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

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 146M citations received by 5.15M academic papers made by 110 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: 9%
Founded: 1895

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Public Policy / Administration

#2 in Europe

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#3 in Europe

#8 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 of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#5 in Europe

#16 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in Europe

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. King's College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#7 in Europe

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Founded: 1829

8. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Public Policy / Administration

#8 in Europe

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1997

9. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#9 in Europe

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

10. University College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#10 in Europe

#38 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

11. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#11 in Europe

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

12. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#12 in Europe

#42 in the World

Founded: 1451

13. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#13 in Europe

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1905

14. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#17 in Europe

#61 in the World

Founded: 1904

15. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#18 in Europe

#65 in the World

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

16. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in Europe

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

17. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#20 in Europe

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Founded: 1964

18. University of York

England | York

For Public Policy / Administration

#23 in Europe

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

19. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#26 in Europe

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

20. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#31 in Europe

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Founded: 1963

21. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#33 in Europe

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

22. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#34 in Europe

#106 in the World

Founded: 1964

23. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Public Policy / Administration

#35 in Europe

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

24. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#36 in Europe

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

25. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Public Policy / Administration

#37 in Europe

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

26. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Public Policy / Administration

#38 in Europe

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

27. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Public Policy / Administration

#40 in Europe

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Founded: 1964

28. Durham University

England | Durham

For Public Policy / Administration

#41 in Europe

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

29. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#42 in Europe

#122 in the World

Founded: 1965

30. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#43 in Europe

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1989

31. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Public Policy / Administration

#46 in Europe

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

32. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#53 in Europe

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

33. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Public Policy / Administration

#62 in Europe

#175 in the World

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

34. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Public Policy / Administration

#63 in Europe

#178 in the World

Founded: 1893

35. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Public Policy / Administration

#66 in Europe

#185 in the World

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

36. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Public Policy / Administration

#67 in Europe

#186 in the World

Founded: 1992

37. Keele University

England | Keele

For Public Policy / Administration

#68 in Europe

#187 in the World

Founded: 1962

38. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Public Policy / Administration

#71 in Europe

#196 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

39. Imperial College London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#72 in Europe

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

40. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Public Policy / Administration

#75 in Europe

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1954

41. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Public Policy / Administration

#76 in Europe

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1992

42. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Public Policy / Administration

#77 in Europe

#213 in the World

Founded: 1495

43. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Public Policy / Administration

#80 in Europe

#222 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

44. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Public Policy / Administration

#82 in Europe

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Founded: 1968

45. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Public Policy / Administration

#83 in Europe

#233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1849

46. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#84 in Europe

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

47. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Public Policy / Administration

#85 in Europe

#238 in the World

Founded: 1992

48. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Public Policy / Administration

#87 in Europe

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 1892

49. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#88 in Europe

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

50. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Public Policy / Administration

#89 in Europe

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

51. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#94 in Europe

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 1895

52. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Public Policy / Administration

#95 in Europe

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1966

53. University of Westminster

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#98 in Europe

#265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

54. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Public Policy / Administration

#99 in Europe

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Founded: 1992

55. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Public Policy / Administration

#106 in Europe

#301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Founded: 1992

56. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Public Policy / Administration

#109 in Europe

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1967

57. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Public Policy / Administration

#111 in Europe

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1841

58. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Public Policy / Administration

#115 in Europe

#327 in the World

Founded: 1920

59. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Public Policy / Administration

#118 in Europe

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1993

60. City, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#119 in Europe

#336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1966

61. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Public Policy / Administration

#120 in Europe

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Public Policy / Administration

#122 in Europe

#339 in the World

Founded: 1967

63. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#125 in Europe

#345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 1823

64. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#129 in Europe

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1916

65. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#137 in Europe

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

66. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Public Policy / Administration

#140 in Europe

#405 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

67. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#141 in Europe

#409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Founded: 1848

68. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Public Policy / Administration

#142 in Europe

#410 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#144 in Europe

#414 in the World

Founded: 1733

70. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Public Policy / Administration

#149 in Europe

#422 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

71. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#155 in Europe

#433 in the World

Founded: 1890

72. Middlesex University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#156 in Europe

#437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 1973

73. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#158 in Europe

#446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1904

74. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#159 in Europe

#448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

75. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Public Policy / Administration

#161 in Europe

#452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Founded: 1872

76. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#165 in Europe

#460 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Enrollment: 4,825
Founded: 1993

77. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Public Policy / Administration

#166 in Europe

#461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

78. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Public Policy / Administration

#169 in Europe

#466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1992

79. London Business School

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#178 in Europe

#488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1964

80. London South Bank University

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#182 in Europe

#495 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Founded: 1892

81. University of East London

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#185 in Europe

#499 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Public Policy / Administration

#187 in Europe

#506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 1992

83. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Public Policy / Administration

#193 in Europe

#520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

84. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#196 in Europe

#525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Founded: 1992

85. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Public Policy / Administration

#203 in Europe

#544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Founded: 2004

86. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Public Policy / Administration

#204 in Europe

#546 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Public Policy / Administration

#206 in Europe

#550 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Founded: 1858

88. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Public Policy / Administration

#213 in Europe

#569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Founded: 1992

89. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Public Policy / Administration

#214 in Europe

#575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

90. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Public Policy / Administration

#221 in Europe

#591 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 1992

91. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Public Policy / Administration

#225 in Europe

#603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Founded: 2006

92. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Public Policy / Administration

#226 in Europe

#606 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Founded: 1992

93. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Public Policy / Administration

#227 in Europe

#607 in the World

Founded: 2005

94. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Public Policy / Administration

#232 in Europe

#623 in the World

Founded: 1966

95. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Public Policy / Administration

#236 in Europe

#641 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

96. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Public Policy / Administration

#238 in Europe

#646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

97. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Public Policy / Administration

#242 in Europe

#654 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

98. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Public Policy / Administration

#243 in Europe

#656 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

99. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Public Policy / Administration

#272 in Europe

#732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

100. University of Gloucestershire

England | Cheltenham

For Public Policy / Administration

#289 in Europe

#791 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 2001

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.