96 Best Molecular Biology universities in UK [2025 Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Molecular Biology. A graph of 5.36M citations received by 114K academic papers made by 96 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 Molecular Biology

#2 in Europe

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Molecular Biology

#4 in Europe

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#6 in Europe

#34 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Molecular Biology

#11 in Europe

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. Imperial College London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#14 in Europe

#77 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

6. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Molecular Biology

#32 in Europe

#115 in the World

Founded: 1900

7. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Molecular Biology

#40 in Europe

#139 in the World

Founded: 1824

8. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Molecular Biology

#41 in Europe

#141 in the World

Founded: 1967

9. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Molecular Biology

#53 in Europe

#168 in the World

Founded: 1451

10. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Molecular Biology

#57 in Europe

#178 in the World

Founded: 1963

11. King's College London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#58 in Europe

#180 in the World

Founded: 1829

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Molecular Biology

#66 in Europe

#204 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Molecular Biology

#67 in Europe

#207 in the World

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

14. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Molecular Biology

#68 in Europe

#209 in the World

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

15. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Molecular Biology

#72 in Europe

#218 in the World

Founded: 1905

16. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Molecular Biology

#75 in Europe

#225 in the World

Founded: 1904

17. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Molecular Biology

#81 in Europe

#241 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

18. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Molecular Biology

#96 in Europe

#285 in the World

Founded: 1495

19. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Molecular Biology

#98 in Europe

#288 in the World

Founded: 1893

20. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Molecular Biology

#99 in Europe

#290 in the World

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

21. University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#101 in Europe

#294 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

22. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Molecular Biology

#105 in Europe

#306 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

23. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#107 in Europe

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

24. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Molecular Biology

#123 in Europe

#368 in the World

Founded: 1997

25. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Molecular Biology

#143 in Europe

#421 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

26. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#152 in Europe

#443 in the World

Founded: 1733

27. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Molecular Biology

#158 in Europe

#470 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

28. University of York

England | York

For Molecular Biology

#160 in Europe

#473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

29. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Molecular Biology

#161 in Europe

#475 in the World

Founded: 1968

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Molecular Biology

#165 in Europe

#497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. Durham University

England | Durham

For Molecular Biology

#180 in Europe

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

32. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Molecular Biology

#181 in Europe

#547 in the World

Founded: 1892

33. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Molecular Biology

#189 in Europe

#574 in the World

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

34. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Molecular Biology

#198 in Europe

#595 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

35. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Molecular Biology

#205 in Europe

#612 in the World

Founded: 1964

36. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Molecular Biology

#230 in Europe

#692 in the World

Founded: 1965

37. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Molecular Biology

#239 in Europe

#715 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

38. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Molecular Biology

#252 in Europe

#748 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

39. Keele University

England | Keele

For Molecular Biology

#257 in Europe

#763 in the World

Founded: 1962

40. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Molecular Biology

#271 in Europe

#820 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

41. Middlesex University

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#273 in Europe

#822 in the World

Founded: 1973

42. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Molecular Biology

#277 in Europe

#836 in the World

Founded: 1920

43. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#282 in Europe

#866 in the World

Founded: 1791

44. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Molecular Biology

#284 in Europe

#869 in the World

Founded: 1872

45. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Molecular Biology

#286 in Europe

#871 in the World

Founded: 1895

46. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Molecular Biology

#293 in Europe

#885 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

47. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Molecular Biology

#298 in Europe

#906 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Molecular Biology

#305 in Europe

#931 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

49. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Molecular Biology

#311 in Europe

#948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

50. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Molecular Biology

#316 in Europe

#968 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

51. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Molecular Biology

#321 in Europe

#989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

52. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Molecular Biology

#322 in Europe

#990 in the World

Founded: 1954

53. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Molecular Biology

#331 in Europe

#1020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

54. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#332 in Europe

#1021 in the World

Founded: 1823

55. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Molecular Biology

#335 in Europe

#1028 in the World

Founded: 1849

56. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Molecular Biology

#338 in Europe

#1041 in the World

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

57. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Molecular Biology

#339 in Europe

#1053 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

58. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Molecular Biology

#349 in Europe

#1096 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

59. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Molecular Biology

#355 in Europe

#1117 in the World

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

60. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Molecular Biology

#365 in Europe

#1177 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

61. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Molecular Biology

#368 in Europe

#1203 in the World

Founded: 1967

62. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Molecular Biology

#369 in Europe

#1205 in the World

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

63. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#370 in Europe

#1206 in the World

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

64. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Molecular Biology

#381 in Europe

#1288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

65. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Molecular Biology

#389 in Europe

#1309 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Molecular Biology

#391 in Europe

#1313 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#405 in Europe

#1381 in the World

Founded: 1932

68. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Molecular Biology

#407 in Europe

#1390 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

69. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Molecular Biology

#421 in Europe

#1438 in the World

Founded: 1992

70. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Molecular Biology

#429 in Europe

#1486 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Molecular Biology

#438 in Europe

#1523 in the World

Founded: 1966

72. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Molecular Biology

#440 in Europe

#1530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

73. University of Westminster

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#442 in Europe

#1539 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

74. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Molecular Biology

#444 in Europe

#1547 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Molecular Biology

#457 in Europe

#1599 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

76. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Molecular Biology

#460 in Europe

#1611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

77. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#470 in Europe

#1663 in the World

Founded: 1890

78. City, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#476 in Europe

#1700 in the World

Founded: 1966

79. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Molecular Biology

#479 in Europe

#1724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

80. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Molecular Biology

#481 in Europe

#1752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

81. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Molecular Biology

#497 in Europe

#1843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

82. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Molecular Biology

#510 in Europe

#1895 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Molecular Biology

#512 in Europe

#1901 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

84. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Molecular Biology

#513 in Europe

#1904 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

85. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Molecular Biology

#514 in Europe

#1905 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

86. University of East London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#519 in Europe

#1944 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Molecular Biology

#534 in Europe

#2058 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

88. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Molecular Biology

#544 in Europe

#2140 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Molecular Biology

#547 in Europe

#2144 in the World

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

90. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Molecular Biology

#555 in Europe

#2176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

91. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Molecular Biology

#569 in Europe

#2239 in the World

Founded: 1858

92. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#572 in Europe

#2259 in the World

Founded: 1848

93. London South Bank University

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#583 in Europe

#2313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

94. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Molecular Biology

#586 in Europe

#2318 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

95. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Molecular Biology

#588 in Europe

#2322 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

96. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Molecular Biology

#612 in Europe

#2471 in the World

Founded: 1841

Biology subfields in the United Kingdom