100 Best universities for History 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 History. A graph of 32.1M citations received by 1.19M academic papers made by 149 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 History

#1 in Europe

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For History

#2 in Europe

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

England | London

For History

#3 in Europe

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For History

#4 in Europe

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For History

#5 in Europe

#32 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. King's College London

England | London

For History

#8 in Europe

#50 in the World

Founded: 1829

7. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For History

#9 in Europe

#51 in the World

Founded: 1904

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For History

#10 in Europe

#54 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For History

#11 in Europe

#56 in the World

Founded: 1451

10. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For History

#12 in Europe

#59 in the World

Founded: 1948

11. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For History

#13 in Europe

#61 in the World

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

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For History

#15 in Europe

#65 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. Imperial College London

England | London

For History

#17 in Europe

#68 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

14. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For History

#19 in Europe

#72 in the World

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

15. Durham University

England | Durham

For History

#22 in Europe

#82 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

16. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For History

#23 in Europe

#85 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

17. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For History

#24 in Europe

#87 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

18. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For History

#27 in Europe

#100 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

19. University of York

England | York

For History

#28 in Europe

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

20. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For History

#29 in Europe

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

21. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For History

#31 in Europe

#106 in the World

Founded: 1963

22. University of London

England | London

For History

#32 in Europe

#107 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

23. University of Reading

England | Reading

For History

#38 in Europe

#119 in the World

Founded: 1892

24. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For History

#39 in Europe

#121 in the World

Founded: 1997

25. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For History

#40 in Europe

#125 in the World

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

26. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For History

#48 in Europe

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

27. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For History

#49 in Europe

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

28. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For History

#57 in Europe

#163 in the World

Founded: 1495

29. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For History

#64 in Europe

#184 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

30. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For History

#65 in Europe

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

31. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For History

#68 in Europe

#190 in the World

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

32. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For History

#74 in Europe

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

33. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For History

#78 in Europe

#222 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

34. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For History

#82 in Europe

#235 in the World

Founded: 1965

35. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For History

#85 in Europe

#247 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

36. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For History

#89 in Europe

#258 in the World

Founded: 1849

37. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For History

#93 in Europe

#269 in the World

Founded: 1964

38. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For History

#106 in Europe

#296 in the World

Founded: 1968

39. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For History

#107 in Europe

#298 in the World

Founded: 1893

40. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For History

#109 in Europe

#302 in the World

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

41. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For History

#113 in Europe

#306 in the World

Founded: 1964

42. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For History

#121 in Europe

#330 in the World

Founded: 1920

43. University of Bath

England | Bath

For History

#124 in Europe

#337 in the World

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

44. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For History

#132 in Europe

#354 in the World

Founded: 1823

45. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For History

#135 in Europe

#363 in the World

Founded: 1967

46. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For History

#143 in Europe

#382 in the World

Founded: 1954

47. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For History

#144 in Europe

#383 in the World

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

48. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For History

#155 in Europe

#406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

49. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For History

#168 in Europe

#436 in the World

Founded: 1992

50. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For History

#170 in Europe

#442 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

51. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For History

#176 in Europe

#459 in the World

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

52. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For History

#178 in Europe

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

53. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For History

#184 in Europe

#468 in the World

Founded: 1992

54. Keele University

England | Keele

For History

#189 in Europe

#478 in the World

Founded: 1962

55. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For History

#194 in Europe

#490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

56. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For History

#196 in Europe

#492 in the World

Founded: 1872

57. University of Salford

England | Salford

For History

#209 in Europe

#532 in the World

Founded: 1967

58. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For History

#210 in Europe

#533 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

59. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For History

#214 in Europe

#539 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

60. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For History

#216 in Europe

#542 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

61. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For History

#222 in Europe

#556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

62. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For History

#225 in Europe

#560 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For History

#227 in Europe

#563 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

64. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For History

#228 in Europe

#564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

65. City, University of London

England | London

For History

#232 in Europe

#570 in the World

Founded: 1966

66. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For History

#247 in Europe

#619 in the World

Founded: 1904

67. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For History

#252 in Europe

#631 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

68. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For History

#254 in Europe

#634 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

69. University of Westminster

England | London

For History

#258 in Europe

#648 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

70. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For History

#276 in Europe

#690 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For History

#280 in Europe

#697 in the World

Founded: 1895

72. St George's, University of London

England | London

For History

#284 in Europe

#709 in the World

Founded: 1733

73. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For History

#285 in Europe

#710 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. University of Greenwich

England | London

For History

#289 in Europe

#720 in the World

Founded: 1890

75. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For History

#290 in Europe

#721 in the World

Founded: 1966

76. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For History

#295 in Europe

#731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

77. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For History

#296 in Europe

#734 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

78. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For History

#301 in Europe

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

79. Middlesex University

England | London

For History

#310 in Europe

#789 in the World

Founded: 1973

80. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For History

#327 in Europe

#835 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For History

#333 in Europe

#848 in the World

Founded: 1848

82. London Business School

England | London

For History

#355 in Europe

#909 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

83. University of East London

England | London

For History

#358 in Europe

#918 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For History

#359 in Europe

#921 in the World

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

85. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For History

#368 in Europe

#952 in the World

Founded: 1841

86. University of Roehampton

England | London

For History

#370 in Europe

#957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

87. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For History

#373 in Europe

#966 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

88. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For History

#390 in Europe

#1025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

89. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For History

#392 in Europe

#1028 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For History

#394 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

91. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For History

#412 in Europe

#1095 in the World

Founded: 1858

92. London South Bank University

England | London

For History

#422 in Europe

#1126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

93. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For History

#428 in Europe

#1149 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

94. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For History

#430 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

95. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For History

#439 in Europe

#1200 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. University of Winchester

England | Winchester

For History

#445 in Europe

#1214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

97. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For History

#449 in Europe

#1228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

98. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For History

#451 in Europe

#1234 in the World

Founded: 2005

99. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For History

#465 in Europe

#1271 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

100. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For History

#468 in Europe

#1274 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

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