100 Best universities for Political Science in England

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in England ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 47.9M citations received by 1.57M 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

Oxford

For Political Science

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

London

For Political Science

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

Cambridge

For Political Science

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. London School of Economics and Political Science

London

For Political Science

#4 in the United Kingdom

#4 in Europe

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

5. University of Manchester

Manchester

For Political Science

#5 in the United Kingdom

#5 in Europe

Founded: 1824

6. King's College London

London

For Political Science

#6 in the United Kingdom

#8 in Europe

Founded: 1829

7. University of Birmingham

Birmingham

For Political Science

#8 in the United Kingdom

#13 in Europe

Founded: 1900

8. University of Bristol

Bristol

For Political Science

#9 in the United Kingdom

#14 in Europe

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

9. University of Nottingham

Nottingham

For Political Science

#10 in the United Kingdom

#15 in Europe

Founded: 1948

10. University of Warwick

Coventry

For Political Science

#11 in the United Kingdom

#17 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

11. University of Sheffield

Sheffield

For Political Science

#12 in the United Kingdom

#18 in Europe

Founded: 1905

12. University of Leeds

Leeds

For Political Science

#13 in the United Kingdom

#20 in Europe

Founded: 1904

13. Imperial College London

London

For Political Science

#14 in the United Kingdom

#21 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

14. University of York

York

For Political Science

#16 in the United Kingdom

#24 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

15. University of London

London

For Political Science

#17 in the United Kingdom

#26 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

16. University of Southampton

Southampton

For Political Science

#18 in the United Kingdom

#28 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

17. University of Sussex

Brighton

For Political Science

#19 in the United Kingdom

#31 in Europe

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

18. University of Liverpool

Liverpool

For Political Science

#21 in the United Kingdom

#42 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

19. Lancaster University

Lancaster

For Political Science

#22 in the United Kingdom

#44 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

20. University of Exeter

Exeter

For Political Science

#23 in the United Kingdom

#48 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

21. Durham University

Durham

For Political Science

#24 in the United Kingdom

#49 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

22. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Political Science

#25 in the United Kingdom

#52 in Europe

Founded: 1963

23. University of Leicester

Leicester

For Political Science

#26 in the United Kingdom

#63 in Europe

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

24. University of East Anglia

Norwich

For Political Science

#27 in the United Kingdom

#66 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

25. Queen Mary University of London

London

For Political Science

#28 in the United Kingdom

#69 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

26. Loughborough University

Loughborough

For Political Science

#29 in the United Kingdom

#76 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

27. University of Reading

Reading

For Political Science

#30 in the United Kingdom

#77 in Europe

Founded: 1892

28. University of Kent

Canterbury

For Political Science

#32 in the United Kingdom

#83 in Europe

Founded: 1965

29. University of Essex

Colchester

For Political Science

#33 in the United Kingdom

#85 in Europe

Founded: 1964

30. University of Surrey

Guildford

For Political Science

#35 in the United Kingdom

#105 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

31. University of Bath

Bath

For Political Science

#36 in the United Kingdom

#107 in Europe

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

32. Brunel University London

Uxbridge

For Political Science

#40 in the United Kingdom

#137 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

33. Keele University

Keele

For Political Science

#41 in the United Kingdom

#140 in Europe

Founded: 1962

34. City, University of London

London

For Political Science

#42 in the United Kingdom

#153 in Europe

Founded: 1966

35. Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham

For Political Science

#46 in the United Kingdom

#164 in Europe

Founded: 1849

36. Birkbeck, University of London

London

For Political Science

#48 in the United Kingdom

#172 in Europe

Founded: 1823

37. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Political Science

#49 in the United Kingdom

#180 in Europe

Founded: 1954

38. University of Plymouth

Plymouth

For Political Science

#50 in the United Kingdom

#188 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

39. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Political Science

#51 in the United Kingdom

#193 in Europe

Founded: 1992

40. London Business School

London

For Political Science

#52 in the United Kingdom

#199 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

41. Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester

For Political Science

#53 in the United Kingdom

#202 in Europe

Founded: 1992

42. University of the West of England

Bristol

For Political Science

#54 in the United Kingdom

#204 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

43. University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth

For Political Science

#55 in the United Kingdom

#208 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

44. Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham

For Political Science

#56 in the United Kingdom

#216 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

45. Cranfield University

Cranfield

For Political Science

#57 in the United Kingdom

#217 in Europe

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

46. SOAS, University of London

London

For Political Science

#58 in the United Kingdom

#219 in Europe

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

47. Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield

For Political Science

#59 in the United Kingdom

#228 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

48. University of Salford

Salford

For Political Science

#60 in the United Kingdom

#230 in Europe

Founded: 1967

49. University of Bradford

Bradford

For Political Science

#61 in the United Kingdom

#231 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

50. University of Westminster

London

For Political Science

#62 in the United Kingdom

#236 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

51. Aston University

Birmingham

For Political Science

#63 in the United Kingdom

#239 in Europe

Founded: 1895

52. Oxford Brookes University

Oxford

For Political Science

#64 in the United Kingdom

#240 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

53. De Montfort University

Leicester

For Political Science

#65 in the United Kingdom

#242 in Europe

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

