100 Best universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 108M citations received by 3.39M academic papers made by 154 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 Oxford

England | Oxford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Europe

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Europe

#9 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Europe

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Europe

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Europe

#35 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. King's College London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in Europe

#51 in the World

Founded: 1829

7. Imperial College London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in Europe

#61 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in Europe

#66 in the World

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

9. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in Europe

#69 in the World

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

10. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in Europe

#70 in the World

Founded: 1900

11. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in Europe

#75 in the World

Founded: 1905

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#18 in Europe

#77 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#19 in Europe

#85 in the World

Founded: 1904

14. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#20 in Europe

#86 in the World

Founded: 1451

15. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#29 in Europe

#100 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

16. University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#33 in Europe

#110 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

17. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#36 in Europe

#116 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

18. University of York

England | York

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#38 in Europe

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

19. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#42 in Europe

#130 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

20. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#55 in Europe

#156 in the World

Founded: 1997

21. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#56 in Europe

#158 in the World

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

22. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#59 in Europe

#165 in the World

Founded: 1963

23. Durham University

England | Durham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#61 in Europe

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

24. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#63 in Europe

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

25. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#64 in Europe

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

26. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#76 in Europe

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

27. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#77 in Europe

#208 in the World

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

28. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#81 in Europe

#217 in the World

Founded: 1495

29. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#84 in Europe

#222 in the World

Founded: 1892

30. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#91 in Europe

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

31. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#97 in Europe

#254 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

32. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#104 in Europe

#264 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

33. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#114 in Europe

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

34. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#121 in Europe

#302 in the World

Founded: 1965

35. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#123 in Europe

#306 in the World

Founded: 1964

36. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#130 in Europe

#320 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

37. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#159 in Europe

#383 in the World

Founded: 1964

38. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#165 in Europe

#395 in the World

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

39. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#167 in Europe

#403 in the World

Founded: 1968

40. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#169 in Europe

#405 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

41. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#174 in Europe

#417 in the World

Founded: 1893

42. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#177 in Europe

#426 in the World

Founded: 1823

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#179 in Europe

#430 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#181 in Europe

#433 in the World

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

45. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#182 in Europe

#434 in the World

Founded: 1967

46. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#183 in Europe

#435 in the World

Founded: 1849

47. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#186 in Europe

#447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

48. Keele University

England | Keele

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#188 in Europe

#454 in the World

Founded: 1962

49. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#202 in Europe

#487 in the World

Founded: 1954

50. City, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#206 in Europe

#502 in the World

Founded: 1966

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#229 in Europe

#561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#242 in Europe

#590 in the World

Founded: 1992

53. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#247 in Europe

#605 in the World

Founded: 1733

54. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#248 in Europe

#608 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

55. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#258 in Europe

#626 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#266 in Europe

#642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

57. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#272 in Europe

#655 in the World

Founded: 1904

58. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#274 in Europe

#661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

59. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#277 in Europe

#669 in the World

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

60. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#278 in Europe

#670 in the World

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

61. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#279 in Europe

#671 in the World

Founded: 1967

62. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#282 in Europe

#682 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

63. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#288 in Europe

#702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

64. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#293 in Europe

#711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

65. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#294 in Europe

#715 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#302 in Europe

#733 in the World

Founded: 1895

67. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#310 in Europe

#751 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

68. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#316 in Europe

#770 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

69. University of Westminster

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#317 in Europe

#776 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

70. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#318 in Europe

#779 in the World

Founded: 1872

71. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#323 in Europe

#793 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

72. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#327 in Europe

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

73. London Business School

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#331 in Europe

#807 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

74. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#335 in Europe

#826 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

75. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#339 in Europe

#840 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#349 in Europe

#875 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. Middlesex University

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#350 in Europe

#887 in the World

Founded: 1973

78. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#352 in Europe

#897 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

79. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#353 in Europe

#899 in the World

Founded: 1966

80. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#368 in Europe

#928 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#388 in Europe

#996 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

82. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#390 in Europe

#1000 in the World

Founded: 1890

83. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#396 in Europe

#1044 in the World

Founded: 1848

84. University of East London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#401 in Europe

#1055 in the World

Founded: 1992

85. London South Bank University

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#412 in Europe

#1095 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

86. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#428 in Europe

#1152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

87. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#435 in Europe

#1168 in the World

Founded: 1841

88. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#436 in Europe

#1170 in the World

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

89. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#441 in Europe

#1187 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#445 in Europe

#1201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

91. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#446 in Europe

#1202 in the World

Founded: 1858

92. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#460 in Europe

#1241 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#486 in Europe

#1316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#502 in Europe

#1382 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

95. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#507 in Europe

#1398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

96. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#517 in Europe

#1421 in the World

Founded: 2005

97. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#519 in Europe

#1429 in the World

Founded: 1992

98. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#525 in Europe

#1449 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

99. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#528 in Europe

#1454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

100. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#530 in Europe

#1470 in the World

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

The best cities to study Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Oxford, London, Cambridge, and Edinburgh.