100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 25M citations received by 783K academic papers made by 146 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 Linguistics

#1 in Europe

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

England | London

For Linguistics

#2 in Europe

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Linguistics

#3 in Europe

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Linguistics

#4 in Europe

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Linguistics

#6 in Europe

#32 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Linguistics

#10 in Europe

#50 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. King's College London

England | London

For Linguistics

#14 in Europe

#79 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Linguistics

#15 in Europe

#81 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Linguistics

#16 in Europe

#85 in the World

Founded: 1948

10. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Linguistics

#17 in Europe

#88 in the World

Founded: 1905

11. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Linguistics

#22 in Europe

#97 in the World

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

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Linguistics

#26 in Europe

#110 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Linguistics

#29 in Europe

#119 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Linguistics

#31 in Europe

#121 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

15. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Linguistics

#32 in Europe

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

16. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Linguistics

#36 in Europe

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

17. University of York

England | York

For Linguistics

#37 in Europe

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

18. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Linguistics

#40 in Europe

#135 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

19. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Linguistics

#43 in Europe

#139 in the World

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

20. University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#47 in Europe

#149 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

21. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Linguistics

#49 in Europe

#151 in the World

Founded: 1997

22. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Linguistics

#51 in Europe

#156 in the World

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

23. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Linguistics

#59 in Europe

#173 in the World

Founded: 1963

24. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#61 in Europe

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

25. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Linguistics

#69 in Europe

#199 in the World

Founded: 1892

26. Durham University

England | Durham

For Linguistics

#71 in Europe

#201 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

27. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Linguistics

#88 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1964

28. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Linguistics

#93 in Europe

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

29. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Linguistics

#98 in Europe

#275 in the World

Founded: 1495

30. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Linguistics

#100 in Europe

#279 in the World

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

31. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Linguistics

#104 in Europe

#287 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

32. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Linguistics

#109 in Europe

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

33. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#112 in Europe

#302 in the World

Founded: 1823

34. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Linguistics

#116 in Europe

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

35. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Linguistics

#123 in Europe

#324 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

36. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Linguistics

#126 in Europe

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

37. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Linguistics

#146 in Europe

#367 in the World

Founded: 1965

38. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Linguistics

#152 in Europe

#390 in the World

Founded: 1967

39. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Linguistics

#154 in Europe

#394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

40. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Linguistics

#159 in Europe

#404 in the World

Founded: 1964

41. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Linguistics

#166 in Europe

#419 in the World

Founded: 1920

42. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Linguistics

#167 in Europe

#423 in the World

Founded: 1849

43. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Linguistics

#172 in Europe

#436 in the World

Founded: 1968

44. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Linguistics

#175 in Europe

#442 in the World

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

45. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Linguistics

#179 in Europe

#451 in the World

Founded: 1893

46. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Linguistics

#191 in Europe

#467 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

47. City, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#193 in Europe

#477 in the World

Founded: 1966

48. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Linguistics

#197 in Europe

#484 in the World

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

49. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Linguistics

#198 in Europe

#485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

50. Keele University

England | Keele

For Linguistics

#212 in Europe

#524 in the World

Founded: 1962

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Linguistics

#217 in Europe

#543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Linguistics

#226 in Europe

#569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Linguistics

#228 in Europe

#574 in the World

Founded: 1954

54. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Linguistics

#239 in Europe

#601 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Linguistics

#240 in Europe

#602 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#245 in Europe

#612 in the World

Founded: 1904

57. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Linguistics

#252 in Europe

#625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

58. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Linguistics

#255 in Europe

#635 in the World

Founded: 1967

59. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Linguistics

#257 in Europe

#639 in the World

Founded: 1966

60. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Linguistics

#258 in Europe

#641 in the World

Founded: 1895

61. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Linguistics

#262 in Europe

#646 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

62. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#273 in Europe

#696 in the World

Founded: 1733

63. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Linguistics

#286 in Europe

#726 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

64. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#288 in Europe

#730 in the World

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

65. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Linguistics

#295 in Europe

#745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

66. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Linguistics

#299 in Europe

#760 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

67. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Linguistics

#300 in Europe

#761 in the World

Founded: 1992

68. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Linguistics

#305 in Europe

#769 in the World

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

69. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Linguistics

#313 in Europe

#796 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

70. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Linguistics

#315 in Europe

#814 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Linguistics

#318 in Europe

#823 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

72. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Linguistics

#332 in Europe

#848 in the World

Founded: 1872

73. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Linguistics

#334 in Europe

#851 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

74. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Linguistics

#338 in Europe

#860 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

75. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Linguistics

#346 in Europe

#883 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. University of Westminster

England | London

For Linguistics

#364 in Europe

#944 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

77. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Linguistics

#365 in Europe

#945 in the World

Founded: 1992

78. Middlesex University

England | London

For Linguistics

#367 in Europe

#951 in the World

Founded: 1973

79. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Linguistics

#393 in Europe

#1054 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

80. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Linguistics

#401 in Europe

#1090 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

81. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Linguistics

#407 in Europe

#1104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

82. London Business School

England | London

For Linguistics

#408 in Europe

#1106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

83. University of East London

England | London

For Linguistics

#411 in Europe

#1123 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Linguistics

#423 in Europe

#1168 in the World

Founded: 1992

85. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Linguistics

#424 in Europe

#1174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

86. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Linguistics

#433 in Europe

#1199 in the World

Founded: 1848

87. London South Bank University

England | London

For Linguistics

#441 in Europe

#1223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

88. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Linguistics

#444 in Europe

#1235 in the World

Founded: 1841

89. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Linguistics

#447 in Europe

#1247 in the World

Founded: 1858

90. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Linguistics

#458 in Europe

#1272 in the World

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

91. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Linguistics

#459 in Europe

#1275 in the World

Founded: 1890

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Linguistics

#491 in Europe

#1370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Linguistics

#492 in Europe

#1376 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

94. Queen Margaret University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Linguistics

#511 in Europe

#1464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2007

95. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Linguistics

#514 in Europe

#1480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

96. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Linguistics

#515 in Europe

#1483 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

97. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Linguistics

#526 in Europe

#1537 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

98. University of West London

England | Ealing

For Linguistics

#534 in Europe

#1560 in the World

Founded: 1990

99. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Linguistics

#542 in Europe

#1595 in the World

Founded: 1992

100. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Linguistics

#556 in Europe

#1626 in the World

Founded: 2006

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