100 Best universities for Microbiology in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Microbiology. A graph of 6.31M citations received by 143K academic papers made by 106 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 of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Microbiology

#2 in Europe

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

England | London

For Microbiology

#3 in Europe

#21 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Microbiology

#5 in Europe

#32 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Microbiology

#15 in Europe

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

5. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Microbiology

#18 in Europe

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

6. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Microbiology

#22 in Europe

#77 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

7. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Microbiology

#26 in Europe

#92 in the World

Founded: 1900

8. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Microbiology

#27 in Europe

#99 in the World

Founded: 1948

9. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Microbiology

#28 in Europe

#100 in the World

Founded: 1824

10. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Microbiology

#31 in Europe

#111 in the World

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

11. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Microbiology

#36 in Europe

#125 in the World

Founded: 1451

12. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Microbiology

#37 in Europe

#129 in the World

Founded: 1495

13. University of London

England | London

For Microbiology

#38 in Europe

#131 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

14. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Microbiology

#47 in Europe

#152 in the World

Founded: 1904

15. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Microbiology

#49 in Europe

#154 in the World

Founded: 1997

16. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Microbiology

#58 in Europe

#189 in the World

Founded: 1905

17. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Microbiology

#62 in Europe

#195 in the World

Founded: 1963

18. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Microbiology

#65 in Europe

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

19. King's College London

England | London

For Microbiology

#67 in Europe

#201 in the World

Founded: 1829

20. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Microbiology

#76 in Europe

#220 in the World

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

21. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Microbiology

#93 in Europe

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

22. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Microbiology

#98 in Europe

#280 in the World

Founded: 1892

23. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Microbiology

#100 in Europe

#284 in the World

Founded: 1967

24. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Microbiology

#101 in Europe

#286 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

25. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Microbiology

#116 in Europe

#323 in the World

Founded: 1733

26. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Microbiology

#120 in Europe

#336 in the World

Founded: 1893

27. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Microbiology

#121 in Europe

#338 in the World

Founded: 1968

28. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Microbiology

#126 in Europe

#353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

29. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Microbiology

#134 in Europe

#375 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

30. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Microbiology

#145 in Europe

#402 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Bath

For Microbiology

#151 in Europe

#419 in the World

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

32. University of York

For Microbiology

#153 in Europe

#430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

33. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Microbiology

#157 in Europe

#445 in the World

Founded: 1964

34. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Microbiology

#167 in Europe

#476 in the World

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

35. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Microbiology

#178 in Europe

#497 in the World

Founded: 1791

36. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Microbiology

#201 in Europe

#598 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

37. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Microbiology

#235 in Europe

#693 in the World

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

38. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Microbiology

#236 in Europe

#694 in the World

Founded: 1872

39. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Microbiology

#239 in Europe

#701 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

40. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Microbiology

#240 in Europe

#702 in the World

Founded: 1920

41. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Microbiology

#251 in Europe

#741 in the World

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

42. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Microbiology

#260 in Europe

#782 in the World

Founded: 1964

43. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Microbiology

#265 in Europe

#797 in the World

Founded: 1954

44. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Microbiology

#266 in Europe

#798 in the World

Founded: 1895

45. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Microbiology

#268 in Europe

#801 in the World

Founded: 1966

46. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Microbiology

#285 in Europe

#862 in the World

Founded: 1965

47. Bangor University

For Microbiology

#292 in Europe

#891 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

48. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Microbiology

#309 in Europe

#953 in the World

Founded: 1849

49. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Microbiology

#313 in Europe

#959 in the World

Founded: 1967

50. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Microbiology

#314 in Europe

#964 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

51. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Microbiology

#318 in Europe

#980 in the World

Founded: 1823

52. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Microbiology

#322 in Europe

#996 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

53. Durham University

England | Durham

For Microbiology

#325 in Europe

#999 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

54. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Microbiology

#327 in Europe

#1011 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

55. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Microbiology

#328 in Europe

#1015 in the World

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

56. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Microbiology

#336 in Europe

#1051 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

57. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Microbiology

#337 in Europe

#1055 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

58. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Microbiology

#342 in Europe

#1064 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

59. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Microbiology

#346 in Europe

#1077 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Microbiology

#354 in Europe

#1120 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

61. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Microbiology

#365 in Europe

#1173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Microbiology

#378 in Europe

#1261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

63. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Microbiology

#380 in Europe

#1270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

64. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Microbiology

#402 in Europe

#1390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2011

65. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Microbiology

#406 in Europe

#1413 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Microbiology

#412 in Europe

#1452 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Microbiology

#413 in Europe

#1457 in the World

Founded: 1992

68. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Microbiology

#414 in Europe

#1471 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. Middlesex University

England | London

For Microbiology

#417 in Europe

#1491 in the World

Founded: 1973

70. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Microbiology

#418 in Europe

#1494 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Keele University

England | Keele

For Microbiology

#425 in Europe

#1540 in the World

Founded: 1962

72. University of Westminster

England | London

For Microbiology

#426 in Europe

#1544 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

73. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Microbiology

#427 in Europe

#1550 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

74. University of East London

England | London

For Microbiology

#440 in Europe

#1613 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. London South Bank University

England | London

For Microbiology

#448 in Europe

#1664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

76. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Microbiology

#455 in Europe

#1714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

77. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Microbiology

#456 in Europe

#1718 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

78. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Microbiology

#459 in Europe

#1735 in the World

Founded: 1890

79. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Microbiology

#464 in Europe

#1793 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

80. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Microbiology

#473 in Europe

#1853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

81. Scotland's Rural College

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Microbiology

#474 in Europe

#1865 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2012

82. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Microbiology

#476 in Europe

#1888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

83. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Microbiology

#477 in Europe

#1896 in the World

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

84. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Microbiology

#486 in Europe

#1938 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

85. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Microbiology

#493 in Europe

#1988 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

86. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Microbiology

#494 in Europe

#1997 in the World

Founded: 1848

87. Harper Adams University

Wales | Newport

For Microbiology

#495 in Europe

#2003 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2012

88. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Microbiology

#506 in Europe

#2061 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

89. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Microbiology

#514 in Europe

#2106 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

90. City, University of London

England | London

For Microbiology

#515 in Europe

#2114 in the World

Founded: 1966

91. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Microbiology

#527 in Europe

#2172 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

92. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Microbiology

#534 in Europe

#2211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

93. University of Worcester

England | Worcester

For Microbiology

#554 in Europe

#2326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Enrollment: 10,798
Founded: 2005

94. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Microbiology

#555 in Europe

#2331 in the World

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

95. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Microbiology

#561 in Europe

#2378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

96. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Microbiology

#566 in Europe

#2413 in the World

Founded: 1858

97. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Microbiology

#567 in Europe

#2420 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

98. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Microbiology

#568 in Europe

#2422 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

99. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Microbiology

#606 in Europe

#2681 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

100. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Microbiology

#624 in Europe

#2790 in the World

Founded: 1992

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