100 Best universities for Philosophy in England

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in England ranked based on their research performance in Philosophy. A graph of 27.2M citations received by 1.15M academic papers made by 119 universities in England 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

For Philosophy

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

For Philosophy

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

For Philosophy

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Manchester

For Philosophy

#5 in the United Kingdom

#9 in Europe

Founded: 1824

5. Imperial College London

For Philosophy

#6 in the United Kingdom

#16 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

6. King's College London

For Philosophy

#7 in the United Kingdom

#18 in Europe

Founded: 1829

7. University of Bristol

For Philosophy

#8 in the United Kingdom

#28 in Europe

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

8. University of Sheffield

For Philosophy

#9 in the United Kingdom

#30 in Europe

Founded: 1905

9. University of Birmingham

For Philosophy

#10 in the United Kingdom

#33 in Europe

Founded: 1900

10. University of Nottingham

For Philosophy

#11 in the United Kingdom

#35 in Europe

Founded: 1948

11. University of Leeds

For Philosophy

#12 in the United Kingdom

#38 in Europe

Founded: 1904

12. University of Warwick

For Philosophy

#14 in the United Kingdom

#45 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

13. London School of Economics and Political Science

For Philosophy

#15 in the United Kingdom

#50 in Europe

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

14. University of Southampton

For Philosophy

#16 in the United Kingdom

#66 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

15. University of Sussex

For Philosophy

#17 in the United Kingdom

#74 in Europe

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

16. University of York

For Philosophy

#18 in the United Kingdom

#77 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

17. University of Liverpool

For Philosophy

#19 in the United Kingdom

#78 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

18. Lancaster University

For Philosophy

#20 in the United Kingdom

#80 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

19. University of London

For Philosophy

#21 in the United Kingdom

#84 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

20. Durham University

For Philosophy

#22 in the United Kingdom

#90 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

21. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#23 in the United Kingdom

#91 in Europe

Founded: 1963

22. University of Exeter

For Philosophy

#25 in the United Kingdom

#102 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

23. Queen Mary University of London

For Philosophy

#26 in the United Kingdom

#109 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

24. University of Reading

For Philosophy

#28 in the United Kingdom

#127 in Europe

Founded: 1892

25. University of Leicester

For Philosophy

#30 in the United Kingdom

#144 in Europe

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

26. University of Surrey

For Philosophy

#31 in the United Kingdom

#150 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

27. University of Essex

For Philosophy

#32 in the United Kingdom

#152 in Europe

Founded: 1964

28. Loughborough University

For Philosophy

#33 in the United Kingdom

#159 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

29. University of Kent

For Philosophy

#34 in the United Kingdom

#163 in Europe

Founded: 1965

30. University of East Anglia

For Philosophy

#35 in the United Kingdom

#172 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

31. Birkbeck, University of London

For Philosophy

#36 in the United Kingdom

#174 in Europe

Founded: 1823

32. University of Bath

For Philosophy

#40 in the United Kingdom

#198 in Europe

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

33. Royal Holloway, University of London

For Philosophy

#41 in the United Kingdom

#200 in Europe

Founded: 1849

34. University of the West of England

For Philosophy

#42 in the United Kingdom

#205 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

35. Brunel University London

For Philosophy

#45 in the United Kingdom

#231 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

36. Keele University

For Philosophy

#48 in the United Kingdom

#252 in Europe

Founded: 1962

37. City, University of London

For Philosophy

#49 in the United Kingdom

#254 in Europe

Founded: 1966

38. St George's, University of London

For Philosophy

#50 in the United Kingdom

#260 in Europe

Founded: 1733

39. Goldsmiths, University of London

For Philosophy

#51 in the United Kingdom

#262 in Europe

Founded: 1904

40. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Philosophy

#52 in the United Kingdom

#268 in Europe

Founded: 1954

41. Manchester Metropolitan University

For Philosophy

#54 in the United Kingdom

#289 in Europe

Founded: 1992

42. University of Plymouth

For Philosophy

#55 in the United Kingdom

#293 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

43. Nottingham Trent University

For Philosophy

#56 in the United Kingdom

#307 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

44. Aston University

For Philosophy

#57 in the United Kingdom

#309 in Europe

Founded: 1895

45. University of Portsmouth

For Philosophy

#58 in the United Kingdom

#313 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

46. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#59 in the United Kingdom

