100 Best Theology / Divinity / Religious studies schools 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies. A graph of 4.47M citations received by 205K academic papers made by 110 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. University of Oxford

Oxford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

Cambridge

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Manchester

Manchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#5 in the United Kingdom

#10 in Europe

Founded: 1824

5. King's College London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#6 in the United Kingdom

#11 in Europe

Founded: 1829

6. University of Birmingham

Birmingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#7 in the United Kingdom

#12 in Europe

Founded: 1900

7. Durham University

Durham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#8 in the United Kingdom

#14 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

8. University of Leeds

Leeds

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#9 in the United Kingdom

#17 in Europe

Founded: 1904

9. London School of Economics and Political Science

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#10 in the United Kingdom

#19 in Europe

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

10. University of Bristol

Bristol

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#11 in the United Kingdom

#21 in Europe

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

11. University of Warwick

Coventry

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#12 in the United Kingdom

#22 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

12. University of Exeter

Exeter

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#13 in the United Kingdom

#24 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

13. University of Nottingham

Nottingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#14 in the United Kingdom

#25 in Europe

Founded: 1948

14. University of Sussex

Brighton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#16 in the United Kingdom

#28 in Europe

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

15. University of Sheffield

Sheffield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#17 in the United Kingdom

#29 in Europe

Founded: 1905

16. University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#18 in the United Kingdom

#31 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

17. Lancaster University

Lancaster

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#20 in the United Kingdom

#34 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

18. University of Southampton

Southampton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#22 in the United Kingdom

#40 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

19. University of Reading

Reading

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#23 in the United Kingdom

#51 in Europe

Founded: 1892

20. University of York

York

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#24 in the United Kingdom

#53 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

21. University of Liverpool

Liverpool

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#26 in the United Kingdom

#56 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

22. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#27 in the United Kingdom

#57 in Europe

Founded: 1963

23. University of Kent

Canterbury

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#28 in the United Kingdom

#60 in Europe

Founded: 1965

24. Queen Mary University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#29 in the United Kingdom

#61 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

25. University of East Anglia

Norwich

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#30 in the United Kingdom

#75 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

26. University of Leicester

Leicester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#31 in the United Kingdom

#76 in Europe

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

27. Imperial College London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#32 in the United Kingdom

#77 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

28. University of Essex

Colchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#33 in the United Kingdom

#79 in Europe

Founded: 1964

29. Birkbeck, University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#34 in the United Kingdom

#89 in Europe

Founded: 1823

30. Loughborough University

Loughborough

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#35 in the United Kingdom

#90 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

31. SOAS, University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#37 in the United Kingdom

#92 in Europe

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

32. Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#38 in the United Kingdom

#95 in Europe

Founded: 1849

33. Brunel University London

Uxbridge

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#40 in the United Kingdom

#112 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

34. University of Surrey

Guildford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#41 in the United Kingdom

#113 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

35. Keele University

Keele

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#42 in the United Kingdom

#119 in Europe

Founded: 1962

36. Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#44 in the United Kingdom

#126 in Europe

Founded: 1992

37. University of Bath

Bath

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#45 in the United Kingdom

#127 in Europe

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

38. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#46 in the United Kingdom

#130 in Europe

Founded: 1954

39. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#48 in the United Kingdom

#142 in Europe

Founded: 1992

40. Goldsmiths, University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#49 in the United Kingdom

#143 in Europe

Founded: 1904

41. Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#53 in the United Kingdom

#160 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

42. University of the West of England

Bristol

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#55 in the United Kingdom

#175 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

43. Oxford Brookes University

Oxford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#56 in the United Kingdom

#182 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

44. Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#57 in the United Kingdom

#183 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

45. Middlesex University

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#58 in the United Kingdom

#184 in Europe

Founded: 1973

46. University of Hertfordshire

Hatfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#59 in the United Kingdom

#187 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

47. University of Westminster

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#60 in the United Kingdom

#191 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

48. University of Plymouth

Plymouth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#61 in the United Kingdom

#193 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

49. University of East London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#62 in the United Kingdom

#196 in Europe

Founded: 1992

50. City, University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#63 in the United Kingdom

#204 in Europe

Founded: 1966

51. University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#64 in the United Kingdom

#214 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

52. University of Huddersfield

Huddersfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#65 in the United Kingdom

#216 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. De Montfort University

Leicester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#67 in the United Kingdom

