100 Best universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 119M citations received by 2.82M academic papers made by 142 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

#7 in Europe

#49 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#14 in Europe

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Chemistry

#20 in Europe

#107 in the World

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

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#26 in Europe

#120 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Chemistry

#30 in Europe

#135 in the World

Founded: 1948

10. King's College London

England | London

For Chemistry

#32 in Europe

#137 in the World

Founded: 1829

11. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Chemistry

#33 in Europe

#138 in the World

Founded: 1904

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Chemistry

#34 in Europe

#139 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Chemistry

#44 in Europe

#156 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

14. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#46 in Europe

#159 in the World

Founded: 1451

15. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Chemistry

#51 in Europe

#169 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Chemistry

#66 in Europe

#215 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Chemistry

#81 in Europe

#250 in the World

Founded: 1967

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#93 in Europe

#282 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Chemistry

#95 in Europe

#285 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

20. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#99 in Europe

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

21. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Chemistry

#110 in Europe

#320 in the World

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

22. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Chemistry

#114 in Europe

#327 in the World

Founded: 1495

23. University of York

For Chemistry

#118 in Europe

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

24. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Chemistry

#123 in Europe

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

25. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Chemistry

#126 in Europe

#358 in the World

Founded: 1892

26. University of Bath

For Chemistry

#130 in Europe

#363 in the World

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

27. University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#131 in Europe

#366 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

28. Durham University

England | Durham

For Chemistry

#139 in Europe

#379 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

29. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Chemistry

#142 in Europe

#386 in the World

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

30. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Chemistry

#151 in Europe

#404 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

31. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#153 in Europe

#408 in the World

Founded: 1964

32. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Chemistry

#158 in Europe

#419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

33. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#173 in Europe

#456 in the World

Founded: 1893

34. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Chemistry

#174 in Europe

#457 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

35. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Chemistry

#178 in Europe

#465 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

36. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Chemistry

#179 in Europe

#467 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

37. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Chemistry

#210 in Europe

#588 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

38. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Chemistry

#214 in Europe

#598 in the World

Founded: 1968

39. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Chemistry

#222 in Europe

#625 in the World

Founded: 1920

40. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Chemistry

#232 in Europe

#654 in the World

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

41. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#241 in Europe

#686 in the World

Founded: 1733

42. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#245 in Europe

#701 in the World

Founded: 1966

43. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Chemistry

#252 in Europe

#717 in the World

Founded: 1954

44. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Chemistry

#258 in Europe

#740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

45. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#269 in Europe

#782 in the World

Founded: 1895

46. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Chemistry

#276 in Europe

#805 in the World

Founded: 1964

47. Bangor University

For Chemistry

#286 in Europe

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

48. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Chemistry

#291 in Europe

#847 in the World

Founded: 1965

49. Keele University

England | Keele

For Chemistry

#301 in Europe

#885 in the World

Founded: 1962

50. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Chemistry

#302 in Europe

#886 in the World

Founded: 1872

51. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#317 in Europe

#922 in the World

Founded: 1823

52. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Chemistry

#320 in Europe

#929 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

53. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Chemistry

#325 in Europe

#943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

54. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Chemistry

#327 in Europe

#955 in the World

Founded: 1849

55. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Chemistry

#333 in Europe

#980 in the World

Founded: 1967

56. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Chemistry

#368 in Europe

#1104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

57. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Chemistry

#380 in Europe

#1141 in the World

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

58. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Chemistry

#393 in Europe

#1199 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#401 in Europe

#1224 in the World

Founded: 1791

60. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Chemistry

#403 in Europe

#1234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

61. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Chemistry

#410 in Europe

#1257 in the World

Founded: 1992

62. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Chemistry

#413 in Europe

#1267 in the World

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

63. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Chemistry

#419 in Europe

#1288 in the World

Founded: 1992

64. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Chemistry

#425 in Europe

#1315 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

65. City, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#433 in Europe

#1337 in the World

Founded: 1966

66. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Chemistry

#438 in Europe

#1354 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

67. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Chemistry

#453 in Europe

#1432 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

68. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Chemistry

#462 in Europe

#1496 in the World

Founded: 1890

69. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Chemistry

#472 in Europe

#1537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Chemistry

#473 in Europe

#1540 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

71. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Chemistry

#478 in Europe

#1558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

72. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Chemistry

#490 in Europe

#1587 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Chemistry

#497 in Europe

#1610 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

74. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Chemistry

#503 in Europe

#1675 in the World

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

75. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Chemistry

#504 in Europe

#1678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

76. Middlesex University

England | London

For Chemistry

#506 in Europe

#1683 in the World

Founded: 1973

77. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Chemistry

#531 in Europe

#1804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

78. London South Bank University

England | London

For Chemistry

#547 in Europe

#1849 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

79. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#548 in Europe

#1850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

80. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Chemistry

#554 in Europe

#1887 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#558 in Europe

#1907 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

82. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Chemistry

#560 in Europe

#1924 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Chemistry

#567 in Europe

#1976 in the World

Founded: 1841

84. University of Westminster

England | London

For Chemistry

#575 in Europe

#2018 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

85. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Chemistry

#603 in Europe

#2176 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

86. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Chemistry

#615 in Europe

#2227 in the World

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

87. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Chemistry

#619 in Europe

#2266 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

88. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Chemistry

#626 in Europe

#2327 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

89. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Chemistry

#628 in Europe

#2343 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

90. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Chemistry

#631 in Europe

#2350 in the World

Founded: 1848

91. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Chemistry

#641 in Europe

#2416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

92. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Chemistry

#653 in Europe

#2481 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Chemistry

#666 in Europe

#2571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Chemistry

#671 in Europe

#2608 in the World

Founded: 2004

95. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Chemistry

#686 in Europe

#2680 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#691 in Europe

#2696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2011

97. University of East London

England | London

For Chemistry

#696 in Europe

#2727 in the World

Founded: 1992

98. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#706 in Europe

#2755 in the World

Founded: 1858

99. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Chemistry

#716 in Europe

#2794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

100. Wrexham Glyndwr University

Wales | Wrexham

For Chemistry

#728 in Europe

#2850 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 Engineering64

Biochemistry136

Chemical Engineering115

Computational Chemistry72

Environmental Chemistry101

Inorganic Chemistry90

Materials Science136

Nanotechnology106

Nutrition and Food Science113

Organic Chemistry133

Petrology and Geochemistry100

Physical chemistry115

Polymer science and Plastics engineering59

Radiochemistry80