100 Best universities for Oceanography 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 Oceanography. A graph of 14.5M citations received by 344K academic papers made by 126 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 Oceanography

#1 in Europe

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Oceanography

#2 in Europe

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Oceanography

#6 in Europe

#35 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Oceanography

#8 in Europe

#40 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

5. University College London

England | London

For Oceanography

#9 in Europe

#42 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

6. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Oceanography

#13 in Europe

#59 in the World

Founded: 1892

7. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Oceanography

#15 in Europe

#67 in the World

Founded: 1904

8. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Oceanography

#17 in Europe

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

9. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Oceanography

#19 in Europe

#79 in the World

Founded: 1824

10. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Oceanography

#25 in Europe

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Oceanography

#26 in Europe

#91 in the World

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

12. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Oceanography

#30 in Europe

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

13. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Oceanography

#32 in Europe

#117 in the World

Founded: 1905

14. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Oceanography

#38 in Europe

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

15. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Oceanography

#40 in Europe

#142 in the World

Founded: 1900

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Oceanography

#41 in Europe

#143 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Oceanography

#42 in Europe

#151 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

18. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Oceanography

#48 in Europe

#169 in the World

Founded: 1948

19. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Oceanography

#54 in Europe

#186 in the World

Founded: 1495

20. Durham University

England | Durham

For Oceanography

#55 in Europe

#187 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

21. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Oceanography

#71 in Europe

#229 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

22. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Oceanography

#74 in Europe

#235 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

23. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Oceanography

#80 in Europe

#249 in the World

Founded: 1451

24. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Oceanography

#84 in Europe

#255 in the World

Founded: 1997

25. University of York

England | York

For Oceanography

#87 in Europe

#260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

26. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Oceanography

#89 in Europe

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

27. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Oceanography

#103 in Europe

#298 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

28. King's College London

England | London

For Oceanography

#104 in Europe

#299 in the World

Founded: 1829

29. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Oceanography

#106 in Europe

#302 in the World

Founded: 1920

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Oceanography

#115 in Europe

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Oceanography

#118 in Europe

#336 in the World

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

32. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Oceanography

#124 in Europe

#348 in the World

Founded: 1964

33. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Oceanography

#127 in Europe

#363 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

34. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#128 in Europe

#365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

35. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Oceanography

#130 in Europe

#368 in the World

Founded: 1954

36. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Oceanography

#140 in Europe

#392 in the World

Founded: 1893

37. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Oceanography

#143 in Europe

#400 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

38. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Oceanography

#144 in Europe

#401 in the World

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

39. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Oceanography

#150 in Europe

#411 in the World

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

40. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Oceanography

#151 in Europe

#412 in the World

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

41. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Oceanography

#155 in Europe

#419 in the World

Founded: 1966

42. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Oceanography

#164 in Europe

#449 in the World

Founded: 1967

43. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Oceanography

#168 in Europe

#460 in the World

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

44. University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#181 in Europe

#496 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

45. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Oceanography

#188 in Europe

#512 in the World

Founded: 1872

46. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Oceanography

#198 in Europe

#530 in the World

Founded: 1849

47. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Oceanography

#213 in Europe

#580 in the World

Founded: 1968

48. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Oceanography

#215 in Europe

#587 in the World

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

49. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Oceanography

#223 in Europe

#621 in the World

Founded: 1964

50. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Oceanography

#246 in Europe

#663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

51. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Oceanography

#261 in Europe

#717 in the World

Founded: 1895

52. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Oceanography

#262 in Europe

#724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Oceanography

#291 in Europe

#804 in the World

Founded: 1967

54. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Oceanography

#295 in Europe

#815 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Oceanography

#300 in Europe

#830 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Oceanography

#308 in Europe

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

57. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Oceanography

#313 in Europe

#876 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Oceanography

#326 in Europe

#914 in the World

Founded: 1965

59. Keele University

England | Keele

For Oceanography

#332 in Europe

#942 in the World

Founded: 1962

60. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Oceanography

#343 in Europe

#978 in the World

Founded: 1890

61. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Oceanography

#352 in Europe

#1010 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

62. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#372 in Europe

#1068 in the World

Founded: 1823

63. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Oceanography

#386 in Europe

#1109 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

64. City, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#394 in Europe

#1133 in the World

Founded: 1966

65. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Oceanography

#403 in Europe

#1159 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

66. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Oceanography

#405 in Europe

#1164 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

67. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Oceanography

#414 in Europe

#1200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

68. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Oceanography

#427 in Europe

#1230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

69. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Oceanography

#456 in Europe

#1350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

70. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Oceanography

#460 in Europe

#1361 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

71. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Oceanography

#464 in Europe

#1372 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Oceanography

#469 in Europe

#1385 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

73. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Oceanography

#476 in Europe

#1412 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Middlesex University

England | London

For Oceanography

#481 in Europe

#1440 in the World

Founded: 1973

75. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Oceanography

#482 in Europe

#1450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

76. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Oceanography

#500 in Europe

#1517 in the World

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

77. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Oceanography

#503 in Europe

#1535 in the World

Founded: 1841

78. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Oceanography

#516 in Europe

#1580 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

79. London South Bank University

England | London

For Oceanography

#520 in Europe

#1595 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

80. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Oceanography

#526 in Europe

#1639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

81. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#536 in Europe

#1695 in the World

Founded: 1858

82. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Oceanography

#539 in Europe

#1702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

83. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#556 in Europe

#1784 in the World

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

84. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Oceanography

#559 in Europe

#1804 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

85. Scotland's Rural College

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Oceanography

#568 in Europe

#1837 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2012

86. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Oceanography

#570 in Europe

#1848 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Oceanography

#573 in Europe

#1869 in the World

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

88. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Oceanography

#577 in Europe

#1891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

89. University of Westminster

England | London

For Oceanography

#580 in Europe

#1910 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

90. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#593 in Europe

#1985 in the World

Founded: 1904

91. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Oceanography

#596 in Europe

#2001 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

92. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#599 in Europe

#2038 in the World

Founded: 1733

93. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Oceanography

#603 in Europe

#2071 in the World

Founded: 1848

94. University of the Highlands and Islands

Scotland | Inverness

For Oceanography

#612 in Europe

#2115 in the World

Founded: 2011

95. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Oceanography

#624 in Europe

#2157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

96. London Business School

England | London

For Oceanography

#629 in Europe

#2184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

97. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Oceanography

#634 in Europe

#2217 in the World

Founded: 1992

98. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Oceanography

#637 in Europe

#2231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

99. University of East London

England | London

For Oceanography

#641 in Europe

#2236 in the World

Founded: 1992

100. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Oceanography

#654 in Europe

#2289 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

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