#239 in Europe

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

54. University of Roehampton

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#68 in the United Kingdom

#241 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

55. Coventry University

Coventry

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#69 in the United Kingdom

#242 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

56. University of Bradford

Bradford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#70 in the United Kingdom

#246 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

57. University of Salford

Salford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#72 in the United Kingdom

#255 in Europe

Founded: 1967

58. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#73 in the United Kingdom

#256 in Europe

Founded: 1992

59. Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#74 in the United Kingdom

#261 in Europe

Founded: 1992

60. Bournemouth University

Poole

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#75 in the United Kingdom

#273 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

61. London Metropolitan University

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#76 in the United Kingdom

#291 in Europe

Founded: 1848

62. Aston University

Birmingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#77 in the United Kingdom

#292 in Europe

Founded: 1895

63. University of Derby

Derby

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#78 in the United Kingdom

#307 in Europe

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

64. Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#79 in the United Kingdom

#310 in Europe

Founded: 2005

65. University of Brighton

Brighton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#80 in the United Kingdom

#311 in Europe

Founded: 1992

66. University of Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#81 in the United Kingdom

#319 in Europe

Founded: 1992

67. University of Central Lancashire

Preston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#82 in the United Kingdom

#320 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

68. London Business School

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#83 in the United Kingdom

#325 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

69. Cranfield University

Cranfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#84 in the United Kingdom

#329 in Europe

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

70. St George's, University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#85 in the United Kingdom

#343 in Europe

Founded: 1733

71. Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#86 in the United Kingdom

#348 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

72. University of Chester

Chester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#87 in the United Kingdom

#358 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

73. University of Sunderland

Sunderland

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#88 in the United Kingdom

#363 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

74. Birmingham City University

Birmingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#89 in the United Kingdom

#364 in Europe

Founded: 1992

75. University of Greenwich

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#91 in the United Kingdom

#367 in Europe

Founded: 1890

76. University of Lincoln

Lincoln

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#92 in the United Kingdom

#368 in Europe

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

77. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#93 in the United Kingdom

#374 in Europe

Founded: 1992

78. London South Bank University

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#94 in the United Kingdom

#376 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

79. Staffordshire University

Stoke-on-Trent

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#95 in the United Kingdom

#380 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

80. Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#96 in the United Kingdom

#390 in Europe

Founded: 1858

81. Heythrop College

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#97 in the United Kingdom

#402 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1614

82. University of Worcester

Worcester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#99 in the United Kingdom

#415 in Europe

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

83. University of Winchester

Winchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#100 in the United Kingdom

#418 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

84. York St John University

York

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#101 in the United Kingdom

#425 in Europe

Founded: 1841

85. University of Northampton

Northampton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#103 in the United Kingdom

#429 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

86. Edge Hill University

Ormskirk

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#104 in the United Kingdom

#432 in Europe

Founded: 2006

87. University of Gloucestershire

Cheltenham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#105 in the United Kingdom

#433 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

88. University of Bedfordshire

Luton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#107 in the United Kingdom

#448 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

89. Teesside University

Middlesbrough

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#108 in the United Kingdom

#462 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

90. Bath Spa University

Bath

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#111 in the United Kingdom

#529 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

91. University of Bolton

Bolton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#112 in the United Kingdom

#561 in Europe

Founded: 2004

92. University of the Arts London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#113 in the United Kingdom

#604 in Europe

Founded: 1986

93. University of Cumbria

Carlisle

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#115 in the United Kingdom

#620 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 2007

94. University of Buckingham

Buckingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#117 in the United Kingdom

#637 in Europe

Founded: 1973

95. University of West London

Ealing

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#118 in the United Kingdom

#639 in Europe

Founded: 1990

96. Bishop Grosseteste University

Lincoln

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#119 in the United Kingdom

#643 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 1862

97. University of Chichester

Chichester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#120 in the United Kingdom

#645 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

98. School of Advanced Study, University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#122 in the United Kingdom

#664 in Europe

Founded: 1994

99. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#123 in the United Kingdom

#666 in Europe

Founded: 1932

100. Royal College of Art

London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#124 in the United Kingdom

#676 in Europe

Founded: 1896

Closest to England states to learn Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	9	21
Scotland	16	4

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

Philosophy120

Political Economy89

Political Science119

Public Policy / Administration92

Publishing86

Radio and Television broadcasting60

Social Work84

Sociology119

Special Education81

Sports / Exercise science79

Urban and Regional planning72