100 Best universities for Biology in the United Kingdom

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 117M citations received by 3.24M academic papers made by 148 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.

1. University College London

England | London

For Biology

#1 in Europe

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Biology

#2 in Europe

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Biology

#3 in Europe

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. Imperial College London

England | London

For Biology

#6 in Europe

#38 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Biology

#11 in Europe

#57 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Biology

#12 in Europe

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. King's College London

England | London

For Biology

#19 in Europe

#87 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Biology

#21 in Europe

#97 in the World

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

9. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Biology

#30 in Europe

#118 in the World

Founded: 1900

10. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Biology

#32 in Europe

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

11. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Biology

#36 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1451

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Biology

#37 in Europe

#137 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Biology

#38 in Europe

#139 in the World

Founded: 1948

14. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Biology

#43 in Europe

#147 in the World

Founded: 1904

15. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Biology

#50 in Europe

#167 in the World

Founded: 1963

16. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Biology

#56 in Europe

#184 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

17. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Biology

#80 in Europe

#236 in the World

Founded: 1967

18. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Biology

#89 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1495

19. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Biology

#90 in Europe

#254 in the World

Founded: 1997

20. University of London

England | London

For Biology

#95 in Europe

#265 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

21. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Biology

#96 in Europe

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

22. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Biology

#101 in Europe

#283 in the World

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

23. University of York

For Biology

#114 in Europe

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

24. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Biology

#118 in Europe

#324 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

25. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Biology

#119 in Europe

#326 in the World

Founded: 1892

26. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Biology

#122 in Europe

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

27. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Biology

#133 in Europe

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

28. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Biology

#135 in Europe

#364 in the World

Founded: 1893

29. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Biology

#141 in Europe

#375 in the World

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

30. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Biology

#147 in Europe

#394 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

31. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Biology

#150 in Europe

#398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

32. Durham University

England | Durham

For Biology

#158 in Europe

#413 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

33. University of Bath

For Biology

#161 in Europe

#423 in the World

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

34. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Biology

#168 in Europe

#437 in the World

Founded: 1733

35. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Biology

#172 in Europe

#454 in the World

Founded: 1968

36. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Biology

#180 in Europe

#477 in the World

Founded: 1964

37. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Biology

#186 in Europe

#512 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

38. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Biology

#190 in Europe

#526 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

39. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Biology

#198 in Europe

#548 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

40. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Biology

#215 in Europe

#601 in the World

Founded: 1920

41. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Biology

#225 in Europe

#631 in the World

Founded: 1954

42. Bangor University

For Biology

#226 in Europe

#635 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

43. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Biology

#254 in Europe

#724 in the World

Founded: 1849

44. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Biology

#257 in Europe

#732 in the World

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

45. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Biology

#258 in Europe

#735 in the World

Founded: 1872

46. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Biology

#265 in Europe

#746 in the World

Founded: 1965

47. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Biology

#267 in Europe

#754 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

48. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Biology

#268 in Europe

#755 in the World

Founded: 1823

49. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Biology

#270 in Europe

#758 in the World

Founded: 1964

50. Keele University

England | Keele

For Biology

#278 in Europe

#779 in the World

Founded: 1962

51. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Biology

#283 in Europe

#806 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

52. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Biology

#284 in Europe

#811 in the World

Founded: 1895

53. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Biology

#294 in Europe

#839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 4,825
Founded: 1993

54. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Biology

#298 in Europe

#876 in the World

Founded: 1791

55. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Biology

#299 in Europe

#880 in the World

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

56. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Biology

#305 in Europe

#899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

57. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Biology

#309 in Europe

#916 in the World

Founded: 1966

58. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Biology

#315 in Europe

#927 in the World

Founded: 1967

59. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Biology

#338 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Biology

#340 in Europe

#1007 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

61. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Biology

#346 in Europe

#1027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

62. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Biology

#355 in Europe

#1047 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. City, University of London

England | London

For Biology

#371 in Europe

#1118 in the World

Founded: 1966

64. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Biology

#375 in Europe

#1127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

65. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Biology

#381 in Europe

#1154 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

66. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Biology

#383 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Biology

#387 in Europe

#1174 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

68. Middlesex University

England | London

For Biology

#399 in Europe

#1216 in the World

Founded: 1973

69. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Biology

#426 in Europe

#1339 in the World

Founded: 1890

70. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Biology

#440 in Europe

#1395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

71. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Biology

#444 in Europe

#1405 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Biology

#448 in Europe

#1410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

73. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Biology

#452 in Europe

#1424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 1,100
Founded: 2013

74. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Biology

#454 in Europe

#1430 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Biology

#456 in Europe

#1435 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

76. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Biology

#468 in Europe

#1502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

77. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Biology

#470 in Europe

#1509 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

78. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Biology

#479 in Europe

#1551 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

79. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Biology

#482 in Europe

#1557 in the World

Founded: 1904

80. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Biology

#487 in Europe

#1584 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Biology

#506 in Europe

#1679 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of Westminster

England | London

For Biology

#511 in Europe

#1709 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

83. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Biology

#517 in Europe

#1730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

84. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Biology

#518 in Europe

#1733 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

85. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Biology

#530 in Europe

#1776 in the World

Founded: 1841

86. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Biology

#533 in Europe

#1799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

87. London South Bank University

England | London

For Biology

#542 in Europe

#1857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

88. University of East London

England | London

For Biology

#553 in Europe

#1913 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Biology

#559 in Europe

#1965 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Biology

#564 in Europe

#1989 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

91. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Biology

#566 in Europe

#2011 in the World

Founded: 1858

92. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Biology

#570 in Europe

#2022 in the World

Founded: 1848

93. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Biology

#580 in Europe

#2066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

94. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Biology

#583 in Europe

#2095 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

95. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Biology

#586 in Europe

#2121 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

96. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Biology

#591 in Europe

#2146 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

97. Scotland's Rural College

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Biology

#592 in Europe

#2147 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2012

98. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Biology

#593 in Europe

#2159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

99. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Biology

#607 in Europe

#2243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2011

100. London Business School

England | London

For Biology

#610 in Europe

#2266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

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