100 Best universities for Public Policy / Administration 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 Public Policy / Administration. A graph of 1.21M citations received by 67.1K academic papers made by 114 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. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in Europe

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Europe

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in Europe

#9 in the World

Founded: 1824

4. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in Europe

#10 in the World

Founded: 1900

5. University College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in Europe

#12 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

6. King's College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in Europe

#22 in the World

Founded: 1829

7. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in Europe

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

8. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in Europe

#30 in the World

Founded: 1451

9. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#9 in Europe

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

10. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in Europe

#37 in the World

Founded: 1997

11. University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in Europe

#40 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

12. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in Europe

#43 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

13. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#14 in Europe

#51 in the World

Founded: 1905

14. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#16 in Europe

#53 in the World

Founded: 1904

15. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in Europe

#64 in the World

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

16. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#22 in Europe

#75 in the World

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

17. University of York

England | York

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in Europe

#81 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

18. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in Europe

#82 in the World

Founded: 1948

19. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#29 in Europe

#97 in the World

Founded: 1964

20. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in Europe

#98 in the World

Founded: 1963

21. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in Europe

#104 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

22. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Public Policy / Administration

#34 in Europe

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

23. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in Europe

#109 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

24. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Public Policy / Administration

#36 in Europe

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

25. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in Europe

#114 in the World

Founded: 1964

26. Durham University

England | Durham

For Public Policy / Administration

#38 in Europe

#116 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

27. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1965

28. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Public Policy / Administration

#43 in Europe

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

29. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Public Policy / Administration

#45 in Europe

#134 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

30. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in Europe

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

31. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Public Policy / Administration

#47 in Europe

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

32. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in Europe

#148 in the World

Founded: 1893

33. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Public Policy / Administration

#52 in Europe

#155 in the World

Founded: 1968

34. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#53 in Europe

#157 in the World

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

35. Imperial College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in Europe

#172 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

36. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Public Policy / Administration

#63 in Europe

#174 in the World

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

37. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#66 in Europe

#178 in the World

Founded: 1992

38. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Public Policy / Administration

#67 in Europe

#180 in the World

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

39. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#73 in Europe

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

40. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#74 in Europe

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

41. Keele University

England | Keele

For Public Policy / Administration

#75 in Europe

#208 in the World

Founded: 1962

42. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Public Policy / Administration

#76 in Europe

#214 in the World

Founded: 1495

43. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Public Policy / Administration

#78 in Europe

#218 in the World

Founded: 1954

44. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Public Policy / Administration

#81 in Europe

#224 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

45. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Public Policy / Administration

#83 in Europe

#234 in the World

Founded: 1892

46. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Public Policy / Administration

#88 in Europe

#245 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

47. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#89 in Europe

#251 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

48. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#90 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1992

49. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#94 in Europe

#261 in the World

Founded: 1895

50. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Public Policy / Administration

#96 in Europe

#265 in the World

Founded: 1849

51. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Public Policy / Administration

#98 in Europe

#269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

52. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#99 in Europe

#275 in the World

Founded: 1992

53. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#103 in Europe

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

54. University of Westminster

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#104 in Europe

#285 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

55. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#108 in Europe

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

56. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#113 in Europe

#317 in the World

Founded: 1823

57. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Public Policy / Administration

#116 in Europe

#326 in the World

Founded: 1841

58. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Public Policy / Administration

#118 in Europe

#331 in the World

Founded: 1920

59. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#121 in Europe

#343 in the World

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

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Public Policy / Administration

#123 in Europe

#345 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Public Policy / Administration

#124 in Europe

#346 in the World

Founded: 1967

62. City, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#129 in Europe

#363 in the World

Founded: 1966

63. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#131 in Europe

#365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

64. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#138 in Europe

#395 in the World

Founded: 1904

65. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#140 in Europe

#399 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#144 in Europe

#408 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

67. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#145 in Europe

#410 in the World

Founded: 1992

68. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#147 in Europe

#413 in the World

Founded: 1890

69. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#149 in Europe

#420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Public Policy / Administration

#150 in Europe

#421 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

71. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Public Policy / Administration

#151 in Europe

#423 in the World

Founded: 1872

72. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#152 in Europe

#430 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. London South Bank University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#153 in Europe

#432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

74. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#154 in Europe

#433 in the World

Founded: 1848

75. Middlesex University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#157 in Europe

#441 in the World

Founded: 1973

76. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#161 in Europe

#448 in the World

Founded: 1733

77. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#163 in Europe

#450 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

78. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Public Policy / Administration

#168 in Europe

#465 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

79. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#176 in Europe

#477 in the World

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

80. London Business School

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#184 in Europe

#492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

81. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#191 in Europe

#512 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of East London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#198 in Europe

#527 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#201 in Europe

#537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

84. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#210 in Europe

#554 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

85. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#212 in Europe

#561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

86. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#216 in Europe

#567 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Public Policy / Administration

#219 in Europe

#573 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

88. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Public Policy / Administration

#220 in Europe

#577 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#221 in Europe

#586 in the World

Founded: 1966

90. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Public Policy / Administration

#227 in Europe

#600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

91. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Public Policy / Administration

#230 in Europe

#606 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

92. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#237 in Europe

#622 in the World

Founded: 2005

93. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Public Policy / Administration

#239 in Europe

#634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Public Policy / Administration

#242 in Europe

#644 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

95. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#243 in Europe

#650 in the World

Founded: 1858

96. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Public Policy / Administration

#253 in Europe

#675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

97. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Public Policy / Administration

#256 in Europe

#683 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

98. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Public Policy / Administration

#267 in Europe

#714 in the World

Founded: 2006

99. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Public Policy / Administration

#295 in Europe

#795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

100. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Public Policy / Administration

#314 in Europe

#842 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

The best cities to study Public Policy / Administration in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are London, Oxford, Manchester, and Birmingham.