The University of Manchester has regained the top spot as the most targeted university by top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2026 report.
The research, conducted by High Fliers, placed Manchester first followed by Birmingham, Nottingham, Warwick and University College London. Manchester formerly placed second in the rankings in the report’s 2025 edition.
Manchester has reclaimed the top spot, reaffirming its position as the most highly targeted university by the UK’s leading graduate employers in an increasingly competitive market.
The Graduate Market is an annual review of the graduate job market, with this year’s report based on research completed in December 2025 with 100 of the UK’s leading graduate employers.
Researchers identified the top five institutions which attract the most top graduate employers to university careers fairs, on-campus employers’ presentations, careers service promotions and other locally-run publicity throughout 2025-2026.
On average, the number of universities targeted by employers averaged around 23 in the latest academic year. This ranking demonstrates how Manchester graduates remain a priority target for employers in the face of a challenging graduate job market.
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