76 Best universities for Theoretical Physics 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 Theoretical Physics. A graph of 4.12M citations received by 94.5K academic papers made by 76 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 Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Theoretical Physics

#1 in Europe

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Theoretical Physics

#2 in Europe

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#3 in Europe

#13 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#13 in Europe

#41 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

5. Durham University

England | Durham

For Theoretical Physics

#14 in Europe

#44 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

6. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Theoretical Physics

#15 in Europe

#45 in the World

Founded: 1824

7. King's College London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#21 in Europe

#55 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Theoretical Physics

#38 in Europe

#95 in the World

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

9. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theoretical Physics

#43 in Europe

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

10. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Theoretical Physics

#45 in Europe

#107 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

11. University College London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#53 in Europe

#122 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Theoretical Physics

#63 in Europe

#137 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Theoretical Physics

#68 in Europe

#148 in the World

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

14. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Theoretical Physics

#74 in Europe

#157 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

15. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Theoretical Physics

#79 in Europe

#162 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

16. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Theoretical Physics

#86 in Europe

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

17. University of York

For Theoretical Physics

#89 in Europe

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

18. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Theoretical Physics

#90 in Europe

#187 in the World

Founded: 1920

19. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theoretical Physics

#95 in Europe

#194 in the World

Founded: 1451

20. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Theoretical Physics

#96 in Europe

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

21. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Theoretical Physics

#98 in Europe

#200 in the World

Founded: 1904

22. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Theoretical Physics

#115 in Europe

#243 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

23. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Theoretical Physics

#128 in Europe

#264 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

24. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theoretical Physics

#134 in Europe

#279 in the World

Founded: 1966

25. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theoretical Physics

#137 in Europe

#286 in the World

Founded: 1963

26. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Theoretical Physics

#138 in Europe

#291 in the World

Founded: 1905

27. University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#159 in Europe

#330 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

28. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Theoretical Physics

#165 in Europe

#343 in the World

Founded: 1893

29. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Theoretical Physics

#167 in Europe

#349 in the World

Founded: 1900

30. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Theoretical Physics

#171 in Europe

#355 in the World

Founded: 1965

31. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Theoretical Physics

#188 in Europe

#398 in the World

Founded: 1997

32. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Theoretical Physics

#191 in Europe

#402 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

33. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Theoretical Physics

#200 in Europe

#421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

34. University of Bath

For Theoretical Physics

#205 in Europe

#437 in the World

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

35. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#218 in Europe

#473 in the World

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

36. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theoretical Physics

#227 in Europe

#503 in the World

Founded: 1964

37. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Theoretical Physics

#231 in Europe

#512 in the World

Founded: 1495

38. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#232 in Europe

#515 in the World

Founded: 1823

39. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Theoretical Physics

#241 in Europe

#539 in the World

Founded: 1849

40. City, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#242 in Europe

#544 in the World

Founded: 1966

41. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Theoretical Physics

#258 in Europe

#589 in the World

Founded: 1892

42. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Theoretical Physics

#266 in Europe

#602 in the World

Founded: 1954

43. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Theoretical Physics

#269 in Europe

#612 in the World

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

44. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Theoretical Physics

#270 in Europe

#617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

45. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Theoretical Physics

#275 in Europe

#640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

46. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Theoretical Physics

#287 in Europe

#674 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

47. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Theoretical Physics

#320 in Europe

#775 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

48. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Theoretical Physics

#339 in Europe

#869 in the World

Founded: 1964

49. Bangor University

For Theoretical Physics

#355 in Europe

#911 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

50. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Theoretical Physics

#368 in Europe

#963 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

51. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Theoretical Physics

#375 in Europe

#984 in the World

Founded: 1967

52. London Business School

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#386 in Europe

#1022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

53. Keele University

England | Keele

For Theoretical Physics

#388 in Europe

#1038 in the World

Founded: 1962

54. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Theoretical Physics

#394 in Europe

#1057 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

55. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Theoretical Physics

#404 in Europe

#1094 in the World

Founded: 1895

56. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Theoretical Physics

#425 in Europe

#1188 in the World

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

57. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Theoretical Physics

#427 in Europe

#1190 in the World

Founded: 1872

58. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theoretical Physics

#431 in Europe

#1198 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Theoretical Physics

#438 in Europe

#1243 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Theoretical Physics

#455 in Europe

#1311 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Theoretical Physics

#456 in Europe

#1312 in the World

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

62. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Theoretical Physics

#461 in Europe

#1323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

63. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Theoretical Physics

#526 in Europe

#1616 in the World

Founded: 1968

64. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Theoretical Physics

#555 in Europe

#1777 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

65. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Theoretical Physics

#569 in Europe

#1822 in the World

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

66. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Theoretical Physics

#572 in Europe

#1836 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Theoretical Physics

#579 in Europe

#1877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. London South Bank University

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#587 in Europe

#1929 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

69. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Theoretical Physics

#590 in Europe

#1934 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Theoretical Physics

#591 in Europe

#1941 in the World

Founded: 1992

71. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Theoretical Physics

#600 in Europe

#2024 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

72. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#602 in Europe

#2036 in the World

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

73. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Theoretical Physics

#604 in Europe

#2039 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Theoretical Physics

#616 in Europe

#2134 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Theoretical Physics

#630 in Europe

#2227 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

76. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#636 in Europe

#2272 in the World

Founded: 1848

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

Physics subfields in the United Kingdom

Acoustical Engineering141

Applied/Engineering Physics66

Astrophysics and Astronomy131

Atomic and Molecular physics73

Condensed Matter Physics87

Materials Science136

Medical Physics62

Nanotechnology106

Nuclear Physics103

Optical Engineering131

Quantum and Particle physics142