100 Best universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 23.1M citations received by 765K academic papers made by 145 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

#34 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Linguistics

#8 in Europe

#48 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

#80 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

#98 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

#30 in Europe

#118 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Linguistics

#31 in Europe

#120 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

15. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Linguistics

#33 in Europe

#123 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

16. University of York

England | York

For Linguistics

#36 in Europe

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

17. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Linguistics

#37 in Europe

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

18. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Linguistics

#39 in Europe

#134 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

19. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Linguistics

#43 in Europe

#140 in the World

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

20. University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#47 in Europe

#147 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

21. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Linguistics

#48 in Europe

#148 in the World

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

22. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Linguistics

#51 in Europe

#153 in the World

Founded: 1997

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

#68 in Europe

#194 in the World

Founded: 1892

26. Durham University

England | Durham

For Linguistics

#71 in Europe

#200 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

27. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Linguistics

#85 in Europe

#248 in the World

Founded: 1964

28. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Linguistics

#91 in Europe

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

29. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Linguistics

#96 in Europe

#270 in the World

Founded: 1495

30. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Linguistics

#98 in Europe

#273 in the World

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

31. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Linguistics

#103 in Europe

#286 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

32. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Linguistics

#107 in Europe

#292 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

33. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#110 in Europe

#296 in the World

Founded: 1823

34. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Linguistics

#114 in Europe

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

35. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Linguistics

#126 in Europe

#330 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

36. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Linguistics

#127 in Europe

#332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

37. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Linguistics

#145 in Europe

#368 in the World

Founded: 1965

38. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Linguistics

#151 in Europe

#386 in the World

Founded: 1967

39. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Linguistics

#153 in Europe

#390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

40. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Linguistics

#156 in Europe

#398 in the World

Founded: 1964

41. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Linguistics

#167 in Europe

#421 in the World

Founded: 1849

42. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Linguistics

#168 in Europe

#422 in the World

Founded: 1920

43. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Linguistics

#169 in Europe

#427 in the World

Founded: 1968

44. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Linguistics

#171 in Europe

#431 in the World

Founded: 1893

45. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Linguistics

#179 in Europe

#448 in the World

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

46. City, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#190 in Europe

#473 in the World

Founded: 1966

47. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Linguistics

#191 in Europe

#474 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

48. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Linguistics

#194 in Europe

#479 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

49. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Linguistics

#195 in Europe

#481 in the World

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

50. Keele University

England | Keele

For Linguistics

#212 in Europe

#526 in the World

Founded: 1962

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Linguistics

#215 in Europe

#535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Linguistics

#225 in Europe

#566 in the World

Founded: 1954

53. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Linguistics

#229 in Europe

#577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

54. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#243 in Europe

#604 in the World

Founded: 1904

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Linguistics

#245 in Europe

#608 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Linguistics

#248 in Europe

#618 in the World

Founded: 1992

57. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Linguistics

#254 in Europe

#629 in the World

Founded: 1966

58. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Linguistics

#255 in Europe

#631 in the World

Founded: 1967

59. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Linguistics

#256 in Europe

#634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

60. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Linguistics

#259 in Europe

#640 in the World

Founded: 1895

61. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Linguistics

#260 in Europe

#642 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

62. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#282 in Europe

#710 in the World

Founded: 1733

63. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Linguistics

#285 in Europe

#716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

64. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Linguistics

#290 in Europe

#725 in the World

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

65. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Linguistics

#293 in Europe

#736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

66. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Linguistics

#297 in Europe

#744 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Linguistics

#298 in Europe

#745 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

68. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Linguistics

#302 in Europe

#762 in the World

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

69. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Linguistics

#315 in Europe

#804 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

70. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Linguistics

#317 in Europe

#810 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Linguistics

#321 in Europe

#823 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

72. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Linguistics

#324 in Europe

#830 in the World

Founded: 1872

73. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Linguistics

#335 in Europe

#859 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

74. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Linguistics

#339 in Europe

#868 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

75. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Linguistics

#343 in Europe

#875 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. Middlesex University

England | London

For Linguistics

#364 in Europe

#938 in the World

Founded: 1973

77. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Linguistics

#366 in Europe

#943 in the World

Founded: 1992

78. University of Westminster

England | London

For Linguistics

#367 in Europe

#951 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

79. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Linguistics

#393 in Europe

#1048 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

80. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Linguistics

#401 in Europe

#1082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

81. London Business School

England | London

For Linguistics

#404 in Europe

#1086 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

82. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Linguistics

#409 in Europe

#1096 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

83. University of East London

England | London

For Linguistics

#413 in Europe

#1127 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Linguistics

#419 in Europe

#1151 in the World

Founded: 1992

85. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Linguistics

#428 in Europe

#1173 in the World

Founded: 1848

86. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Linguistics

#430 in Europe

#1189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

87. London South Bank University

England | London

For Linguistics

#441 in Europe

#1212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

88. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Linguistics

#444 in Europe

#1222 in the World

Founded: 1841

89. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Linguistics

#459 in Europe

#1277 in the World

Founded: 1890

90. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Linguistics

#462 in Europe

#1282 in the World

Founded: 1858

91. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Linguistics

#464 in Europe

#1285 in the World

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

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Linguistics

#489 in Europe

#1358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Linguistics

#491 in Europe

#1375 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

94. Queen Margaret University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Linguistics

#507 in Europe

#1445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2007

95. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Linguistics

#511 in Europe

#1459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

96. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Linguistics

#518 in Europe

#1490 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

97. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Linguistics

#521 in Europe

#1496 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

98. University of West London

England | Ealing

For Linguistics

#526 in Europe

#1519 in the World

Founded: 1990

99. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Linguistics

#547 in Europe

#1606 in the World

Founded: 1992

100. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Linguistics

#554 in Europe

#1616 in the World

Founded: 2005

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.