#315 in Europe

Founded: 1992

47. University of Salford

For Philosophy

#60 in the United Kingdom

#321 in Europe

Founded: 1967

48. University of Bradford

For Philosophy

#61 in the United Kingdom

#329 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

49. De Montfort University

For Philosophy

#62 in the United Kingdom

#333 in Europe

Founded: 1992

50. University of Hertfordshire

For Philosophy

#63 in the United Kingdom

#337 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

51. Cranfield University

For Philosophy

#64 in the United Kingdom

#339 in Europe

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

52. Oxford Brookes University

For Philosophy

#65 in the United Kingdom

#343 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

53. Liverpool John Moores University

For Philosophy

#68 in the United Kingdom

#375 in Europe

Founded: 1992

54. Sheffield Hallam University

For Philosophy

#69 in the United Kingdom

#377 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

55. SOAS, University of London

For Philosophy

#70 in the United Kingdom

#378 in Europe

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

56. London Business School

For Philosophy

#71 in the United Kingdom

#385 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

57. University of Brighton

For Philosophy

#72 in the United Kingdom

#393 in Europe

Founded: 1992

58. Coventry University

For Philosophy

#73 in the United Kingdom

#394 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

59. Middlesex University

For Philosophy

#74 in the United Kingdom

#396 in Europe

Founded: 1973

60. Bournemouth University

For Philosophy

#75 in the United Kingdom

#403 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

61. University of Huddersfield

For Philosophy

#76 in the United Kingdom

#414 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Westminster

For Philosophy

#77 in the United Kingdom

#418 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

63. University of Wolverhampton

For Philosophy

#78 in the United Kingdom

#427 in Europe

Founded: 1992

64. University of Central Lancashire

For Philosophy

#79 in the United Kingdom

#435 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

65. University of Roehampton

For Philosophy

#80 in the United Kingdom

#440 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

66. Leeds Beckett University

For Philosophy

#81 in the United Kingdom

#443 in Europe

Founded: 1992

67. University of East London

For Philosophy

#83 in the United Kingdom

#451 in Europe

Founded: 1992

68. London Metropolitan University

For Philosophy

#84 in the United Kingdom

#456 in Europe

Founded: 1848

69. London South Bank University

For Philosophy

#85 in the United Kingdom

#492 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

70. University of Greenwich

For Philosophy

#86 in the United Kingdom

#496 in Europe

Founded: 1890

71. University of Lincoln

For Philosophy

#89 in the United Kingdom

#509 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

72. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Philosophy

#90 in the United Kingdom

#517 in Europe

Founded: 1992

73. Teesside University

For Philosophy

#91 in the United Kingdom

#519 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

74. Staffordshire University

For Philosophy

#93 in the United Kingdom

#535 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

75. Anglia Ruskin University

For Philosophy

#94 in the United Kingdom

#544 in Europe

Founded: 1858

76. University of Sunderland

For Philosophy

#95 in the United Kingdom

#563 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

77. Canterbury Christ Church University

For Philosophy

#96 in the United Kingdom

#564 in Europe

Founded: 2005

78. University of Derby

For Philosophy

#97 in the United Kingdom

#572 in Europe

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

79. University of Bedfordshire

For Philosophy

#98 in the United Kingdom

#580 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

80. Birmingham City University

For Philosophy

#100 in the United Kingdom

#587 in Europe

Founded: 1992

81. Edge Hill University

For Philosophy

#101 in the United Kingdom

#598 in Europe

Founded: 2006

82. University of Chester

For Philosophy

#103 in the United Kingdom

#623 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

83. University of Worcester

For Philosophy

#105 in the United Kingdom

#637 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Enrollment: 10,798
Founded: 2005

84. University of West London

For Philosophy

#106 in the United Kingdom

#640 in Europe

Founded: 1990

85. University of Northampton

For Philosophy

#107 in the United Kingdom

#653 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

86. University of Gloucestershire

For Philosophy

#108 in the United Kingdom

#673 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

87. University of Winchester

For Philosophy

#110 in the United Kingdom

#679 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

88. Liverpool Hope University

For Philosophy

#111 in the United Kingdom

#698 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

89. Royal Veterinary College University of London

For Philosophy

#112 in the United Kingdom

#742 in Europe

Founded: 1791

90. York St John University

For Philosophy

#113 in the United Kingdom

#750 in Europe

Founded: 1841

91. University of Bolton

For Philosophy

#114 in the United Kingdom

#751 in Europe

Founded: 2004

92. University of the Arts London

For Philosophy

#115 in the United Kingdom

#763 in Europe

Founded: 1986

93. Bath Spa University

For Philosophy

#116 in the United Kingdom

#781 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

94. Royal Agricultural University

For Philosophy

#118 in the United Kingdom

#843 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 1,100
Founded: 2013

95. Buckinghamshire New University

For Philosophy

#119 in the United Kingdom

#848 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2007

96. School of Advanced Study, University of London

For Philosophy

#120 in the United Kingdom

#851 in Europe

Founded: 1994

97. Heythrop College

For Philosophy

#121 in the United Kingdom

#864 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1614

98. University of Buckingham

For Philosophy

#122 in the United Kingdom

#866 in Europe

Founded: 1973

99. Royal College of Art

For Philosophy

#123 in the United Kingdom

#868 in Europe

Founded: 1896

100. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

For Philosophy

#124 in the United Kingdom

#870 in Europe

Founded: 1932

Closest to England states to learn Philosophy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	10	24
Scotland	18	4

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in England

Anthropology108

Broadcast Journalism70

Classics and Ancient History99

Communications and Public Relations106

Criminology and Criminal Justice90

Early Childhood Education74

Education Majors108

Forensic Science64

Gender Studies103

Human Rights Law77

Intellectual Property and Patent Law60

International Law70

International Relations and Diplomacy69

Journalism and Digital Media84

Law Enforcement84

Library and Information science103

Media Studies99

Military science78

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution82

Occupational Safety and Health62

Political Economy88

Political Science118

Public Policy / Administration92

Radio and Television broadcasting64

Special Education81

Sports / Exercise science67

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies108

Urban and Regional planning71