100 Best universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 114M citations received by 3.49M 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

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Europe

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Europe

#36 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. King's College London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in Europe

#50 in the World

Founded: 1829

7. Imperial College London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in Europe

#63 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in Europe

#66 in the World

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

9. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in Europe

#69 in the World

Founded: 1900

10. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in Europe

#71 in the World

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

11. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#18 in Europe

#77 in the World

Founded: 1905

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#19 in Europe

#78 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#20 in Europe

#83 in the World

Founded: 1904

14. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#22 in Europe

#88 in the World

Founded: 1451

15. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#29 in Europe

#101 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

16. University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#34 in Europe

#111 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

17. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#37 in Europe

#114 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

18. University of York

England | York

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#38 in Europe

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

19. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#41 in Europe

#127 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

20. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#54 in Europe

#150 in the World

Founded: 1997

21. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#56 in Europe

#157 in the World

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

22. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#57 in Europe

#162 in the World

Founded: 1963

23. Durham University

England | Durham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#58 in Europe

#164 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

24. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#63 in Europe

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

25. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#64 in Europe

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

26. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#77 in Europe

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

27. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#78 in Europe

#211 in the World

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

28. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#82 in Europe

#219 in the World

Founded: 1495

29. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#87 in Europe

#227 in the World

Founded: 1892

30. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#92 in Europe

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

31. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#101 in Europe

#257 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

32. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#104 in Europe

#267 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

33. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#114 in Europe

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

34. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#120 in Europe

#300 in the World

Founded: 1964

35. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#123 in Europe

#305 in the World

Founded: 1965

36. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#129 in Europe

#318 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

37. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#161 in Europe

#385 in the World

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

38. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#166 in Europe

#393 in the World

Founded: 1964

39. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#167 in Europe

#394 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

40. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#173 in Europe

#415 in the World

Founded: 1968

41. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#177 in Europe

#427 in the World

Founded: 1920

42. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#179 in Europe

#430 in the World

Founded: 1823

43. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#180 in Europe

#433 in the World

Founded: 1849

44. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#181 in Europe

#435 in the World

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

45. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#182 in Europe

#436 in the World

Founded: 1893

46. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#185 in Europe

#441 in the World

Founded: 1967

47. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#188 in Europe

#451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

48. Keele University

England | Keele

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#190 in Europe

#455 in the World

Founded: 1962

49. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#202 in Europe

#490 in the World

Founded: 1954

50. City, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#209 in Europe

#506 in the World

Founded: 1966

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#229 in Europe

#560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#236 in Europe

#578 in the World

Founded: 1733

53. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#238 in Europe

#580 in the World

Founded: 1992

54. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#249 in Europe

#603 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

55. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#250 in Europe

#605 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#261 in Europe

#635 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

57. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#266 in Europe

#642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

58. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#273 in Europe

#654 in the World

Founded: 1904

59. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#277 in Europe

#668 in the World

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

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#278 in Europe

#670 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#282 in Europe

#678 in the World

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

62. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#285 in Europe

#695 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

63. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#289 in Europe

#703 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

64. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#290 in Europe

#705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

65. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#293 in Europe

#709 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#301 in Europe

#731 in the World

Founded: 1895

67. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#310 in Europe

#750 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

68. University of Westminster

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#316 in Europe

#767 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

69. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#317 in Europe

#773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

70. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#320 in Europe

#781 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

71. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#322 in Europe

#792 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

72. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#327 in Europe

#800 in the World

Founded: 1872

73. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#331 in Europe

#810 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

74. London Business School

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#334 in Europe

#821 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

75. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#338 in Europe

#839 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#347 in Europe

#870 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#351 in Europe

#890 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

78. Middlesex University

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#352 in Europe

#895 in the World

Founded: 1973

79. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#354 in Europe

#903 in the World

Founded: 1966

80. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#373 in Europe

#940 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#384 in Europe

#980 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

82. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#388 in Europe

#994 in the World

Founded: 1890

83. University of East London

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#395 in Europe

#1033 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#408 in Europe

#1073 in the World

Founded: 1848

85. London South Bank University

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#416 in Europe

#1109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

86. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#428 in Europe

#1148 in the World

Founded: 1858

87. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#430 in Europe

#1152 in the World

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

88. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#434 in Europe

#1168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

89. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#438 in Europe

#1180 in the World

Founded: 1841

90. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#439 in Europe

#1181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

91. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#444 in Europe

#1197 in the World

Founded: 1992

92. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#463 in Europe

#1252 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#487 in Europe

#1328 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#498 in Europe

#1364 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

95. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#510 in Europe

#1399 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#512 in Europe

#1406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

97. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#517 in Europe

#1426 in the World

Founded: 2005

98. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#525 in Europe

#1457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

99. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#529 in Europe

#1465 in the World

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

100. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#532 in Europe

#1474 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
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.