Scotland’s results point to “consistency and quality” compared to some “volatility” south of the border.
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 provides the definitive rankings for UK universities (Image: Getty)
Scotland has a world-class higher education system that sees our universities often ranked among the best in the world. And that title is ringing true again after The Times and Sunday Times unveiled its top 30 best UK universities.
Six Scottish universities have made it into the national top 30, compared with last year’s five. And the top spot for Scotland, and second for the UK, may come as no surprise to those who have been following the guide for a while.
The University of St Andrews is the No 1 university in Scotland and has retained its spot in second place in the main academic rankings, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.
The University of Strathclyde is Scottish University of the Year and the UK’s Runner-up University of the Year. Rates of graduate employment are in the top 20 nationally and sit just outside the top ten in the main academic rankings.
“Scottish universities continue to perform strongly in the UK context, with six now ranked in the top 30,” Helen Davies, the editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.
St Andrews students wearing their distinctive red academic gowns, in St Salvator’s Quad before taking part in the traditional Pier Walk along the harbour walls of St Andrews before the start of the new academic year(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
“University of St Andrews has consolidated its position close to the very top of the UK table, while the University of Strathclyde is recognised for the strength of its graduate outcomes and its focus on skills and economic impact.”
Elsewhere in the country, the Runner-up Scottish University of the Year is Heriot-Watt University and Glasgow Caledonian University is Runner-up Modern University of the Year in the UK awards.
The University of the West of Scotland has been named Scottish University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026.
Some eyebrow-raising results have come out of England, though.
For the first time in the guide’s 32-year history both the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge have dropped out of the top three in the national rankings and are joint fourth, signalling some “volatility”.
The University of Glasgow has been “changing the world” since 1451 and is a world top 100 university(Image: Getty)
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is the No 1 university for the second year in a row.
Durham University has climbed into third place from fifth last year.
As a result, it has been named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026.
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“In contrast to the volatility at the top of the UK rankings – where Oxford and Cambridge have both dropped out of the top three for the first time – Scotland’s results point to consistency and depth of quality across its higher education sector,” Davies went on.
“That stability is reflected in strong performances across different types of institutions, from world-leading research universities to those driving local skills and economic regeneration.”
Scottish university rankings 2026
Scotland ranking
National ranking
University
1
2
University of St Andrews
2
11
University of Strathclyde
3
22
University of Glasgow
4=
23=
University of Aberdeen
4=
23=
University of Dundee
6
25
University of Edinburgh
7
36
Glasgow Caledonian University
8
39
Heriot-Watt University
9
50
Robert Gordon University
10
51
Edinburgh Napier University
11
55
University of Stirling
12
62
Abertay University
13
66
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
14
110
University of the West of Scotland
Full list of The Times and The Sunday Times 2026 award winners
The University of Strathclyde is a public research university located in Glasgow(Image: Daily Record)
University of the Year 2026
Durham University
Runner-up University of the Year 2026
University of Strathclyde
Highly Commended University of the Year 2026
University of Bath
Highly Commended University of the Year 2026
University of Birmingham
University of the Year for Academic Performance 2026
London School of Economics and Political Science
Russell Group University of the Year 2026
London School of Economics and Political Science
Highly Commended Russell Group University of the Year 2026
University of Warwick
Modern University of the Year 2026
Manchester Metropolitan University
Runner-up Modern University of the Year 2026
Glasgow Caledonian University
University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2026
Imperial College London
Joint Runners-up University of the Year for Graduate Employment 2026
London School of Economics and Political Science, Durham University
University of the Year for Scholarships and Bursaries 2026
University of Reading
Runner-up University of the Year for Scholarships and Bursaries 2026
University of Cambridge
Medical School of the Year 2026
University of Oxford
Scottish University of the Year 2026
University of Strathclyde
Runner-up Scottish University of the Year 2026
Heriot-Watt University
Welsh University of the Year 2026
Cardiff University
Runner-up Welsh University of the Year 2026
Swansea University
Sports University of the Year 2026
University of Bath
Runner-up Sports University of the Year 2026
Loughborough University
Specialist University of the Year 2026
Hartpury University
Runner-up Specialist University of the Year 2026
Arts Bournemouth University
University of the Year for Student Experience 2026
University of Sheffield
Runner-up of the Year for Student Experience 2026
University of Suffolk
University of the Year for Teaching Quality 2026
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Runner-up of the Year for Teaching Quality 2026
University of Suffolk
University of the Year for Sustainability 2026
Aberystwyth University
Runner-up University of the Year for Sustainability 2026
University of Exeter
University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026
Birmingham Newman University
Runner-up University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026
London Metropolitan University
Highly Commended University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026
University College London
Scottish University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2026
University of the West of Scotland
University of the Year in the East 2026
University of Cambridge
University of the Year in London 2026
London School of Economics and Political Science
University of the Year in the Midlands 2026
University of Warwick
University of the Year in the North and Northeast 2026
Durham University
University of the Year in Northern Ireland 2026
Queen’s Belfast University
University of the Year in the Northwest 2026
Lancaster University
University of the Year in the Southeast 2026
University of Oxford
University of the Year in the Southwest 2026
University of Bath