Oxford and Cambridge have slipped out of the top three in the prestigious Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide for the first time in its 32-year history. The 2026 rankings place the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) first for the second consecutive year, followed by the University of St Andrews in second, and Durham University in third.
Oxford and Cambridge are joint fourth, a drop from last year when Oxford was third and Cambridge fourth. The guide's editor, Helen Davies, noted that Durham's climb from fifth to third is a significant achievement, pushing both Oxford and Cambridge out of the top three. Durham was also named University of the Year 2026, boosted by improvements in teaching quality and student experience.
The rankings are based on student satisfaction, entry standards, research quality, sustainability, and graduate prospects. Other top institutions include Imperial College London (sixth), the University of Bath (seventh), the University of Warwick (eighth), University College London (ninth), and the University of Bristol (tenth). The University of Strathclyde was named runner-up University of the Year.
Regional winners include LSE (London), Durham (North and North East), Cambridge (East), Warwick (Midlands), Bath (South West), Oxford (South East), and Queen's Belfast (Northern Ireland). Davies highlighted increased competition for top universities and a trend of students commuting from home. Full results will be published on September 21.