54. Goldsmiths, University of London

London

For Political Science

#66 in the United Kingdom

#243 in Europe

Founded: 1904

55. Coventry University

Coventry

For Political Science

#68 in the United Kingdom

#257 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

56. Bournemouth University

Poole

For Political Science

#69 in the United Kingdom

#259 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

57. Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool

For Political Science

#70 in the United Kingdom

#269 in Europe

Founded: 1992

58. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds

For Political Science

#71 in the United Kingdom

#276 in Europe

Founded: 1992

59. St George's, University of London

London

For Political Science

#72 in the United Kingdom

#279 in Europe

Founded: 1733

60. University of Huddersfield

Huddersfield

For Political Science

#73 in the United Kingdom

#280 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

61. University of Hertfordshire

Hatfield

For Political Science

#74 in the United Kingdom

#284 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Central Lancashire

Preston

For Political Science

#75 in the United Kingdom

#292 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

63. University of Brighton

Brighton

For Political Science

#76 in the United Kingdom

#297 in Europe

Founded: 1992

64. Middlesex University

London

For Political Science

#77 in the United Kingdom

#300 in Europe

Founded: 1973

65. University of Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton

For Political Science

#78 in the United Kingdom

#321 in Europe

Founded: 1992

66. University of Greenwich

London

For Political Science

#81 in the United Kingdom

#333 in Europe

Founded: 1890

67. London South Bank University

London

For Political Science

#82 in the United Kingdom

#339 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

68. London Metropolitan University

London

For Political Science

#83 in the United Kingdom

#347 in Europe

Founded: 1848

69. University of East London

London

For Political Science

#85 in the United Kingdom

#354 in Europe

Founded: 1992

70. University of Lincoln

Lincoln

For Political Science

#86 in the United Kingdom

#372 in Europe

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

71. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Political Science

#89 in the United Kingdom

#390 in Europe

Founded: 1992

72. Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge

For Political Science

#90 in the United Kingdom

#396 in Europe

Founded: 1858

73. Teesside University

Middlesbrough

For Political Science

#91 in the United Kingdom

#409 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

74. Staffordshire University

Stoke-on-Trent

For Political Science

#92 in the United Kingdom

#434 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

75. Birmingham City University

Birmingham

For Political Science

#93 in the United Kingdom

#442 in Europe

Founded: 1992

76. University of Roehampton

London

For Political Science

#95 in the United Kingdom

#444 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

77. University of Bedfordshire

Luton

For Political Science

#96 in the United Kingdom

#452 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

78. University of Derby

Derby

For Political Science

#97 in the United Kingdom

#454 in Europe

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

79. Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury

For Political Science

#99 in the United Kingdom

#468 in Europe

Founded: 2005

80. University of Sunderland

Sunderland

For Political Science

#100 in the United Kingdom

#507 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

81. Edge Hill University

Ormskirk

For Political Science

#101 in the United Kingdom

#511 in Europe

Founded: 2006

82. University of Chester

Chester

For Political Science

#103 in the United Kingdom

#548 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

83. University of Gloucestershire

Cheltenham

For Political Science

#104 in the United Kingdom

#556 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

84. University of Northampton

Northampton

For Political Science

#105 in the United Kingdom

#565 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

85. University of Winchester

Winchester

For Political Science

#107 in the United Kingdom

#570 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

86. University of West London

Ealing

For Political Science

#108 in the United Kingdom

#572 in Europe

Founded: 1990

87. University of Worcester

Worcester

For Political Science

#109 in the United Kingdom

#597 in Europe

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

88. Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool

For Political Science

#110 in the United Kingdom

#612 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

89. York St John University

York

For Political Science

#111 in the United Kingdom

#673 in Europe

Founded: 1841

90. Bath Spa University

Bath

For Political Science

#113 in the United Kingdom

#702 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

91. Royal Veterinary College University of London

London

For Political Science

#114 in the United Kingdom

#711 in Europe

Founded: 1791

92. University of Buckingham

Buckingham

For Political Science

#115 in the United Kingdom

#713 in Europe

Founded: 1973

93. University of Bolton

Bolton

For Political Science

#116 in the United Kingdom

#732 in Europe

Founded: 2004

94. University of the Arts London

London

For Political Science

#118 in the United Kingdom

#768 in Europe

Founded: 1986

95. Buckinghamshire New University

High Wycombe

For Political Science

#119 in the United Kingdom

#779 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2007

96. University of Cumbria

Carlisle

For Political Science

#120 in the United Kingdom

#816 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 2007

97. Royal College of Art

London

For Political Science

#121 in the United Kingdom

#831 in Europe

Founded: 1896

98. Regent's University London

London

For Political Science

#122 in the United Kingdom

#851 in Europe

Enrollment: 4,000
Founded: 1984

99. School of Advanced Study, University of London

London

For Political Science

#123 in the United Kingdom

#855 in Europe

Founded: 1994

100. University of Chichester

Chichester

For Political Science

#124 in the United Kingdom

#856 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

Closest to England states to learn Political Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	10	20
Scotland	18	7

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in England

Broadcast Journalism69

Classics and Ancient History101

Communications and Public Relations106

Criminology and Criminal Justice92

Demography104

Early Childhood Education71

Intellectual Property and Patent Law56

International Law68

International Relations and Diplomacy69

Journalism and Digital Media86

Law119

Law Enforcement84

Library and Information science104

Linguistics116

Media Studies104

Military science76

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution81

Occupational Safety and Health62

Philosophy120

Political Economy89

Public Policy / Administration92

Publishing86

Radio and Television broadcasting60

Social Work84

Sociology119

Special Education81

Sports / Exercise science79

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies110

Urban and Regional planning72