92 Best universities for Public Policy / Administration 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 Public Policy / Administration. A graph of 1.56M citations received by 62.6K academic papers made by 92 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. London School of Economics and Political Science

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

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

2. University of Oxford

Oxford

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Birmingham

Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Founded: 1900

4. University of Manchester

Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in the United Kingdom

#4 in Europe

Founded: 1824

5. University College London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in the United Kingdom

#5 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

6. University of Warwick

Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in the United Kingdom

#6 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

7. King's College London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in the United Kingdom

#7 in Europe

Founded: 1829

8. University of Cambridge

Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in the United Kingdom

#10 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

9. University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in the United Kingdom

#12 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

10. University of Sheffield

Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in the United Kingdom

#16 in Europe

Founded: 1905

11. University of Bristol

Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#13 in the United Kingdom

#20 in Europe

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

12. University of Leeds

Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#14 in the United Kingdom

#21 in Europe

Founded: 1904

13. University of Sussex

Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#15 in the United Kingdom

#22 in Europe

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

14. University of Nottingham

Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#17 in the United Kingdom

#25 in Europe

Founded: 1948

15. University of York

York

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in the United Kingdom

#27 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

16. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in the United Kingdom

#31 in Europe

Founded: 1963

17. University of Southampton

Southampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#20 in the United Kingdom

#32 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

18. University of Exeter

Exeter

For Public Policy / Administration

#21 in the United Kingdom

#34 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

19. Durham University

Durham

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in the United Kingdom

#36 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

20. University of Essex

Colchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in the United Kingdom

#37 in Europe

Founded: 1964

21. University of Liverpool

Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#25 in the United Kingdom

#38 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

22. University of East Anglia

Norwich

For Public Policy / Administration

#26 in the United Kingdom

#44 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

23. University of Kent

Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#27 in the United Kingdom

#47 in Europe

Founded: 1965

24. Queen Mary University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#28 in the United Kingdom

#48 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

25. Loughborough University

Loughborough

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in the United Kingdom

#51 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

26. Lancaster University

Lancaster

For Public Policy / Administration

#31 in the United Kingdom

#52 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

27. University of Bath

Bath

For Public Policy / Administration

#32 in the United Kingdom

#60 in Europe

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

28. University of Leicester

Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in the United Kingdom

#62 in Europe

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

29. Brunel University London

Uxbridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in the United Kingdom

#69 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

30. De Montfort University

Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in the United Kingdom

#74 in Europe

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

31. Imperial College London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#38 in the United Kingdom

#75 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

32. University of the West of England

Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#41 in the United Kingdom

#83 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

33. Keele University

Keele

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in the United Kingdom

#84 in Europe

Founded: 1962

34. University of Reading

Reading

For Public Policy / Administration

#44 in the United Kingdom

#88 in Europe

Founded: 1892

35. University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#45 in the United Kingdom

#89 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

36. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in the United Kingdom

#93 in Europe

Founded: 1992

37. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Public Policy / Administration

#47 in the United Kingdom

#96 in Europe

Founded: 1954

38. University of Surrey

Guildford

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in the United Kingdom

#99 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

39. Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#49 in the United Kingdom

#102 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

40. Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham

For Public Policy / Administration

#50 in the United Kingdom

#103 in Europe

Founded: 1849

41. University of Westminster

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#51 in the United Kingdom

#110 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

42. Aston University

Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#52 in the United Kingdom

#111 in Europe

Founded: 1895

43. University of Bradford

Bradford

For Public Policy / Administration

#53 in the United Kingdom

#113 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

44. University of Plymouth

Plymouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#54 in the United Kingdom

#114 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

45. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#55 in the United Kingdom

#117 in Europe

Founded: 1992

46. SOAS, University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#56 in the United Kingdom

#119 in Europe

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

47. Birkbeck, University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#57 in the United Kingdom

#123 in Europe

Founded: 1823

48. University of Salford

Salford

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in the United Kingdom

#133 in Europe

Founded: 1967

49. City, University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#63 in the United Kingdom

#139 in Europe

Founded: 1966

50. Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#64 in the United Kingdom

