed year coverage 30 subjects
78 35Mixed year coverage ↓ 43 University of Northampton, theMixed year coverage 83.54% Mixed year coverage 44 subjects
79 882024–2025 average ↑ 9 University of the Arts, LondonMixed year coverage 83.53% Mixed year coverage 19 subjects
80 682024–2025 average ↓ 12 London South Bank UniversityMixed year coverage 83.53% Mixed year coverage 39 subjects
81 76Mixed year coverage ↓ 5 University of LincolnMixed year coverage 83.41% Mixed year coverage 54 subjects
82 93Mixed year coverage ↑ 11 The University of East AngliaMixed year coverage 83.36% Mixed year coverage 50 subjects
83 78Mixed year coverage ↓ 5 Cardiff UniversityMixed year coverage 83.36% Mixed year coverage 62 subjects
84 702024–2025 average ↓ 14 Kingston UniversityMixed year coverage 83.34% Mixed year coverage 53 subjects
85 662024–2025 average ↓ 19 Glasgow Caledonian UniversityMixed year coverage 83.22% Mixed year coverage 43 subjects
86 73Mixed year coverage ↓ 13 Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityMixed year coverage 83.11% Mixed year coverage 33 subjects
87 107Mixed year coverage ↑ 20 Queen Mary University of LondonMixed year coverage 83.04% Mixed year coverage 46 subjects
88 83Mixed year coverage ↓ 5 University of South Wales/Prifysgol De CymruMixed year coverage 82.99% Mixed year coverage 45 subjects
89 111Mixed year coverage ↑ 22 University of WinchesterMixed year coverage 82.97% Mixed year coverage 38 subjects
90 118Mixed year coverage ↑ 28 University of StirlingMixed year coverage 82.97% Mixed year coverage 35 subjects
91 87Mixed year coverage ↓ 4 De Montfort University2025–2026 average 82.95% 2025–2026 average 53 subjects
92 112Mixed year coverage ↑ 20 The University of LeedsMixed year coverage 82.94% Mixed year coverage 87 subjects
93 1132024–2025 average ↑ 20 Falmouth University2025–2026 average 82.94% 2025–2026 average 12 subjects
94 89Mixed year coverage ↓ 5 University of GloucestershireMixed year coverage 82.92% Mixed year coverage 36 subjects
95 92Mixed year coverage ↓ 3 University of the West of England, BristolMixed year coverage 82.91% Mixed year coverage 60 subjects
96 109Mixed year coverage ↑ 13 University of BrightonMixed year coverage 82.85% Mixed year coverage 56 subjects
97 982024–2025 average ↑ 1 University of ExeterMixed year coverage 82.82% Mixed year coverage 52 subjects
98 90Mixed year coverage ↓ 8 University of PlymouthMixed year coverage 82.78% Mixed year coverage 58 subjects
99 45Mixed year coverage ↓ 54 Glyndwr UniversityMixed year coverage 82.61% Mixed year coverage 18 subjects
100 18Mixed year coverage ↓ 82 University of Greater ManchesterMixed year coverage 82.57% Mixed year coverage 30 subjects
101 102Mixed year coverage ↑ 1 Aston UniversityMixed year coverage 82.52% Mixed year coverage 39 subjects
102 106Mixed year coverage ↑ 4 University College LondonMixed year coverage 82.35% Mixed year coverage 69 subjects
103 119Mixed year coverage ↑ 16 The University of BradfordMixed year coverage 82.22% Mixed year coverage 32 subjects
104 99Mixed year coverage ↓ 5 Brunel University LondonMixed year coverage 82.16% Mixed year coverage 35 subjects
105 104Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 University of Newcastle upon TyneMixed year coverage 82.09% Mixed year coverage 59 subjects
106 492024–2025 average ↓ 57 Arts University Bournemouth2025–2026 average 82.06% 2025–2026 average 5 subjects
107 114Mixed year coverage ↑ 7 Anglia Ruskin UniversityMixed year coverage 82.02% Mixed year coverage 50 subjects
108 110Mixed year coverage ↑ 2 University of CambridgeMixed year coverage 81.90% Mixed year coverage 32 subjects
