100 Best universities for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 49.3M citations received by 1.61M 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

#8 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

#6 in Europe

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Philosophy

#12 in Europe

#50 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#22 in Europe

#79 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. King's College London

England | London

For Philosophy

#23 in Europe

#82 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Philosophy

#30 in Europe

#104 in the World

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

9. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#32 in Europe

#109 in the World

Founded: 1900

10. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Philosophy

#34 in Europe

#115 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

#130 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

13. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Philosophy

#45 in Europe

#133 in the World

Founded: 1904

14. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Philosophy

#49 in Europe

#140 in the World

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

15. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#53 in Europe

#147 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

#74 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. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Philosophy

#84 in Europe

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

20. University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#85 in Europe

#202 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

21. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Philosophy

#88 in Europe

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

22. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Philosophy

#92 in Europe

#218 in the World

Founded: 1997

23. Durham University

England | Durham

For Philosophy

#96 in Europe

#222 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

24. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Philosophy

#106 in Europe

#249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

25. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#108 in Europe

#253 in the World

Founded: 1963

26. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#122 in Europe

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

27. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Philosophy

#131 in Europe

#301 in the World

Founded: 1892

28. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Philosophy

#133 in Europe

#304 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

29. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Philosophy

#141 in Europe

#319 in the World

Founded: 1495

30. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Philosophy

#156 in Europe

#360 in the World

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

31. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Philosophy

#159 in Europe

#369 in the World

Founded: 1964

32. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Philosophy

#167 in Europe

#384 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

33. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Philosophy

#170 in Europe

#389 in the World

Founded: 1965

34. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Philosophy

#171 in Europe

#391 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

35. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#181 in Europe

#421 in the World

Founded: 1823

36. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Philosophy

#186 in Europe

#431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

37. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Philosophy

#196 in Europe

#456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

38. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Philosophy

#203 in Europe

#471 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

39. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Philosophy

#209 in Europe

#486 in the World

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

40. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Philosophy

#210 in Europe

#487 in the World

Founded: 1849

41. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#216 in Europe

#499 in the World

Founded: 1964

42. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Philosophy

#225 in Europe

#523 in the World

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

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Philosophy

#226 in Europe

#528 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Philosophy

#239 in Europe

#553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

45. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Philosophy

#245 in Europe

#565 in the World

Founded: 1893

46. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Philosophy

#250 in Europe

#576 in the World

Founded: 1967

47. Keele University

England | Keele

For Philosophy

#260 in Europe

#609 in the World

Founded: 1962

48. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Philosophy

#264 in Europe

#627 in the World

Founded: 1968

49. City, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#266 in Europe

#630 in the World

Founded: 1966

50. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#276 in Europe

#652 in the World

Founded: 1733

51. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Philosophy

#280 in Europe

#661 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

52. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#286 in Europe

#680 in the World

Founded: 1904

53. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Philosophy

#289 in Europe

#690 in the World

Founded: 1954

54. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Philosophy

#296 in Europe

#707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Philosophy

#304 in Europe

#738 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Philosophy

#312 in Europe

#775 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

57. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Philosophy

#315 in Europe

#783 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Philosophy

#321 in Europe

#801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

59. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#325 in Europe

#823 in the World

Founded: 1895

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Philosophy

#330 in Europe

#836 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Philosophy

#340 in Europe

#858 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Philosophy

#345 in Europe

#874 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

63. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Philosophy

#350 in Europe

#892 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

64. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Philosophy

#351 in Europe

#896 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

65. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Philosophy

#352 in Europe

#899 in the World

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

66. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Philosophy

#379 in Europe

#965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

67. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Philosophy

#380 in Europe

#970 in the World

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

68. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Philosophy

#382 in Europe

#975 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#389 in Europe

#994 in the World

Founded: 1966

70. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Philosophy

#390 in Europe

#997 in the World

Founded: 1872

71. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Philosophy

#391 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

72. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Philosophy

#392 in Europe

#1004 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Philosophy

#394 in Europe

#1013 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

74. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Philosophy

#403 in Europe

#1036 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

75. University of Westminster

England | London

For Philosophy

#408 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

76. London Business School

England | London

For Philosophy

#416 in Europe

#1076 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

77. Middlesex University

England | London

For Philosophy

#417 in Europe

#1081 in the World

Founded: 1973

78. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Philosophy

#433 in Europe

#1139 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Philosophy

#438 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Founded: 1992

80. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Philosophy

#440 in Europe

#1168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

81. University of East London

England | London

For Philosophy

#457 in Europe

#1234 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Philosophy

#463 in Europe

#1248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

83. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Philosophy

#464 in Europe

#1249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

84. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Philosophy

#470 in Europe

#1293 in the World

Founded: 1848

85. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Philosophy

#493 in Europe

#1379 in the World

Founded: 1890

86. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Philosophy

#516 in Europe

#1451 in the World

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

87. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Philosophy

#517 in Europe

#1453 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. London South Bank University

England | London

For Philosophy

#521 in Europe

#1459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

89. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Philosophy

#523 in Europe

#1462 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

90. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Philosophy

#533 in Europe

#1504 in the World

Founded: 1841

91. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Philosophy

#537 in Europe

#1520 in the World

Founded: 1858

92. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Philosophy

#544 in Europe

#1550 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Philosophy

#554 in Europe

#1583 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Philosophy

#555 in Europe

#1584 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

95. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Philosophy

#573 in Europe

#1682 in the World

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

96. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Philosophy

#575 in Europe

#1694 in the World

Founded: 2005

97. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Philosophy

#582 in Europe

#1736 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

98. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Philosophy

#583 in Europe

#1742 in the World

Founded: 1992

99. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Philosophy

#588 in Europe

#1774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

100. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Philosophy

#597 in Europe

#1799 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.