#141 in Europe

Founded: 1992

51. University of Greenwich

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#66 in the United Kingdom

#148 in Europe

Founded: 1890

52. London South Bank University

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#67 in the United Kingdom

#153 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

53. Oxford Brookes University

Oxford

For Public Policy / Administration

#68 in the United Kingdom

#154 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

54. Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#69 in the United Kingdom

#155 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

55. Goldsmiths, University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#70 in the United Kingdom

#159 in Europe

Founded: 1904

56. Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#71 in the United Kingdom

#160 in Europe

Founded: 1992

57. University of Huddersfield

Huddersfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#72 in the United Kingdom

#165 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

58. Coventry University

Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#73 in the United Kingdom

#167 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

59. St George's, University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#74 in the United Kingdom

#169 in Europe

Founded: 1733

60. University of Brighton

Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#75 in the United Kingdom

#172 in Europe

Founded: 1992

61. University of Lincoln

Lincoln

For Public Policy / Administration

#76 in the United Kingdom

#177 in Europe

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

62. Cranfield University

Cranfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#77 in the United Kingdom

#183 in Europe

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

63. London Metropolitan University

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#78 in the United Kingdom

#187 in Europe

Founded: 1848

64. Middlesex University

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#79 in the United Kingdom

#197 in Europe

Founded: 1973

65. London Business School

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#80 in the United Kingdom

#203 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

66. Birmingham City University

Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#81 in the United Kingdom

#210 in Europe

Founded: 1992

67. University of East London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#82 in the United Kingdom

#215 in Europe

Founded: 1992

68. University of Hertfordshire

Hatfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#83 in the United Kingdom

#220 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

69. Teesside University

Middlesbrough

For Public Policy / Administration

#85 in the United Kingdom

#238 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

70. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Public Policy / Administration

#86 in the United Kingdom

#239 in Europe

Founded: 1992

71. University of Roehampton

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#88 in the United Kingdom

#244 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

72. University of Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#89 in the United Kingdom

#247 in Europe

Founded: 1992

73. Bournemouth University

Poole

For Public Policy / Administration

#90 in the United Kingdom

#249 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

74. University of Central Lancashire

Preston

For Public Policy / Administration

#91 in the United Kingdom

#250 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

75. Staffordshire University

Stoke-on-Trent

For Public Policy / Administration

#94 in the United Kingdom

#264 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

76. Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#96 in the United Kingdom

#276 in Europe

Founded: 2005

77. Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#97 in the United Kingdom

#285 in Europe

Founded: 1858

78. Edge Hill University

Ormskirk

For Public Policy / Administration

#98 in the United Kingdom

#287 in Europe

Founded: 2006

79. University of Chester

Chester

For Public Policy / Administration

#99 in the United Kingdom

#329 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

80. University of Bedfordshire

Luton

For Public Policy / Administration

#100 in the United Kingdom

#330 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

81. Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#101 in the United Kingdom

#368 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

82. University of Gloucestershire

Cheltenham

For Public Policy / Administration

#102 in the United Kingdom

#384 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

83. University of Derby

Derby

For Public Policy / Administration

#103 in the United Kingdom

#390 in Europe

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

84. University of Northampton

Northampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#105 in the United Kingdom

#407 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

85. University of Sunderland

Sunderland

For Public Policy / Administration

#107 in the United Kingdom

#412 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

86. University of Buckingham

Buckingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#108 in the United Kingdom

#448 in Europe

Founded: 1973

87. University of West London

Ealing

For Public Policy / Administration

#109 in the United Kingdom

#450 in Europe

Founded: 1990

88. University of Worcester

Worcester

For Public Policy / Administration

#110 in the United Kingdom

#465 in Europe

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

89. University of Winchester

Winchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#111 in the United Kingdom

#503 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

90. School of Advanced Study, University of London

London

For Public Policy / Administration

#112 in the United Kingdom

#508 in Europe

Founded: 1994

91. York St John University

York

For Public Policy / Administration

#113 in the United Kingdom

#514 in Europe

Founded: 1841

92. Bath Spa University

Bath

For Public Policy / Administration

#114 in the United Kingdom

#521 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

Closest to England states to learn Public Policy / Administration

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	7	9
Scotland	13	8

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

Radio and Television broadcasting60

Social Work84

Sociology119

Special Education81

Sports / Exercise science79

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies110

Urban and Regional planning72