96 Best Molecular Biology universities in UK [2026 Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Molecular Biology. A graph of 5.51M citations received by 115K 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

#24 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

#66 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

#118 in the World

Founded: 1900

7. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Molecular Biology

#38 in Europe

#137 in the World

Founded: 1824

8. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Molecular Biology

#42 in Europe

#142 in the World

Founded: 1967

9. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Molecular Biology

#53 in Europe

#170 in the World

Founded: 1451

10. King's College London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#56 in Europe

#176 in the World

Founded: 1829

11. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Molecular Biology

#58 in Europe

#178 in the World

Founded: 1963

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Molecular Biology

#66 in Europe

#205 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Molecular Biology

#67 in Europe

#208 in the World

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

14. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Molecular Biology

#68 in Europe

#210 in the World

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

15. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Molecular Biology

#72 in Europe

#219 in the World

Founded: 1905

16. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Molecular Biology

#75 in Europe

#224 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

#284 in the World

Founded: 1495

19. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Molecular Biology

#98 in Europe

#290 in the World

Founded: 1893

20. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Molecular Biology

#99 in Europe

#294 in the World

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

21. University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#103 in Europe

#300 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

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

24. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Molecular Biology

#122 in Europe

#367 in the World

Founded: 1997

25. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Molecular Biology

#145 in Europe

#427 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

26. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#152 in Europe

#447 in the World

Founded: 1733

27. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Molecular Biology

#158 in Europe

#473 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

28. University of York

England | York

For Molecular Biology

#159 in Europe

#474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

29. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Molecular Biology

#162 in Europe

#481 in the World

Founded: 1968

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Molecular Biology

#166 in Europe

#500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Molecular Biology

#180 in Europe

#552 in the World

Founded: 1892

32. Durham University

England | Durham

For Molecular Biology

#182 in Europe

#556 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

33. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Molecular Biology

#190 in Europe

#582 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

#597 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

35. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Molecular Biology

#208 in Europe

#622 in the World

Founded: 1964

36. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Molecular Biology

#233 in Europe

#698 in the World

Founded: 1965

37. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Molecular Biology

#242 in Europe

#731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

38. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Molecular Biology

#252 in Europe

#751 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

39. Keele University

England | Keele

For Molecular Biology

#258 in Europe

#772 in the World

Founded: 1962

40. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Molecular Biology

#270 in Europe

#826 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

41. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Molecular Biology

#275 in Europe

#845 in the World

Founded: 1920

42. Middlesex University

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#277 in Europe

#849 in the World

Founded: 1973

43. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#282 in Europe

#867 in the World

Founded: 1791

44. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Molecular Biology

#285 in Europe

#871 in the World

Founded: 1895

45. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Molecular Biology

#289 in Europe

#879 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

46. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Molecular Biology

#290 in Europe

#881 in the World

Founded: 1872

47. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Molecular Biology

#302 in Europe

#920 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Molecular Biology

#306 in Europe

#934 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

49. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Molecular Biology

#311 in Europe

#955 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

50. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Molecular Biology

#318 in Europe

#980 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

51. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Molecular Biology

#320 in Europe

#983 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

52. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Molecular Biology

#324 in Europe

#999 in the World

Founded: 1954

53. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Molecular Biology

#331 in Europe

#1025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

54. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#334 in Europe

#1032 in the World

Founded: 1823

55. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Molecular Biology

#337 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Founded: 1849

56. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Molecular Biology

#338 in Europe

#1058 in the World

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

57. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Molecular Biology

#339 in Europe

#1062 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

58. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Molecular Biology

#350 in Europe

#1105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

59. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Molecular Biology

#358 in Europe

#1132 in the World

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

60. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Molecular Biology

#366 in Europe

#1193 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

61. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#368 in Europe

#1210 in the World

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

62. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Molecular Biology

#369 in Europe

#1213 in the World

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

63. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Molecular Biology

#370 in Europe

#1215 in the World

Founded: 1967

64. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Molecular Biology

#380 in Europe

#1290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

65. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Molecular Biology

#386 in Europe

#1301 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Molecular Biology

#389 in Europe

#1311 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Molecular Biology

#408 in Europe

#1404 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

68. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Molecular Biology

#412 in Europe

#1419 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#413 in Europe

#1423 in the World

Founded: 1932

70. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Molecular Biology

#429 in Europe

#1498 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Molecular Biology

#437 in Europe

#1528 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

72. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Molecular Biology

#439 in Europe

#1532 in the World

Founded: 1966

73. University of Westminster

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#444 in Europe

#1559 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

74. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Molecular Biology

#445 in Europe

#1563 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Molecular Biology

#454 in Europe

#1597 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

76. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Molecular Biology

#461 in Europe

#1625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

77. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#472 in Europe

#1672 in the World

Founded: 1890

78. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Molecular Biology

#477 in Europe

#1702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

79. City, University of London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#479 in Europe

#1731 in the World

Founded: 1966

80. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Molecular Biology

#481 in Europe

#1751 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

81. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Molecular Biology

#500 in Europe

#1857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

82. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Molecular Biology

#501 in Europe

#1862 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Molecular Biology

#504 in Europe

#1872 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

84. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Molecular Biology

#513 in Europe

#1925 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

85. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Molecular Biology

#514 in Europe

#1931 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

86. University of East London

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#519 in Europe

#1955 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Molecular Biology

#533 in Europe

#2053 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

88. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Molecular Biology

#542 in Europe

#2121 in the World

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

89. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Molecular Biology

#546 in Europe

#2146 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Molecular Biology

#554 in Europe

#2186 in the World

Founded: 1858

91. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Molecular Biology

#560 in Europe

#2210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

92. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#577 in Europe

#2289 in the World

Founded: 1848

93. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Molecular Biology

#578 in Europe

#2293 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

94. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Molecular Biology

#587 in Europe

#2340 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

95. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Molecular Biology

#589 in Europe

#2342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

96. London South Bank University

England | London

For Molecular Biology

#615 in Europe

#2503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

Biology subfields in the United Kingdom