Political Economy in UK: 100+ Best universities Ranked 2026

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Political Economy. A graph of 1.72M citations received by 76.4K academic papers made by 108 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. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Political Economy

#1 in Europe

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Political Economy

#2 in Europe

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Political Economy

#3 in Europe

#9 in the World

Founded: 1824

4. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Political Economy

#4 in Europe

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

5. King's College London

England | London

For Political Economy

#6 in Europe

#17 in the World

Founded: 1829

6. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Political Economy

#7 in Europe

#18 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

7. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Political Economy

#8 in Europe

#20 in the World

Founded: 1900

8. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Political Economy

#9 in Europe

#23 in the World

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

9. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Political Economy

#11 in Europe

#30 in the World

Founded: 1905

10. University of London

England | London

For Political Economy

#13 in Europe

#32 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

11. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Political Economy

#14 in Europe

#37 in the World

Founded: 1904

12. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Political Economy

#15 in Europe

#38 in the World

Founded: 1451

13. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Political Economy

#16 in Europe

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

14. University College London

England | London

For Political Economy

#17 in Europe

#41 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

15. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Political Economy

#19 in Europe

#45 in the World

Founded: 1964

16. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Political Economy

#20 in Europe

#47 in the World

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

17. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Political Economy

#25 in Europe

#61 in the World

Founded: 1948

18. Durham University

England | Durham

For Political Economy

#26 in Europe

#63 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

19. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Political Economy

#27 in Europe

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 6,295
Founded: 1916

20. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Political Economy

#30 in Europe

#69 in the World

Founded: 1965

21. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Political Economy

#31 in Europe

#70 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

22. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Political Economy

#32 in Europe

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

23. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Political Economy

#35 in Europe

#78 in the World

Founded: 1997

24. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Political Economy

#39 in Europe

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

25. University of York

England | York

For Political Economy

#40 in Europe

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

26. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Political Economy

#42 in Europe

#103 in the World

Founded: 1963

27. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Political Economy

#46 in Europe

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

28. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Political Economy

#47 in Europe

#113 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

29. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Political Economy

#48 in Europe

#115 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

30. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Political Economy

#49 in Europe

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

31. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Political Economy

#50 in Europe

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

32. Keele University

England | Keele

For Political Economy

#54 in Europe

#134 in the World

Founded: 1962

33. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Political Economy

#55 in Europe

#136 in the World

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

34. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Political Economy

#56 in Europe

#137 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

35. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Political Economy

#58 in Europe

#142 in the World

Founded: 1823

36. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Political Economy

#59 in Europe

#145 in the World

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

37. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Political Economy

#61 in Europe

#149 in the World

Founded: 1964

38. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Political Economy

#66 in Europe

#157 in the World

Founded: 1495

39. University of Westminster

England | London

For Political Economy

#70 in Europe

#161 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

40. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Political Economy

#72 in Europe

#171 in the World

Founded: 1849

41. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Political Economy

#75 in Europe

#178 in the World

Founded: 1904

42. City, University of London

England | London

For Political Economy

#89 in Europe

#204 in the World

Founded: 1966

43. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Political Economy

#91 in Europe

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

44. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Political Economy

#92 in Europe

#214 in the World

Founded: 1954

45. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Political Economy

#96 in Europe

#227 in the World

Founded: 1892

46. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Political Economy

#98 in Europe

#229 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

47. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Political Economy

#105 in Europe

#240 in the World

Founded: 1968

48. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Political Economy

#109 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1893

49. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Political Economy

#111 in Europe

#257 in the World

Founded: 1872

50. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Political Economy

#113 in Europe

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

51. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Political Economy

#115 in Europe

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

52. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Political Economy

#116 in Europe

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

53. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Political Economy

#117 in Europe

#276 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

54. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Political Economy

#120 in Europe

#282 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Political Economy

#122 in Europe

#288 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. University of East London

England | London

For Political Economy

#123 in Europe

#290 in the World

Founded: 1992

57. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Political Economy

#125 in Europe

#293 in the World

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

58. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Political Economy

#128 in Europe

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

59. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Political Economy

#135 in Europe

#317 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Political Economy

#136 in Europe

#318 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Political Economy

#142 in Europe

#330 in the World

Founded: 1848

62. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Political Economy

#145 in Europe

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

63. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Political Economy

#149 in Europe

#346 in the World

Founded: 1920

64. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Political Economy

#150 in Europe

#347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

65. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Political Economy

#156 in Europe

#365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

66. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Political Economy

#157 in Europe

#368 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

67. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Political Economy

#163 in Europe

#379 in the World

Founded: 1895

68. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Political Economy

#166 in Europe

#385 in the World

Founded: 1967

69. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Political Economy

#168 in Europe

#391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Political Economy

#176 in Europe

#409 in the World

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

71. Middlesex University

England | London

For Political Economy

#186 in Europe

#439 in the World

Founded: 1973

72. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Political Economy

#193 in Europe

#464 in the World

Founded: 1890

73. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Political Economy

#197 in Europe

#471 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

74. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Political Economy

#198 in Europe

#472 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Political Economy

#205 in Europe

#503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

76. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Political Economy

#223 in Europe

#546 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. London South Bank University

England | London

For Political Economy

#224 in Europe

#547 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

78. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Political Economy

#227 in Europe

#555 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. Liverpool Hope University

England | Liverpool

For Political Economy

#228 in Europe

#557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

80. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Political Economy

#241 in Europe

#590 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

81. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Political Economy

#248 in Europe

#613 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Political Economy

#251 in Europe

#624 in the World

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

83. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Political Economy

#257 in Europe

#635 in the World

Founded: 2005

84. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Political Economy

#259 in Europe

#642 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

85. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Political Economy

#260 in Europe

#644 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

86. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Political Economy

#266 in Europe

#662 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

87. London Business School

England | London

For Political Economy

#269 in Europe

#669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

88. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Political Economy

#280 in Europe

#698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

89. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Political Economy

#283 in Europe

#704 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

90. Imperial College London

England | London

For Political Economy

#296 in Europe

#732 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

91. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Political Economy

#303 in Europe

#764 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

92. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Political Economy

#311 in Europe

#815 in the World

Founded: 2006

93. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Political Economy

#320 in Europe

#835 in the World

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

94. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Political Economy

#321 in Europe

#836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

95. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Political Economy

#324 in Europe

#844 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Political Economy

#332 in Europe

#869 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

97. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Political Economy

#343 in Europe

#893 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

98. School of Advanced Study, University of London

England | London

For Political Economy

#346 in Europe

#899 in the World

Founded: 1994

99. University of Winchester

England | Winchester

For Political Economy

#347 in Europe

#903 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

100. Bath Spa University

England | Bath

For Political Economy

#348 in Europe

#911 in the World

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

Economics subfields in the United Kingdom