100 Best universities for Paleontology 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 Paleontology. A graph of 38.9M citations received by 931K academic papers made by 140 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 Paleontology

#1 in Europe

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Paleontology

#2 in Europe

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

England | London

For Paleontology

#3 in Europe

#17 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. Imperial College London

England | London

For Paleontology

#4 in Europe

#29 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

5. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Paleontology

#11 in Europe

#50 in the World

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

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Paleontology

#12 in Europe

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Paleontology

#13 in Europe

#54 in the World

Founded: 1824

8. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Paleontology

#18 in Europe

#81 in the World

Founded: 1904

9. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Paleontology

#19 in Europe

#83 in the World

Founded: 1905

10. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Paleontology

#26 in Europe

#98 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

11. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Paleontology

#29 in Europe

#102 in the World

Founded: 1900

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Paleontology

#33 in Europe

#115 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Paleontology

#38 in Europe

#126 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Paleontology

#42 in Europe

#134 in the World

Founded: 1963

15. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Paleontology

#45 in Europe

#138 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

16. King's College London

England | London

For Paleontology

#56 in Europe

#168 in the World

Founded: 1829

17. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Paleontology

#59 in Europe

#177 in the World

Founded: 1495

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Paleontology

#61 in Europe

#192 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. Durham University

England | Durham

For Paleontology

#65 in Europe

#204 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

20. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Paleontology

#70 in Europe

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

21. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Paleontology

#75 in Europe

#227 in the World

Founded: 1892

22. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Paleontology

#77 in Europe

#233 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

23. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Paleontology

#81 in Europe

#239 in the World

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

24. University of York

For Paleontology

#82 in Europe

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

25. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Paleontology

#94 in Europe

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

26. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Paleontology

#95 in Europe

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

27. University of London

England | London

For Paleontology

#105 in Europe

#288 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

28. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Paleontology

#109 in Europe

#301 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

29. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Paleontology

#115 in Europe

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

30. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Paleontology

#121 in Europe

#323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

31. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Paleontology

#124 in Europe

#335 in the World

Founded: 1967

32. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Paleontology

#125 in Europe

#337 in the World

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

33. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Paleontology

#127 in Europe

#343 in the World

Founded: 1849

34. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Paleontology

#134 in Europe

#361 in the World

Founded: 1893

35. University of Bath

For Paleontology

#135 in Europe

#362 in the World

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

36. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Paleontology

#158 in Europe

#434 in the World

Founded: 1964

37. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Paleontology

#159 in Europe

#437 in the World

Founded: 1920

38. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Paleontology

#161 in Europe

#440 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

39. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Paleontology

#178 in Europe

#473 in the World

Founded: 1968

40. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Paleontology

#184 in Europe

#485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

41. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Paleontology

#200 in Europe

#521 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

42. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Paleontology

#204 in Europe

#526 in the World

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

43. Bangor University

For Paleontology

#205 in Europe

#529 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

44. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Paleontology

#208 in Europe

#544 in the World

Founded: 1954

45. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Paleontology

#209 in Europe

#546 in the World

Founded: 1872

46. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Paleontology

#225 in Europe

#586 in the World

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

47. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Paleontology

#230 in Europe

#612 in the World

Founded: 1965

48. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Paleontology

#231 in Europe

#615 in the World

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

49. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Paleontology

#236 in Europe

#632 in the World

Founded: 1823

50. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Paleontology

#251 in Europe

#691 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

51. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Paleontology

#253 in Europe

#697 in the World

Founded: 1966

52. Keele University

England | Keele

For Paleontology

#256 in Europe

#707 in the World

Founded: 1962

53. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Paleontology

#261 in Europe

#719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

54. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Paleontology

#262 in Europe

#724 in the World

Founded: 1964

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Paleontology

#286 in Europe

#814 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Paleontology

#287 in Europe

#815 in the World

Founded: 1733

57. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Paleontology

#292 in Europe

#826 in the World

Founded: 1791

58. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Paleontology

#294 in Europe

#839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

59. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Paleontology

#297 in Europe

#848 in the World

Founded: 1895

60. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Paleontology

#300 in Europe

#854 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Paleontology

#302 in Europe

#858 in the World

Founded: 1967

62. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Paleontology

#307 in Europe

#873 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Paleontology

#343 in Europe

#977 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

64. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Paleontology

#346 in Europe

#987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

65. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Paleontology

#350 in Europe

#1003 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

66. City, University of London

England | London

For Paleontology

#362 in Europe

#1027 in the World

Founded: 1966

67. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Paleontology

#371 in Europe

#1062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

68. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Paleontology

#386 in Europe

#1123 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

69. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Paleontology

#388 in Europe

#1129 in the World

Founded: 1890

70. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Paleontology

#394 in Europe

#1152 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Paleontology

#398 in Europe

#1166 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

72. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Paleontology

#399 in Europe

#1169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

73. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Paleontology

#403 in Europe

#1179 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

74. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Paleontology

#409 in Europe

#1219 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Paleontology

#417 in Europe

#1257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

76. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Paleontology

#422 in Europe

#1269 in the World

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

77. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Paleontology

#429 in Europe

#1302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

78. Middlesex University

England | London

For Paleontology

#439 in Europe

#1345 in the World

Founded: 1973

79. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Paleontology

#442 in Europe

#1361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

80. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Paleontology

#444 in Europe

#1366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

81. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Paleontology

#453 in Europe

#1401 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of Westminster

England | London

For Paleontology

#481 in Europe

#1506 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

83. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Paleontology

#483 in Europe

#1512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

84. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Paleontology

#490 in Europe

#1535 in the World

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

85. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Paleontology

#493 in Europe

#1566 in the World

Founded: 1904

86. University of East London

England | London

For Paleontology

#494 in Europe

#1567 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. London South Bank University

England | London

For Paleontology

#503 in Europe

#1623 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

88. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Paleontology

#506 in Europe

#1630 in the World

Founded: 1841

89. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Paleontology

#516 in Europe

#1692 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Paleontology

#523 in Europe

#1728 in the World

Founded: 1858

91. London Business School

England | London

For Paleontology

#524 in Europe

#1729 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

92. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Paleontology

#540 in Europe

#1786 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Paleontology

#549 in Europe

#1831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Paleontology

#553 in Europe

#1853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

95. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Paleontology

#556 in Europe

#1869 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

96. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Paleontology

#564 in Europe

#1907 in the World

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

97. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Paleontology

#570 in Europe

#1937 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

98. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Paleontology

#575 in Europe

#1965 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

99. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Paleontology

#580 in Europe

#1978 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

100. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Paleontology

#584 in Europe

#1988 in the World

Founded: 1848

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