109 121Mixed year coverage ↑ 12 The University of ManchesterMixed year coverage 81.78% Mixed year coverage 81 subjects
110 94Mixed year coverage ↓ 16 University of ChesterMixed year coverage 81.76% Mixed year coverage 46 subjects
111 108Mixed year coverage ↓ 3 Heriot-Watt UniversityMixed year coverage 81.74% Mixed year coverage 24 subjects
112 100Mixed year coverage ↓ 12 City St George's, University of LondonMixed year coverage 81.68% Mixed year coverage 39 subjects
113 101Mixed year coverage ↓ 12 The University of HuddersfieldMixed year coverage 81.39% Mixed year coverage 54 subjects
114 117Mixed year coverage ↑ 3 University of YorkMixed year coverage 81.35% Mixed year coverage 49 subjects
115 96Mixed year coverage ↓ 19 Queen Margaret University, EdinburghMixed year coverage 81.34% Mixed year coverage 15 subjects
116 1222024–2025 average ↑ 6 King's College LondonMixed year coverage 81.18% Mixed year coverage 52 subjects
117 116Mixed year coverage ↓ 1 University of OxfordMixed year coverage 80.95% Mixed year coverage 28 subjects
118 115Mixed year coverage ↓ 3 Bournemouth UniversityMixed year coverage 80.73% Mixed year coverage 46 subjects
119 125Mixed year coverage ↑ 6 University of GlasgowMixed year coverage 80.51% Mixed year coverage 66 subjects
120 120Mixed year coverage — The University of KentMixed year coverage 80.47% Mixed year coverage 53 subjects
121 105Mixed year coverage ↓ 16 Sheffield Hallam UniversityMixed year coverage 79.92% Mixed year coverage 68 subjects
122 1242024–2025 average ↑ 2 Harper Adams UniversityMixed year coverage 79.53% Mixed year coverage 10 subjects
123 95Mixed year coverage ↓ 28 The University of BuckinghamMixed year coverage 79.31% Mixed year coverage 6 subjects
124 3Mixed year coverage ↓ 121 University of St Mark & St JohnMixed year coverage 79.31% Mixed year coverage 10 subjects
125 123Mixed year coverage ↓ 2 The University of CumbriaMixed year coverage 79.23% Mixed year coverage 27 subjects
126 127Mixed year coverage ↑ 1 Goldsmiths' CollegeMixed year coverage 79.03% Mixed year coverage 24 subjects
127 1262024–2025 average ↓ 1 University for the Creative ArtsMixed year coverage 78.91% Mixed year coverage 11 subjects
128 128Mixed year coverage — The School of Oriental and African Studies2025–2026 average 78.38% 2025–2026 average 15 subjects
129 129Mixed year coverage — University of Edinburgh2025–2026 average 78.18% 2025–2026 average 69 subjects
130 1302024–2025 average — The Royal Agricultural University2025–2026 average 74.38% 2025–2026 average 6 subjects

How to read this: scores are the mean of 26 common NSS questions. Every eligible subject is weighted equally in the overall table. Published 2026 data is required; a 2026-only provider is included as “New”, while a 2025-only provider is excluded.

Why average two years?

One cohort can be unusual. Two tell a steadier story.

The 2026 ranking combines 2025 and 2026 question-by-question. It softens one-off swings while keeping the newest student feedback central.

See every calculation →
164 independent subject guides

Your subject can change the picture.

Every top ten now has its own indexable editorial article. The complete interactive rankings live separately, so readers never meet the same list twice on one page.

Best for Accounting →Best for Adult nursing →Best for Aeronautical and aerospace engineering →Best for African and modern Middle Eastern studies →Best for Agricultural sciences →Best for Agriculture →Best for American and Australasian studies →Best for Anatomy, physiology and pathology →Best for Animal science →Best for Anthropology →Best for Applied psychology →Best for Archaeology →
Browse all 164 top 10 guides