100 Best universities for Public Policy / Administration in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 1.77M citations received by 74.9K 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

#2 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 Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in Europe

#10 in the World

Founded: 1900

4. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#4 in Europe

#12 in the World

Founded: 1824

5. University College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in Europe

#13 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

6. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in Europe

#23 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

7. King's College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in Europe

#28 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in Europe

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

9. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Public Policy / Administration

#9 in Europe

#38 in the World

Founded: 1997

10. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in Europe

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

11. University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in Europe

#41 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#14 in Europe

#54 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in Europe

#64 in the World

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

14. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in Europe

#65 in the World

Founded: 1904

15. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#20 in Europe

#68 in the World

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

16. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#22 in Europe

#79 in the World

Founded: 1451

17. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in Europe

#81 in the World

Founded: 1948

18. University of York

England | York

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in Europe

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

19. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#30 in Europe

#103 in the World

Founded: 1963

20. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#31 in Europe

#105 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

21. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in Europe

#109 in the World

Founded: 1964

22. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Public Policy / Administration

#34 in Europe

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

23. Durham University

England | Durham

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in Europe

#113 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

24. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#36 in Europe

#114 in the World

Founded: 1964

25. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in Europe

#115 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

26. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in Europe

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

27. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#45 in Europe

#137 in the World

Founded: 1965

28. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in Europe

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

29. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in Europe

#143 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Public Policy / Administration

#49 in Europe

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Public Policy / Administration

#51 in Europe

#150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

32. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#59 in Europe

#172 in the World

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

33. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Public Policy / Administration

#61 in Europe

#176 in the World

Founded: 1968

34. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Public Policy / Administration

#62 in Europe

#177 in the World

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

35. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#67 in Europe

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

36. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#68 in Europe

#194 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

37. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Public Policy / Administration

#73 in Europe

#201 in the World

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

38. Imperial College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#74 in Europe

#203 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

39. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Public Policy / Administration

#75 in Europe

#208 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

40. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Public Policy / Administration

#76 in Europe

#210 in the World

Founded: 1495

41. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#78 in Europe

#216 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

42. Keele University

England | Keele

For Public Policy / Administration

#80 in Europe

#218 in the World

Founded: 1962

43. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Public Policy / Administration

#81 in Europe

#219 in the World

Founded: 1893

44. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Public Policy / Administration

#87 in Europe

#236 in the World

Founded: 1892

45. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#90 in Europe

#247 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

46. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Public Policy / Administration

#92 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1954

47. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#95 in Europe

#256 in the World

Founded: 1992

48. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#99 in Europe

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

49. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Public Policy / Administration

#100 in Europe

#277 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

50. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Public Policy / Administration

#104 in Europe

#285 in the World

Founded: 1849

51. University of Westminster

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#110 in Europe

#309 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

52. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Public Policy / Administration

#112 in Europe

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

53. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#113 in Europe

#315 in the World

Founded: 1895

54. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#114 in Europe

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

55. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#115 in Europe

#321 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#119 in Europe

#332 in the World

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

57. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#123 in Europe

#341 in the World

Founded: 1823

58. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Public Policy / Administration

#124 in Europe

#353 in the World

Founded: 1920

59. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Public Policy / Administration

#126 in Europe

#360 in the World

Founded: 1872

60. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#128 in Europe

#363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

61. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Public Policy / Administration

#131 in Europe

#369 in the World

Founded: 1967

62. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Public Policy / Administration

#135 in Europe

#374 in the World

Founded: 1967

63. City, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#137 in Europe

#378 in the World

Founded: 1966

64. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Public Policy / Administration

#139 in Europe

#383 in the World

Founded: 1841

65. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#142 in Europe

#398 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#147 in Europe

#416 in the World

Founded: 1890

67. London South Bank University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#148 in Europe

#417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

68. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Public Policy / Administration

#152 in Europe

#424 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

69. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#156 in Europe

#439 in the World

Founded: 1904

70. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#157 in Europe

#440 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#161 in Europe

#445 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

72. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#166 in Europe

#455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

73. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#167 in Europe

#460 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#171 in Europe

#465 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

75. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Public Policy / Administration

#175 in Europe

#481 in the World

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

76. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#180 in Europe

#489 in the World

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

77. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#185 in Europe

#504 in the World

Founded: 1848

78. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#190 in Europe

#517 in the World

Founded: 1733

79. Middlesex University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#191 in Europe

#520 in the World

Founded: 1973

80. London Business School

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#198 in Europe

#534 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

81. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#205 in Europe

#553 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of East London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#215 in Europe

#572 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#221 in Europe

#591 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

84. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#223 in Europe

#594 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

85. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Public Policy / Administration

#234 in Europe

#614 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

86. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Public Policy / Administration

#236 in Europe

#619 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#239 in Europe

#628 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#240 in Europe

#629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

89. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#243 in Europe

#634 in the World

Founded: 1966

90. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Public Policy / Administration

#246 in Europe

#642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

91. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Public Policy / Administration

#248 in Europe

#645 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

92. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Public Policy / Administration

#261 in Europe

#690 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

93. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Public Policy / Administration

#262 in Europe

#693 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

94. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Public Policy / Administration

#263 in Europe

#703 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

95. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Public Policy / Administration

#269 in Europe

#731 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

96. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#274 in Europe

#739 in the World

Founded: 2005

97. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#280 in Europe

#761 in the World

Founded: 1858

98. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Public Policy / Administration

#296 in Europe

#806 in the World

Founded: 2006

99. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Public Policy / Administration

#323 in Europe

#897 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

100. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Public Policy / Administration

#324 in Europe

#900 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, Birmingham, and Manchester.