100 Best universities for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 45.9M citations received by 1.57M academic papers made by 151 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 Philosophy

#1 in Europe

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#2 in Europe

#9 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#3 in Europe

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#5 in Europe

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Philosophy

#10 in Europe

#48 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#21 in Europe

#80 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. King's College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#22 in Europe

#84 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Philosophy

#31 in Europe

#107 in the World

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

9. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#33 in Europe

#111 in the World

Founded: 1900

10. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Philosophy

#36 in Europe

#117 in the World

Founded: 1905

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Philosophy

#38 in Europe

#123 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Philosophy

#43 in Europe

#131 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

13. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Philosophy

#46 in Europe

#137 in the World

Founded: 1904

14. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Philosophy

#48 in Europe

#142 in the World

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

15. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#53 in Europe

#148 in the World

Founded: 1451

16. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Philosophy

#70 in Europe

#180 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

17. University of York

England | York

For Philosophy

#73 in Europe

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

18. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Philosophy

#78 in Europe

#192 in the World

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

19. University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#83 in Europe

#201 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

20. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Philosophy

#84 in Europe

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

21. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Philosophy

#89 in Europe

#210 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

22. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Philosophy

#94 in Europe

#223 in the World

Founded: 1997

23. Durham University

England | Durham

For Philosophy

#96 in Europe

#226 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

24. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#107 in Europe

#255 in the World

Founded: 1963

25. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Philosophy

#108 in Europe

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

26. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#121 in Europe

#283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

27. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Philosophy

#130 in Europe

#297 in the World

Founded: 1892

28. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Philosophy

#132 in Europe

#301 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

29. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Philosophy

#141 in Europe

#322 in the World

Founded: 1495

30. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Philosophy

#155 in Europe

#361 in the World

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

31. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Philosophy

#160 in Europe

#371 in the World

Founded: 1964

32. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Philosophy

#164 in Europe

#381 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

33. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Philosophy

#169 in Europe

#390 in the World

Founded: 1965

34. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Philosophy

#170 in Europe

#393 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

35. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#180 in Europe

#420 in the World

Founded: 1823

36. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Philosophy

#187 in Europe

#432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

37. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Philosophy

#199 in Europe

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

38. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Philosophy

#210 in Europe

#490 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

39. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Philosophy

#211 in Europe

#491 in the World

Founded: 1849

40. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#213 in Europe

#493 in the World

Founded: 1964

41. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Philosophy

#216 in Europe

#497 in the World

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

42. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Philosophy

#223 in Europe

#519 in the World

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

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Philosophy

#230 in Europe

#535 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Philosophy

#233 in Europe

#541 in the World

Founded: 1893

45. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Philosophy

#237 in Europe

#548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

46. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Philosophy

#247 in Europe

#567 in the World

Founded: 1967

47. Keele University

England | Keele

For Philosophy

#259 in Europe

#616 in the World

Founded: 1962

48. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Philosophy

#260 in Europe

#618 in the World

Founded: 1968

49. City, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#262 in Europe

#625 in the World

Founded: 1966

50. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#279 in Europe

#666 in the World

Founded: 1733

51. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Philosophy

#281 in Europe

#668 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

52. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#286 in Europe

#679 in the World

Founded: 1904

53. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Philosophy

#287 in Europe

#682 in the World

Founded: 1954

54. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Philosophy

#298 in Europe

#713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Philosophy

#304 in Europe

#747 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Philosophy

#315 in Europe

#795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

57. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#319 in Europe

#801 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Philosophy

#323 in Europe

#817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

59. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#325 in Europe

#822 in the World

Founded: 1895

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Philosophy

#329 in Europe

#832 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Philosophy

#340 in Europe

#859 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Philosophy

#343 in Europe

#866 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

63. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Philosophy

#350 in Europe

#888 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

64. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Philosophy

#351 in Europe

#892 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

65. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Philosophy

#355 in Europe

#901 in the World

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

66. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#381 in Europe

#975 in the World

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

67. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Philosophy

#383 in Europe

#977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Philosophy

#385 in Europe

#979 in the World

Founded: 1872

69. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#387 in Europe

#984 in the World

Founded: 1966

70. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Philosophy

#388 in Europe

#985 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Philosophy

#393 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Philosophy

#395 in Europe

#1009 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

73. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Philosophy

#401 in Europe

#1026 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

74. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Philosophy

#408 in Europe

#1049 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

75. University of Westminster

England | London

For Philosophy

#412 in Europe

#1068 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

76. London Business School

England | London

For Philosophy

#415 in Europe

#1073 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

77. Middlesex University

England | London

For Philosophy

#417 in Europe

#1079 in the World

Founded: 1973

78. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Philosophy

#437 in Europe

#1151 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Philosophy

#438 in Europe

#1152 in the World

Founded: 1992

80. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Philosophy

#445 in Europe

#1194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

81. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Philosophy

#458 in Europe

#1239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

82. University of East London

England | London

For Philosophy

#461 in Europe

#1247 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#463 in Europe

#1255 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

84. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Philosophy

#467 in Europe

#1269 in the World

Founded: 1848

85. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Philosophy

#493 in Europe

#1376 in the World

Founded: 1890

86. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Philosophy

#517 in Europe

#1451 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. London South Bank University

England | London

For Philosophy

#525 in Europe

#1461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

88. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#528 in Europe

#1485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

89. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Philosophy

#529 in Europe

#1487 in the World

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

90. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Philosophy

#533 in Europe

#1505 in the World

Founded: 1841

91. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Philosophy

#549 in Europe

#1565 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Philosophy

#553 in Europe

#1578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#554 in Europe

#1580 in the World

Founded: 1858

94. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Philosophy

#555 in Europe

#1581 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

95. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Philosophy

#575 in Europe

#1695 in the World

Founded: 2005

96. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Philosophy

#577 in Europe

#1702 in the World

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

97. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Philosophy

#578 in Europe

#1705 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

98. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#586 in Europe

#1756 in the World

Founded: 1992

99. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Philosophy

#587 in Europe

#1757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

100. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Philosophy

#598 in Europe

#1797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

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