Oxford loses top 3 university ranking for the first time
The University of Oxford has fallen out of the top three universities in the UK for the first time, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide for 2026.
Both Oxford and Cambridge universities have been supplanted by Durham University, which now holds the third-place spot among the top universities in the UK.
Oxford and Cambridge are tied for fourth in the 2026 rankings, after falling due to their relatively poor performance in the latest National Student Survey.
Durham University was named The Times’s University of the Year, although the number-one ranked university in the UK remained the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) for the second year in a row.
Second place was held by the University of St Andrews, again for the second consecutive year.
While the University of St Andrews ranked very highly in student experience and teaching quality, it lost out to the LSE in graduate prospects and research quality.
Durham University improved by 30 places year-on-year in its students’ evaluation of teaching quality, which was the main driver in securing its third place in the overall university league table.
“Durham is an outstanding place to study. We ensure that every student can grow and thrive here,” said Durham University Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen O’Brien.
“Our loyal, engaged alumni are testament to the impressive career prospects that await our graduates.”
The table below shows the top 20 universities in the United Kingdom, according to The Times University Rankings 2026.
| Rank | University |
|---|---|
| 1 | London School of Economics and Political Science |
| 2 | University of St Andrews |
| 3 | Durham University |
| 4/5 | University of Cambridge |
| 4/5 | University of Oxford |
| 6 | Imperial College London |
| 7 | University of Bath |
| 8 | University of Warwick |
| 9 | University College London |
| 10 | University of Bristol |
| 11 | University of Strathclyde |
| 12 | Loughborough University |
| 13 | University of Sheffield |
| 14 | University of Exeter |
| 15 | Lancaster University |
| 16 | University of Birmingham |
| 17 | University of Southampton |
| 18 | University of Liverpool |
| 19 | King’s College London |
| 20 | University of York |
