100 Best universities for Creative Writing in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 1.04M citations received by 62.8K academic papers made by 123 universities in the United Kingdom was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Creative Writing

#1 in Europe

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#2 in Europe

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#3 in Europe

#5 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Creative Writing

#4 in Europe

#12 in the World

Founded: 1824

5. King's College London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#5 in Europe

#13 in the World

Founded: 1829

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Creative Writing

#6 in Europe

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Creative Writing

#7 in Europe

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

8. University of York

For Creative Writing

#8 in Europe

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

9. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Creative Writing

#9 in Europe

#29 in the World

Founded: 1948

10. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Creative Writing

#10 in Europe

#30 in the World

Founded: 1904

11. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Creative Writing

#12 in Europe

#33 in the World

Founded: 1900

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Creative Writing

#13 in Europe

#37 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. Durham University

England | Durham

For Creative Writing

#14 in Europe

#49 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

14. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Creative Writing

#16 in Europe

#53 in the World

Founded: 1451

15. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Creative Writing

#17 in Europe

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

16. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Creative Writing

#18 in Europe

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

17. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Creative Writing

#20 in Europe

#58 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Creative Writing

#21 in Europe

#63 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Creative Writing

#24 in Europe

#72 in the World

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

20. University of London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#25 in Europe

#74 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

21. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Creative Writing

#26 in Europe

#76 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

22. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Creative Writing

#28 in Europe

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

23. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Creative Writing

#29 in Europe

#86 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

24. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Creative Writing

#31 in Europe

#88 in the World

Founded: 1849

25. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#32 in Europe

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

26. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Creative Writing

#33 in Europe

#93 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

27. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Creative Writing

#36 in Europe

#106 in the World

Founded: 1963

28. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Creative Writing

#39 in Europe

#115 in the World

Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

29. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Creative Writing

#42 in Europe

#126 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

30. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Creative Writing

#43 in Europe

#129 in the World

Founded: 1965

31. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Creative Writing

#44 in Europe

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

32. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Creative Writing

#45 in Europe

#139 in the World

Founded: 1892

33. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#49 in Europe

#152 in the World

Founded: 1823

34. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Creative Writing

#52 in Europe

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

35. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#53 in Europe

#163 in the World

Founded: 1904

36. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Creative Writing

#54 in Europe

#166 in the World

Founded: 1992

37. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Creative Writing

#64 in Europe

#196 in the World

Founded: 1495

38. Keele University

England | Keele

For Creative Writing

#66 in Europe

#200 in the World

Founded: 1962

39. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Creative Writing

#67 in Europe

#201 in the World

Founded: 1992

40. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Creative Writing

#72 in Europe

#206 in the World

Founded: 1964

41. University of Bath

For Creative Writing

#74 in Europe

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 18,857
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1966

42. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Creative Writing

#76 in Europe

#220 in the World

Founded: 1992

43. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Creative Writing

#80 in Europe

#225 in the World

Founded: 1968

44. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Creative Writing

#81 in Europe

#226 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

45. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Creative Writing

#86 in Europe

#237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1967

46. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Creative Writing

#87 in Europe

#241 in the World

Founded: 1954

47. City, University of London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#90 in Europe

#246 in the World

Founded: 1966

48. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Creative Writing

#91 in Europe

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

49. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Creative Writing

#97 in Europe

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

50. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Creative Writing

#100 in Europe

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

51. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Creative Writing

#101 in Europe

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

52. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Creative Writing

#102 in Europe

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

53. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Creative Writing

#103 in Europe

#275 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

54. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Creative Writing

#105 in Europe

#280 in the World

Founded: 1964

55. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Creative Writing

#106 in Europe

#281 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

56. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#109 in Europe

#286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 6,295
Founded: 1916

57. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Creative Writing

#111 in Europe

#293 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

58. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Creative Writing

#112 in Europe

#294 in the World

Founded: 1967

59. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Creative Writing

#113 in Europe

#298 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Creative Writing

#114 in Europe

#299 in the World

Founded: 1920

61. University of East London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#116 in Europe

#301 in the World

Founded: 1992

62. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Creative Writing

#117 in Europe

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

63. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Creative Writing

#119 in Europe

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

64. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Creative Writing

#122 in Europe

#311 in the World

Founded: 1967

65. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Creative Writing

#124 in Europe

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

66. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Creative Writing

#126 in Europe

#317 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

67. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Creative Writing

#135 in Europe

#345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

68. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Creative Writing

#141 in Europe

#360 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

69. Imperial College London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#142 in Europe

#361 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

70. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Creative Writing

#146 in Europe

#375 in the World

Founded: 1893

71. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Creative Writing

#154 in Europe

#398 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. Middlesex University

England | London

For Creative Writing

#155 in Europe

#399 in the World

Founded: 1973

73. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Creative Writing

#165 in Europe

#412 in the World

Founded: 1858

74. University of Westminster

England | London

For Creative Writing

#169 in Europe

#417 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

75. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Creative Writing

#171 in Europe

#428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

76. Bangor University

For Creative Writing

#172 in Europe

#430 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

77. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Creative Writing

#182 in Europe

#466 in the World

Founded: 2005

78. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Creative Writing

#184 in Europe

#469 in the World

Founded: 2006

79. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Creative Writing

#186 in Europe

#471 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 19,710
Founded: 1992

80. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Creative Writing

#187 in Europe

#474 in the World

Founded: 1872

81. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Creative Writing

#207 in Europe

#514 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Creative Writing

#210 in Europe

#524 in the World

Founded: 1895

83. University of Winchester

England | Winchester

For Creative Writing

#223 in Europe

#548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

84. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Creative Writing

#230 in Europe

#565 in the World

Founded: 1848

85. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Creative Writing

#236 in Europe

#578 in the World

Founded: 1890

86. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Creative Writing

#238 in Europe

#590 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1992

87. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Creative Writing

#239 in Europe

#592 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Creative Writing

#240 in Europe

#594 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. London South Bank University

England | London

For Creative Writing

#249 in Europe

#618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

90. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Creative Writing

#255 in Europe

#636 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

91. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Creative Writing

#256 in Europe

#638 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

92. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Creative Writing

#262 in Europe

#647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

93. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Creative Writing

#267 in Europe

#663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

94. University of West London

England | Ealing

For Creative Writing

#270 in Europe

#670 in the World

Founded: 1990

95. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Creative Writing

#273 in Europe

#673 in the World

Founded: 1841

96. University of the Arts London

England | London

For Creative Writing

#274 in Europe

#676 in the World

Founded: 1986

97. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Creative Writing

#288 in Europe

#704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

98. University of Gloucestershire

England | Cheltenham

For Creative Writing

#290 in Europe

#706 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

99. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Creative Writing

#291 in Europe

#707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

100. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Creative Writing

#299 in Europe

#728 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

The best cities to study Creative Writing in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Oxford, Cambridge, London, and Manchester.