76 Best universities for Theoretical Physics 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 Theoretical Physics. A graph of 4.31M citations received by 96.5K 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

#12 in Europe

#42 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

#40 in Europe

#98 in the World

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

9. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theoretical Physics

#43 in Europe

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

10. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Theoretical Physics

#45 in Europe

#106 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

11. University College London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#53 in Europe

#119 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Theoretical Physics

#60 in Europe

#134 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Theoretical Physics

#68 in Europe

#149 in the World

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

14. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Theoretical Physics

#77 in Europe

#160 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

15. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Theoretical Physics

#81 in Europe

#165 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

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

18. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Theoretical Physics

#90 in Europe

#186 in the World

Founded: 1920

19. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theoretical Physics

#93 in Europe

#192 in the World

Founded: 1451

20. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Theoretical Physics

#94 in Europe

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

21. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Theoretical Physics

#100 in Europe

#203 in the World

Founded: 1904

22. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Theoretical Physics

#115 in Europe

#242 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

23. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Theoretical Physics

#127 in Europe

#264 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

24. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theoretical Physics

#134 in Europe

#281 in the World

Founded: 1966

25. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theoretical Physics

#137 in Europe

#290 in the World

Founded: 1963

26. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Theoretical Physics

#138 in Europe

#292 in the World

Founded: 1905

27. University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#162 in Europe

#338 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

28. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Theoretical Physics

#164 in Europe

#344 in the World

Founded: 1900

29. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Theoretical Physics

#167 in Europe

#350 in the World

Founded: 1893

30. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Theoretical Physics

#171 in Europe

#359 in the World

Founded: 1965

31. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Theoretical Physics

#189 in Europe

#395 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

#198 in Europe

#420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

34. University of Bath

For Theoretical Physics

#206 in Europe

#442 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

#475 in the World

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

36. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theoretical Physics

#229 in Europe

#507 in the World

Founded: 1964

37. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Theoretical Physics

#233 in Europe

#519 in the World

Founded: 1495

38. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#235 in Europe

#526 in the World

Founded: 1823

39. City, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#236 in Europe

#527 in the World

Founded: 1966

40. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Theoretical Physics

#242 in Europe

#544 in the World

Founded: 1849

41. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Theoretical Physics

#259 in Europe

#592 in the World

Founded: 1892

42. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Theoretical Physics

#268 in Europe

#612 in the World

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

43. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Theoretical Physics

#269 in Europe

#613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

44. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Theoretical Physics

#270 in Europe

#615 in the World

Founded: 1954

45. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Theoretical Physics

#279 in Europe

#649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

46. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Theoretical Physics

#288 in Europe

#681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

47. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Theoretical Physics

#318 in Europe

#780 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

48. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Theoretical Physics

#339 in Europe

#866 in the World

Founded: 1964

49. Bangor University

For Theoretical Physics

#357 in Europe

#917 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

50. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Theoretical Physics

#359 in Europe

#919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

51. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Theoretical Physics

#377 in Europe

#992 in the World

Founded: 1967

52. London Business School

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#388 in Europe

#1029 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

53. Keele University

England | Keele

For Theoretical Physics

#391 in Europe

#1043 in the World

Founded: 1962

54. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Theoretical Physics

#395 in Europe

#1062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

55. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Theoretical Physics

#406 in Europe

#1113 in the World

Founded: 1895

56. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Theoretical Physics

#425 in Europe

#1175 in the World

Founded: 1872

57. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theoretical Physics

#426 in Europe

#1178 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Theoretical Physics

#433 in Europe

#1221 in the World

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

59. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Theoretical Physics

#437 in Europe

#1245 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

60. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Theoretical Physics

#445 in Europe

#1290 in the World

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

61. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Theoretical Physics

#452 in Europe

#1305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Theoretical Physics

#461 in Europe

#1337 in the World

Founded: 1967

63. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Theoretical Physics

#528 in Europe

#1648 in the World

Founded: 1968

64. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Theoretical Physics

#558 in Europe

#1805 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

65. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Theoretical Physics

#566 in Europe

#1821 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

66. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Theoretical Physics

#568 in Europe

#1830 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Theoretical Physics

#570 in Europe

#1833 in the World

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

68. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Theoretical Physics

#577 in Europe

#1869 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Theoretical Physics

#588 in Europe

#1904 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. London South Bank University

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#592 in Europe

#1948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

71. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Theoretical Physics

#597 in Europe

#1993 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

72. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#603 in Europe

#2043 in the World

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

73. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Theoretical Physics

#605 in Europe

#2055 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Theoretical Physics

#619 in Europe

#2152 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Theoretical Physics

#632 in Europe

#2254 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

76. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#637 in Europe

#2298 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 Physics67

Astrophysics and Astronomy131

Atomic and Molecular physics73

Condensed Matter Physics87

Materials Science136

Medical Physics60

Nanotechnology106

Nuclear Physics104

Optical Engineering132

Quantum and Particle physics142