100 Best universities for Oceanography 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 Oceanography. A graph of 15.4M citations received by 353K 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

#36 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Oceanography

#9 in Europe

#41 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

5. University College London

England | London

For Oceanography

#11 in Europe

#45 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

6. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Oceanography

#15 in Europe

#62 in the World

Founded: 1892

7. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Oceanography

#16 in Europe

#69 in the World

Founded: 1904

8. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Oceanography

#18 in Europe

#75 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

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Oceanography

#26 in Europe

#92 in the World

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

12. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Oceanography

#30 in Europe

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

13. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Oceanography

#32 in Europe

#115 in the World

Founded: 1905

14. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Oceanography

#37 in Europe

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

15. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Oceanography

#40 in Europe

#147 in the World

Founded: 1900

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Oceanography

#41 in Europe

#148 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Oceanography

#43 in Europe

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

18. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Oceanography

#48 in Europe

#170 in the World

Founded: 1948

19. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Oceanography

#54 in Europe

#190 in the World

Founded: 1495

20. Durham University

England | Durham

For Oceanography

#56 in Europe

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

21. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Oceanography

#73 in Europe

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

22. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Oceanography

#75 in Europe

#243 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

23. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Oceanography

#81 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1451

24. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Oceanography

#83 in Europe

#256 in the World

Founded: 1997

25. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Oceanography

#88 in Europe

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

26. University of York

England | York

For Oceanography

#89 in Europe

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

27. King's College London

England | London

For Oceanography

#103 in Europe

#299 in the World

Founded: 1829

28. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Oceanography

#105 in Europe

#303 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

29. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Oceanography

#107 in Europe

#310 in the World

Founded: 1920

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Oceanography

#113 in Europe

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Oceanography

#119 in Europe

#339 in the World

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

32. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Oceanography

#120 in Europe

#341 in the World

Founded: 1964

33. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Oceanography

#127 in Europe

#361 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

34. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#128 in Europe

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

35. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Oceanography

#131 in Europe

#374 in the World

Founded: 1954

36. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Oceanography

#142 in Europe

#398 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

37. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Oceanography

#143 in Europe

#399 in the World

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

38. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Oceanography

#146 in Europe

#406 in the World

Founded: 1893

39. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Oceanography

#148 in Europe

#409 in the World

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

40. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Oceanography

#151 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

41. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Oceanography

#153 in Europe

#418 in the World

Founded: 1966

42. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Oceanography

#166 in Europe

#456 in the World

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

43. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Oceanography

#167 in Europe

#459 in the World

Founded: 1967

44. University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#189 in Europe

#517 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

45. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Oceanography

#194 in Europe

#529 in the World

Founded: 1872

46. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Oceanography

#198 in Europe

#537 in the World

Founded: 1849

47. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Oceanography

#214 in Europe

#594 in the World

Founded: 1968

48. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Oceanography

#215 in Europe

#596 in the World

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

49. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Oceanography

#225 in Europe

#627 in the World

Founded: 1964

50. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Oceanography

#247 in Europe

#672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

51. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Oceanography

#262 in Europe

#714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

52. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Oceanography

#263 in Europe

#725 in the World

Founded: 1895

53. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Oceanography

#292 in Europe

#814 in the World

Founded: 1992

54. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Oceanography

#294 in Europe

#818 in the World

Founded: 1967

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Oceanography

#295 in Europe

#819 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Oceanography

#311 in Europe

#875 in the World

Founded: 1992

57. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Oceanography

#313 in Europe

#877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

58. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Oceanography

#327 in Europe

#924 in the World

Founded: 1965

59. Keele University

England | Keele

For Oceanography

#335 in Europe

#957 in the World

Founded: 1962

60. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Oceanography

#340 in Europe

#975 in the World

Founded: 1890

61. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Oceanography

#354 in Europe

#1019 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

62. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Oceanography

#382 in Europe

#1104 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

63. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#383 in Europe

#1105 in the World

Founded: 1823

64. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Oceanography

#404 in Europe

#1170 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

65. City, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#405 in Europe

#1172 in the World

Founded: 1966

66. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Oceanography

#411 in Europe

#1187 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

67. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Oceanography

#414 in Europe

#1197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

68. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Oceanography

#434 in Europe

#1260 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

69. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Oceanography

#445 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

70. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Oceanography

#458 in Europe

#1357 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

71. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Oceanography

#459 in Europe

#1363 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Oceanography

#472 in Europe

#1405 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

73. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Oceanography

#474 in Europe

#1423 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Oceanography

#484 in Europe

#1468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

75. Middlesex University

England | London

For Oceanography

#485 in Europe

#1478 in the World

Founded: 1973

76. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Oceanography

#505 in Europe

#1538 in the World

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

77. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Oceanography

#506 in Europe

#1550 in the World

Founded: 1841

78. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Oceanography

#510 in Europe

#1570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

79. London South Bank University

England | London

For Oceanography

#522 in Europe

#1625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

80. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Oceanography

#524 in Europe

#1631 in the World

Founded: 1858

81. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Oceanography

#526 in Europe

#1640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

82. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Oceanography

#536 in Europe

#1696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

83. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#549 in Europe

#1764 in the World

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

84. Scotland's Rural College

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Oceanography

#563 in Europe

#1834 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2012

85. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Oceanography

#566 in Europe

#1850 in the World

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

86. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Oceanography

#571 in Europe

#1867 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

87. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Oceanography

#573 in Europe

#1885 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Oceanography

#575 in Europe

#1888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

89. University of Westminster

England | London

For Oceanography

#576 in Europe

#1893 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

90. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#588 in Europe

#1958 in the World

Founded: 1904

91. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Oceanography

#598 in Europe

#2015 in the World

Founded: 1733

92. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Oceanography

#599 in Europe

#2024 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

93. University of the Highlands and Islands

Scotland | Inverness

For Oceanography

#608 in Europe

#2094 in the World

Founded: 2011

94. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Oceanography

#615 in Europe

#2130 in the World

Founded: 1848

95. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Oceanography

#627 in Europe

#2178 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

96. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Oceanography

#631 in Europe

#2196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

97. University of East London

England | London

For Oceanography

#635 in Europe

#2212 in the World

Founded: 1992

98. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Oceanography

#636 in Europe

#2215 in the World

Founded: 1992

99. London Business School

England | London

For Oceanography

#638 in Europe

#2225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

100. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Oceanography

#639 in Europe

#2227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
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.