100 Best Theology / Divinity / Religious studies schools 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies. A graph of 3.3M citations received by 216K academic papers made by 134 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1 in Europe

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#2 in Europe

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#3 in Europe

#9 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#4 in Europe

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. King's College London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#7 in Europe

#26 in the World

Founded: 1829

6. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#9 in Europe

#30 in the World

Founded: 1824

7. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#11 in Europe

#37 in the World

Founded: 1900

8. Durham University

England | Durham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#12 in Europe

#39 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

9. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#14 in Europe

#43 in the World

Founded: 1904

10. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#15 in Europe

#51 in the World

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

11. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#16 in Europe

#53 in the World

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

12. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#17 in Europe

#57 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

13. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#21 in Europe

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

14. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#23 in Europe

#69 in the World

Founded: 1948

15. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#25 in Europe

#71 in the World

Founded: 1905

16. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#26 in Europe

#75 in the World

Founded: 1451

17. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#29 in Europe

#81 in the World

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

18. University of London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#30 in Europe

#88 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

19. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#33 in Europe

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

20. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#34 in Europe

#98 in the World

Founded: 1997

21. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#36 in Europe

#106 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

22. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#37 in Europe

#109 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

23. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#43 in Europe

#128 in the World

Founded: 1963

24. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#46 in Europe

#134 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

25. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#47 in Europe

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

26. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#49 in Europe

#139 in the World

Founded: 1892

27. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#50 in Europe

#146 in the World

Founded: 1495

28. University of York

England | York

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#54 in Europe

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

29. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#57 in Europe

#165 in the World

Founded: 1965

30. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#64 in Europe

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#69 in Europe

#190 in the World

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

32. Imperial College London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#73 in Europe

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

33. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#74 in Europe

#199 in the World

Founded: 1964

34. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#82 in Europe

#218 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

35. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#84 in Europe

#221 in the World

Founded: 1849

36. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#85 in Europe

#225 in the World

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

37. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#90 in Europe

#238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

38. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#94 in Europe

#246 in the World

Founded: 1823

39. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#95 in Europe

#247 in the World

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

40. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#99 in Europe

#257 in the World

Founded: 1893

41. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#103 in Europe

#271 in the World

Founded: 1992

42. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#108 in Europe

#282 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

43. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#111 in Europe

#286 in the World

Founded: 1954

44. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#112 in Europe

#287 in the World

Founded: 1920

45. Keele University

England | Keele

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#114 in Europe

#290 in the World

Founded: 1962

46. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#118 in Europe

#298 in the World

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

47. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#125 in Europe

#320 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#127 in Europe

#331 in the World

Founded: 1904

49. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#128 in Europe

#332 in the World

Founded: 1968

50. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#134 in Europe

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

51. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#139 in Europe

#352 in the World

Founded: 1992

52. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#143 in Europe

#366 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

53. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#161 in Europe

#414 in the World

Founded: 1967

54. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#162 in Europe

#415 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

55. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#167 in Europe

#423 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

56. Middlesex University

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#168 in Europe

#427 in the World

Founded: 1973

57. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#169 in Europe

#434 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

58. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#173 in Europe

#441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

59. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#178 in Europe

#448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

60. University of East London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#179 in Europe

#449 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. City, University of London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#196 in Europe

#482 in the World

Founded: 1966

62. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#202 in Europe

#488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

63. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#205 in Europe

#494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

64. University of Westminster

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#209 in Europe

#505 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

65. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#219 in Europe

#535 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#220 in Europe

#537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

67. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#227 in Europe

#549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

68. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#229 in Europe

#551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

69. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#231 in Europe

#555 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

70. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#243 in Europe

#595 in the World

Founded: 1872

71. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#245 in Europe

#599 in the World

Founded: 1967

72. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#246 in Europe

#601 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

73. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#249 in Europe

#611 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#251 in Europe

#613 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#270 in Europe

#664 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

76. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#278 in Europe

#675 in the World

Founded: 1895

77. London Business School

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#283 in Europe

#692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

78. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#284 in Europe

#697 in the World

Founded: 1848

79. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#286 in Europe

#705 in the World

Founded: 2005

80. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#287 in Europe

#706 in the World

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

81. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#290 in Europe

#711 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

82. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#295 in Europe

#731 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#301 in Europe

#741 in the World

Founded: 1733

84. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#304 in Europe

#745 in the World

Founded: 1992

85. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#312 in Europe

#767 in the World

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

86. London South Bank University

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#327 in Europe

#805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

87. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#340 in Europe

#841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

88. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#342 in Europe

#845 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

89. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#346 in Europe

#851 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

90. Liverpool Hope University

England | Liverpool

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#356 in Europe

#874 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

91. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#358 in Europe

#878 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

92. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#359 in Europe

#880 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

93. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#360 in Europe

#885 in the World

Founded: 1966

94. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#364 in Europe

#906 in the World

Founded: 1890

95. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#375 in Europe

#934 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

96. Heythrop College

England | London

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#384 in Europe

#950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1614

97. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#385 in Europe

#962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

98. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#396 in Europe

#991 in the World

Founded: 1992

99. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#397 in Europe

#992 in the World

Founded: 1992

100. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#399 in Europe

#994 in the World

Founded: 1858

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