100 Best universities for Philosophy in the United Kingdom

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 32.4M citations received by 1.39M academic papers made by 150 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

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#2 in Europe

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#3 in Europe

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#7 in Europe

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Philosophy

#9 in Europe

#44 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#16 in Europe

#72 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. King's College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#18 in Europe

#75 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Philosophy

#28 in Europe

#102 in the World

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

9. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Philosophy

#30 in Europe

#106 in the World

Founded: 1905

10. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#33 in Europe

#111 in the World

Founded: 1900

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Philosophy

#35 in Europe

#116 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Philosophy

#38 in Europe

#124 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#44 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Philosophy

#45 in Europe

#132 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

15. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Philosophy

#50 in Europe

#141 in the World

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

16. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Philosophy

#66 in Europe

#165 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

17. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Philosophy

#74 in Europe

#178 in the World

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

18. University of York

England | York

For Philosophy

#77 in Europe

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

19. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Philosophy

#78 in Europe

#190 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

20. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Philosophy

#80 in Europe

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

21. University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#84 in Europe

#205 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

22. Durham University

England | Durham

For Philosophy

#90 in Europe

#217 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

23. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#91 in Europe

#219 in the World

Founded: 1963

24. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Philosophy

#93 in Europe

#222 in the World

Founded: 1997

25. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Philosophy

#102 in Europe

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

26. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#109 in Europe

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

27. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Philosophy

#117 in Europe

#274 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

28. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Philosophy

#127 in Europe

#289 in the World

Founded: 1892

29. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Philosophy

#133 in Europe

#300 in the World

Founded: 1495

30. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Philosophy

#144 in Europe

#328 in the World

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

31. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Philosophy

#150 in Europe

#341 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

32. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Philosophy

#152 in Europe

#343 in the World

Founded: 1964

33. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Philosophy

#159 in Europe

#356 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

34. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Philosophy

#163 in Europe

#365 in the World

Founded: 1965

35. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Philosophy

#172 in Europe

#387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

36. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#174 in Europe

#390 in the World

Founded: 1823

37. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Philosophy

#191 in Europe

#426 in the World

Founded: 1893

38. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#193 in Europe

#430 in the World

Founded: 1964

39. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Philosophy

#196 in Europe

#436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

40. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Philosophy

#198 in Europe

#439 in the World

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

41. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Philosophy

#200 in Europe

#442 in the World

Founded: 1849

42. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Philosophy

#205 in Europe

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Philosophy

#220 in Europe

#482 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Philosophy

#228 in Europe

#505 in the World

Founded: 1967

45. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Philosophy

#231 in Europe

#515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

46. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Philosophy

#233 in Europe

#518 in the World

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

47. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Philosophy

#236 in Europe

#525 in the World

Founded: 1968

48. Keele University

England | Keele

For Philosophy

#252 in Europe

#565 in the World

Founded: 1962

49. City, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#254 in Europe

#567 in the World

Founded: 1966

50. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#260 in Europe

#580 in the World

Founded: 1733

51. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#262 in Europe

#584 in the World

Founded: 1904

52. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Philosophy

#268 in Europe

#602 in the World

Founded: 1954

53. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Philosophy

#273 in Europe

#612 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

54. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Philosophy

#289 in Europe

#648 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Philosophy

#293 in Europe

#662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

56. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Philosophy

#307 in Europe

#734 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

57. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#309 in Europe

#739 in the World

Founded: 1895

58. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Philosophy

#313 in Europe

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

59. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#315 in Europe

#750 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Philosophy

#321 in Europe

#759 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Philosophy

#329 in Europe

#783 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

62. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Philosophy

#333 in Europe

#795 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Philosophy

#337 in Europe

#805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

64. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Philosophy

#339 in Europe

#815 in the World

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

65. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Philosophy

#343 in Europe

#827 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

66. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#350 in Europe

#850 in the World

Founded: 1966

67. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Philosophy

#371 in Europe

#907 in the World

Founded: 1872

68. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Philosophy

#375 in Europe

#923 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Philosophy

#377 in Europe

#928 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#378 in Europe

#929 in the World

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

71. London Business School

England | London

For Philosophy

#385 in Europe

#946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

72. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Philosophy

#393 in Europe

#961 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Philosophy

#394 in Europe

#963 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

74. Middlesex University

England | London

For Philosophy

#396 in Europe

#966 in the World

Founded: 1973

75. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Philosophy

#403 in Europe

#986 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

76. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Philosophy

#414 in Europe

#1025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

77. University of Westminster

England | London

For Philosophy

#418 in Europe

#1045 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

78. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Philosophy

#427 in Europe

#1077 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Philosophy

#435 in Europe

#1103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

80. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Philosophy

#440 in Europe

#1124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

81. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Philosophy

#443 in Europe

#1133 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#445 in Europe

#1139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

83. University of East London

England | London

For Philosophy

#451 in Europe

#1161 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Philosophy

#456 in Europe

#1188 in the World

Founded: 1848

85. London South Bank University

England | London

For Philosophy

#492 in Europe

#1313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

86. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Philosophy

#496 in Europe

#1328 in the World

Founded: 1890

87. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Philosophy

#501 in Europe

#1349 in the World

Founded: 1841

88. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#508 in Europe

#1378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

89. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Philosophy

#509 in Europe

#1381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

90. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Philosophy

#517 in Europe

#1403 in the World

Founded: 1992

91. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Philosophy

#519 in Europe

#1408 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

92. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Philosophy

#534 in Europe

#1471 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Philosophy

#535 in Europe

#1478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#544 in Europe

#1512 in the World

Founded: 1858

95. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Philosophy

#563 in Europe

#1622 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

96. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Philosophy

#564 in Europe

#1623 in the World

Founded: 2005

97. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Philosophy

#572 in Europe

#1646 in the World

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

98. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Philosophy

#580 in Europe

#1680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

99. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Philosophy

#585 in Europe

#1704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

100. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#587 in Europe

#1710 in the World

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.