100 Best universities for Sociology in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Sociology. A graph of 53.4M citations received by 1.56M academic papers made by 150 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. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Sociology

#1 in Europe

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

England | London

For Sociology

#2 in Europe

#7 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Sociology

#3 in Europe

#13 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Sociology

#4 in Europe

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Sociology

#5 in Europe

#33 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. King's College London

England | London

For Sociology

#6 in Europe

#38 in the World

Founded: 1829

7. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Sociology

#9 in Europe

#58 in the World

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

8. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Sociology

#10 in Europe

#59 in the World

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

9. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Sociology

#12 in Europe

#61 in the World

Founded: 1905

10. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Sociology

#13 in Europe

#62 in the World

Founded: 1900

11. University of London

England | London

For Sociology

#16 in Europe

#65 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

12. Imperial College London

England | London

For Sociology

#18 in Europe

#69 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Sociology

#20 in Europe

#72 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Sociology

#21 in Europe

#73 in the World

Founded: 1948

15. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Sociology

#23 in Europe

#77 in the World

Founded: 1904

16. University of York

England | York

For Sociology

#24 in Europe

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

17. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Sociology

#25 in Europe

#84 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

18. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Sociology

#29 in Europe

#96 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

19. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Sociology

#33 in Europe

#105 in the World

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

20. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Sociology

#35 in Europe

#111 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

21. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Sociology

#37 in Europe

#113 in the World

Founded: 1997

22. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Sociology

#38 in Europe

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

23. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Sociology

#39 in Europe

#119 in the World

Founded: 1963

24. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Sociology

#40 in Europe

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

25. Durham University

England | Durham

For Sociology

#42 in Europe

#139 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

26. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Sociology

#43 in Europe

#142 in the World

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

27. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Sociology

#52 in Europe

#173 in the World

Founded: 1495

28. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Sociology

#53 in Europe

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

29. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Sociology

#57 in Europe

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

30. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Sociology

#59 in Europe

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

31. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Sociology

#60 in Europe

#193 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

32. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Sociology

#70 in Europe

#222 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

33. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Sociology

#72 in Europe

#231 in the World

Founded: 1964

34. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Sociology

#74 in Europe

#233 in the World

Founded: 1892

35. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Sociology

#79 in Europe

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

36. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Sociology

#80 in Europe

#242 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

37. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Sociology

#81 in Europe

#250 in the World

Founded: 1965

38. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Sociology

#87 in Europe

#269 in the World

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

39. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Sociology

#93 in Europe

#278 in the World

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

40. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Sociology

#96 in Europe

#285 in the World

Founded: 1968

41. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Sociology

#98 in Europe

#296 in the World

Founded: 1964

42. Keele University

England | Keele

For Sociology

#103 in Europe

#307 in the World

Founded: 1962

43. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Sociology

#109 in Europe

#319 in the World

Founded: 1823

44. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Sociology

#111 in Europe

#324 in the World

Founded: 1920

45. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Sociology

#113 in Europe

#327 in the World

Founded: 1967

46. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Sociology

#117 in Europe

#333 in the World

Founded: 1954

47. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Sociology

#118 in Europe

#334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

48. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Sociology

#119 in Europe

#337 in the World

Founded: 1893

49. City, University of London

England | London

For Sociology

#124 in Europe

#349 in the World

Founded: 1966

50. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Sociology

#128 in Europe

#358 in the World

Founded: 1992

51. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Sociology

#131 in Europe

#366 in the World

Founded: 1849

52. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Sociology

#138 in Europe

#394 in the World

Founded: 1904

53. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Sociology

#140 in Europe

#398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

54. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Sociology

#145 in Europe

#407 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Sociology

#161 in Europe

#449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

56. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Sociology

#164 in Europe

#453 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

57. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Sociology

#166 in Europe

#457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

58. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Sociology

#172 in Europe

#470 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

59. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Sociology

#176 in Europe

#479 in the World

Founded: 1733

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Sociology

#179 in Europe

#482 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Sociology

#182 in Europe

#502 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

62. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Sociology

#183 in Europe

#503 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Sociology

#195 in Europe

#531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

64. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Sociology

#210 in Europe

#565 in the World

Founded: 1992

65. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Sociology

#211 in Europe

#567 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

66. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Sociology

#213 in Europe

#569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

67. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Sociology

#215 in Europe

#577 in the World

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

68. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Sociology

#216 in Europe

#579 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

69. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Sociology

#217 in Europe

#580 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

70. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Sociology

#219 in Europe

#589 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. University of Westminster

England | London

For Sociology

#221 in Europe

#595 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

72. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Sociology

#222 in Europe

#599 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

73. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Sociology

#231 in Europe

#619 in the World

Founded: 1895

74. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Sociology

#232 in Europe

#620 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

75. Middlesex University

England | London

For Sociology

#239 in Europe

#632 in the World

Founded: 1973

76. University of East London

England | London

For Sociology

#241 in Europe

#638 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Sociology

#257 in Europe

#678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

78. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Sociology

#264 in Europe

#692 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Sociology

#266 in Europe

#700 in the World

Founded: 1848

80. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Sociology

#274 in Europe

#716 in the World

Founded: 1890

81. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Sociology

#275 in Europe

#717 in the World

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

82. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Sociology

#277 in Europe

#720 in the World

Founded: 1872

83. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Sociology

#280 in Europe

#728 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

84. London South Bank University

England | London

For Sociology

#282 in Europe

#738 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

85. London Business School

England | London

For Sociology

#283 in Europe

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

86. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Sociology

#285 in Europe

#747 in the World

Founded: 1858

87. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Sociology

#291 in Europe

#776 in the World

Founded: 1966

88. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Sociology

#293 in Europe

#789 in the World

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

89. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Sociology

#317 in Europe

#864 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Sociology

#322 in Europe

#874 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

91. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Sociology

#323 in Europe

#875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Sociology

#330 in Europe

#901 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Sociology

#338 in Europe

#922 in the World

Founded: 2005

94. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Sociology

#340 in Europe

#926 in the World

Founded: 1841

95. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Sociology

#344 in Europe

#943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

96. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Sociology

#355 in Europe

#987 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

97. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Sociology

#359 in Europe

#1004 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

98. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Sociology

#373 in Europe

#1044 in the World

Founded: 2006

99. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Sociology

#381 in Europe

#1067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

100. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Sociology

#382 in Europe

#1068 in the World

Founded: 1992

The best cities to study Sociology in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Oxford, London, Cambridge, and Edinburgh.