100 Best universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 92.2M citations received by 2.54M academic papers made by 141 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 Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#1 in Europe

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Chemistry

#2 in Europe

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University College London

England | London

For Chemistry

#3 in Europe

#21 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. Imperial College London

England | London

For Chemistry

#4 in Europe

#29 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Chemistry

#8 in Europe

#47 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#14 in Europe

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Chemistry

#21 in Europe

#108 in the World

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

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#26 in Europe

#118 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Chemistry

#31 in Europe

#133 in the World

Founded: 1905

10. King's College London

England | London

For Chemistry

#32 in Europe

#134 in the World

Founded: 1829

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Chemistry

#33 in Europe

#135 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Chemistry

#34 in Europe

#136 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Chemistry

#45 in Europe

#156 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

14. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#47 in Europe

#159 in the World

Founded: 1451

15. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Chemistry

#50 in Europe

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Chemistry

#66 in Europe

#203 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Chemistry

#87 in Europe

#255 in the World

Founded: 1967

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#101 in Europe

#289 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#104 in Europe

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

20. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Chemistry

#105 in Europe

#299 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

21. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Chemistry

#114 in Europe

#318 in the World

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

22. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Chemistry

#117 in Europe

#323 in the World

Founded: 1495

23. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Chemistry

#123 in Europe

#343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

24. University of Bath

For Chemistry

#126 in Europe

#347 in the World

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

25. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Chemistry

#127 in Europe

#353 in the World

Founded: 1892

26. University of York

For Chemistry

#130 in Europe

#359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

27. University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#135 in Europe

#366 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

28. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#142 in Europe

#384 in the World

Founded: 1964

29. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Chemistry

#146 in Europe

#392 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

30. Durham University

England | Durham

For Chemistry

#148 in Europe

#396 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

31. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Chemistry

#151 in Europe

#400 in the World

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

32. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Chemistry

#162 in Europe

#421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

33. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#164 in Europe

#426 in the World

Founded: 1893

34. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Chemistry

#171 in Europe

#448 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

35. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Chemistry

#177 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

36. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Chemistry

#180 in Europe

#464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

37. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Chemistry

#212 in Europe

#580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

38. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Chemistry

#214 in Europe

#589 in the World

Founded: 1968

39. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Chemistry

#225 in Europe

#623 in the World

Founded: 1920

40. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#228 in Europe

#632 in the World

Founded: 1733

41. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Chemistry

#234 in Europe

#652 in the World

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

42. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#241 in Europe

#679 in the World

Founded: 1966

43. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Chemistry

#248 in Europe

#694 in the World

Founded: 1954

44. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Chemistry

#262 in Europe

#747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

45. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#267 in Europe

#760 in the World

Founded: 1895

46. Bangor University

For Chemistry

#272 in Europe

#779 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

47. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Chemistry

#278 in Europe

#797 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Chemistry

#288 in Europe

#821 in the World

Founded: 1965

49. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Chemistry

#301 in Europe

#860 in the World

Founded: 1872

50. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#310 in Europe

#893 in the World

Founded: 1823

51. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Chemistry

#312 in Europe

#895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

52. Keele University

England | Keele

For Chemistry

#319 in Europe

#911 in the World

Founded: 1962

53. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Chemistry

#325 in Europe

#923 in the World

Founded: 1849

54. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Chemistry

#332 in Europe

#945 in the World

Founded: 1967

55. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Chemistry

#334 in Europe

#950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

56. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Chemistry

#380 in Europe

#1122 in the World

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

57. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Chemistry

#393 in Europe

#1173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

58. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Chemistry

#396 in Europe

#1186 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#397 in Europe

#1193 in the World

Founded: 1791

60. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Chemistry

#407 in Europe

#1208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

61. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Chemistry

#417 in Europe

#1249 in the World

Founded: 1992

62. City, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#424 in Europe

#1279 in the World

Founded: 1966

63. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Chemistry

#425 in Europe

#1289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

64. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Chemistry

#431 in Europe

#1308 in the World

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

65. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Chemistry

#437 in Europe

#1325 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

66. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Chemistry

#439 in Europe

#1327 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Chemistry

#453 in Europe

#1414 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

68. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Chemistry

#462 in Europe

#1454 in the World

Founded: 1890

69. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Chemistry

#476 in Europe

#1516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Chemistry

#477 in Europe

#1518 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

71. Middlesex University

England | London

For Chemistry

#483 in Europe

#1542 in the World

Founded: 1973

72. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Chemistry

#486 in Europe

#1559 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

73. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Chemistry

#488 in Europe

#1567 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Chemistry

#489 in Europe

#1569 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Chemistry

#492 in Europe

#1574 in the World

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

76. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Chemistry

#515 in Europe

#1701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

77. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Chemistry

#531 in Europe

#1760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

78. London South Bank University

England | London

For Chemistry

#543 in Europe

#1801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

79. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#546 in Europe

#1806 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

80. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#555 in Europe

#1845 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

81. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Chemistry

#556 in Europe

#1846 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Chemistry

#561 in Europe

#1869 in the World

Founded: 1841

83. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Chemistry

#563 in Europe

#1888 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. University of Westminster

England | London

For Chemistry

#580 in Europe

#1998 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

85. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Chemistry

#609 in Europe

#2153 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

86. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Chemistry

#620 in Europe

#2220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

87. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Chemistry

#623 in Europe

#2239 in the World

Founded: 1848

88. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Chemistry

#631 in Europe

#2319 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

89. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Chemistry

#638 in Europe

#2353 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

90. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Chemistry

#651 in Europe

#2429 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

91. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Chemistry

#660 in Europe

#2470 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

92. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Chemistry

#668 in Europe

#2490 in the World

Founded: 2004

93. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#682 in Europe

#2557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2011

94. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Chemistry

#694 in Europe

#2642 in the World

Founded: 1992

95. University of East London

England | London

For Chemistry

#702 in Europe

#2671 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Chemistry

#703 in Europe

#2672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

97. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Chemistry

#707 in Europe

#2699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

98. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#710 in Europe

#2732 in the World

Founded: 1858

99. Scotland's Rural College

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#731 in Europe

#2839 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2012

100. Wrexham Glyndwr University

Wales | Wrexham

For Chemistry

#735 in Europe

#2863 in the World

Founded: 2008

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

Chemistry subfields in the United Kingdom

Biochemical Engineering60

Biochemistry133

Chemical Engineering113

Computational Chemistry70

Environmental Chemistry99

Inorganic Chemistry90

Materials Science136

Nanotechnology104

Nutrition and Food Science109

Organic Chemistry133

Petrology and Geochemistry99

Physical chemistry113

Polymer science and Plastics engineering62

Radiochemistry78