100 Best universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 126M citations received by 2.88M 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

#18 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

#28 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Chemistry

#7 in Europe

#47 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#14 in Europe

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Chemistry

#22 in Europe

#109 in the World

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

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#26 in Europe

#123 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. King's College London

England | London

For Chemistry

#30 in Europe

#134 in the World

Founded: 1829

10. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Chemistry

#31 in Europe

#135 in the World

Founded: 1948

11. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Chemistry

#34 in Europe

#139 in the World

Founded: 1904

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Chemistry

#36 in Europe

#141 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Chemistry

#45 in Europe

#158 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

14. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#47 in Europe

#160 in the World

Founded: 1451

15. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Chemistry

#52 in Europe

#172 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Chemistry

#66 in Europe

#214 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Chemistry

#81 in Europe

#256 in the World

Founded: 1967

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#92 in Europe

#280 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Chemistry

#95 in Europe

#293 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

20. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#98 in Europe

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

21. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Chemistry

#112 in Europe

#325 in the World

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

22. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Chemistry

#116 in Europe

#333 in the World

Founded: 1495

23. University of York

For Chemistry

#117 in Europe

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

24. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Chemistry

#123 in Europe

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

25. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Chemistry

#130 in Europe

#366 in the World

Founded: 1892

26. University of Bath

For Chemistry

#131 in Europe

#367 in the World

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

27. University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#137 in Europe

#380 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

28. Durham University

England | Durham

For Chemistry

#139 in Europe

#384 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

29. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Chemistry

#149 in Europe

#404 in the World

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

30. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Chemistry

#153 in Europe

#415 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

31. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#156 in Europe

#419 in the World

Founded: 1964

32. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Chemistry

#157 in Europe

#421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

33. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Chemistry

#173 in Europe

#465 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

34. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Chemistry

#176 in Europe

#472 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

35. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Chemistry

#177 in Europe

#473 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

36. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#180 in Europe

#478 in the World

Founded: 1893

37. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Chemistry

#211 in Europe

#591 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

38. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Chemistry

#216 in Europe

#611 in the World

Founded: 1968

39. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Chemistry

#224 in Europe

#637 in the World

Founded: 1920

40. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Chemistry

#234 in Europe

#662 in the World

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

41. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#246 in Europe

#706 in the World

Founded: 1733

42. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#249 in Europe

#711 in the World

Founded: 1966

43. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Chemistry

#255 in Europe

#734 in the World

Founded: 1954

44. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Chemistry

#258 in Europe

#751 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

45. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Chemistry

#272 in Europe

#792 in the World

Founded: 1895

46. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Chemistry

#283 in Europe

#828 in the World

Founded: 1964

47. Bangor University

For Chemistry

#289 in Europe

#847 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

48. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Chemistry

#295 in Europe

#865 in the World

Founded: 1965

49. Keele University

England | Keele

For Chemistry

#302 in Europe

#894 in the World

Founded: 1962

50. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Chemistry

#309 in Europe

#913 in the World

Founded: 1872

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Chemistry

#321 in Europe

#951 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#324 in Europe

#957 in the World

Founded: 1823

53. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Chemistry

#325 in Europe

#958 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

54. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Chemistry

#329 in Europe

#981 in the World

Founded: 1849

55. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Chemistry

#336 in Europe

#1010 in the World

Founded: 1967

56. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Chemistry

#375 in Europe

#1134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

57. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Chemistry

#383 in Europe

#1165 in the World

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

58. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Chemistry

#392 in Europe

#1205 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Chemistry

#401 in Europe

#1243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

60. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#404 in Europe

#1251 in the World

Founded: 1791

61. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Chemistry

#408 in Europe

#1265 in the World

Founded: 1992

62. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Chemistry

#412 in Europe

#1280 in the World

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

63. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Chemistry

#417 in Europe

#1287 in the World

Founded: 1992

64. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Chemistry

#423 in Europe

#1318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

65. City, University of London

England | London

For Chemistry

#438 in Europe

#1368 in the World

Founded: 1966

66. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Chemistry

#441 in Europe

#1373 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

67. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Chemistry

#456 in Europe

#1455 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

68. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Chemistry

#464 in Europe

#1511 in the World

Founded: 1890

69. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Chemistry

#471 in Europe

#1539 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

70. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Chemistry

#472 in Europe

#1543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

71. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Chemistry

#483 in Europe

#1573 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

72. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Chemistry

#494 in Europe

#1619 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Chemistry

#498 in Europe

#1635 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

74. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Chemistry

#508 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

75. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Chemistry

#510 in Europe

#1731 in the World

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

76. Middlesex University

England | London

For Chemistry

#513 in Europe

#1743 in the World

Founded: 1973

77. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Chemistry

#535 in Europe

#1819 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

78. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Chemistry

#546 in Europe

#1869 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

79. London South Bank University

England | London

For Chemistry

#551 in Europe

#1886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

80. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Chemistry

#555 in Europe

#1907 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#558 in Europe

#1931 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

82. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Chemistry

#561 in Europe

#1949 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Chemistry

#568 in Europe

#2003 in the World

Founded: 1841

84. University of Westminster

England | London

For Chemistry

#575 in Europe

#2036 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

85. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Chemistry

#603 in Europe

#2174 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

86. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Chemistry

#609 in Europe

#2211 in the World

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

87. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Chemistry

#619 in Europe

#2281 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

88. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Chemistry

#627 in Europe

#2338 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

89. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Chemistry

#635 in Europe

#2371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

90. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Chemistry

#637 in Europe

#2391 in the World

Founded: 1848

91. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Chemistry

#646 in Europe

#2447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

92. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Chemistry

#659 in Europe

#2519 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Chemistry

#670 in Europe

#2614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Chemistry

#672 in Europe

#2621 in the World

Founded: 2004

95. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Chemistry

#684 in Europe

#2681 in the World

Founded: 1858

96. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Chemistry

#686 in Europe

#2684 in the World

Founded: 1992

97. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Chemistry

#687 in Europe

#2689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 2011

98. University of East London

England | London

For Chemistry

#697 in Europe

#2733 in the World

Founded: 1992

99. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Chemistry

#718 in Europe

#2827 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

100. Scotland's Rural College

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Chemistry

#730 in Europe

#2876 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2012

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 Engineering65

Biochemistry137

Chemical Engineering115

Computational Chemistry72

Environmental Chemistry101

Inorganic Chemistry91

Materials Science136

Nanotechnology106

Nutrition and Food Science113

Organic Chemistry134

Petrology and Geochemistry101

Physical chemistry115

Polymer science and Plastics engineering57

Radiochemistry81