72 Best universities for Theoretical Physics 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 Theoretical Physics. A graph of 2.64M citations received by 80.2K academic papers made by 72 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

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#3 in Europe

#14 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. Durham University

England | Durham

For Theoretical Physics

#10 in Europe

#39 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

5. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#12 in Europe

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

6. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Theoretical Physics

#15 in Europe

#46 in the World

Founded: 1824

7. King's College London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#21 in Europe

#57 in the World

Founded: 1829

8. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Theoretical Physics

#34 in Europe

#91 in the World

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

9. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Theoretical Physics

#44 in Europe

#104 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

10. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theoretical Physics

#49 in Europe

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University College London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#51 in Europe

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

12. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Theoretical Physics

#61 in Europe

#136 in the World

Founded: 1948

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Theoretical Physics

#69 in Europe

#147 in the World

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

14. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Theoretical Physics

#78 in Europe

#167 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

15. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Theoretical Physics

#82 in Europe

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

16. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Theoretical Physics

#83 in Europe

#176 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

17. University of York

England | York

For Theoretical Physics

#88 in Europe

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

18. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Theoretical Physics

#90 in Europe

#188 in the World

Founded: 1920

19. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Theoretical Physics

#93 in Europe

#191 in the World

Founded: 1904

20. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Theoretical Physics

#96 in Europe

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

21. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theoretical Physics

#103 in Europe

#209 in the World

Founded: 1451

22. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Theoretical Physics

#126 in Europe

#263 in the World

Founded: 1966

23. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Theoretical Physics

#132 in Europe

#272 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

24. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Theoretical Physics

#135 in Europe

#276 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

25. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theoretical Physics

#137 in Europe

#279 in the World

Founded: 1963

26. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Theoretical Physics

#153 in Europe

#317 in the World

Founded: 1893

27. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Theoretical Physics

#154 in Europe

#318 in the World

Founded: 1905

28. University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#161 in Europe

#331 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

29. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Theoretical Physics

#180 in Europe

#374 in the World

Founded: 1900

30. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Theoretical Physics

#193 in Europe

#404 in the World

Founded: 1964

31. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Theoretical Physics

#194 in Europe

#410 in the World

Founded: 1965

32. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Theoretical Physics

#199 in Europe

#426 in the World

Founded: 1997

33. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Theoretical Physics

#206 in Europe

#443 in the World

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

34. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Theoretical Physics

#208 in Europe

#448 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

35. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Theoretical Physics

#210 in Europe

#453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

36. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Theoretical Physics

#227 in Europe

#501 in the World

Founded: 1495

37. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#228 in Europe

#502 in the World

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

38. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#231 in Europe

#509 in the World

Founded: 1823

39. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Theoretical Physics

#244 in Europe

#542 in the World

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

40. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Theoretical Physics

#247 in Europe

#547 in the World

Founded: 1849

41. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Theoretical Physics

#255 in Europe

#569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

42. City, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#259 in Europe

#586 in the World

Founded: 1966

43. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Theoretical Physics

#267 in Europe

#615 in the World

Founded: 1954

44. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Theoretical Physics

#286 in Europe

#684 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

45. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Theoretical Physics

#292 in Europe

#695 in the World

Founded: 1892

46. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Theoretical Physics

#293 in Europe

#698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

47. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Theoretical Physics

#311 in Europe

#743 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Theoretical Physics

#319 in Europe

#791 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

49. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Theoretical Physics

#363 in Europe

#961 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

50. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Theoretical Physics

#378 in Europe

#1014 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

51. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Theoretical Physics

#386 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Founded: 1967

52. Keele University

England | Keele

For Theoretical Physics

#389 in Europe

#1044 in the World

Founded: 1962

53. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Theoretical Physics

#407 in Europe

#1101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

54. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Theoretical Physics

#409 in Europe

#1105 in the World

Founded: 1895

55. London Business School

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#423 in Europe

#1154 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

56. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Theoretical Physics

#430 in Europe

#1171 in the World

Founded: 1872

57. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Theoretical Physics

#434 in Europe

#1204 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Theoretical Physics

#441 in Europe

#1239 in the World

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

59. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Theoretical Physics

#443 in Europe

#1247 in the World

Founded: 1967

60. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Theoretical Physics

#451 in Europe

#1278 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

61. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Theoretical Physics

#454 in Europe

#1300 in the World

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

62. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Theoretical Physics

#457 in Europe

#1306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

63. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Theoretical Physics

#494 in Europe

#1441 in the World

Founded: 1968

64. London South Bank University

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#558 in Europe

#1779 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

65. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Theoretical Physics

#562 in Europe

#1801 in the World

Founded: 1992

66. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Theoretical Physics

#568 in Europe

#1821 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

67. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Theoretical Physics

#590 in Europe

#1965 in the World

Founded: 1992

68. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Theoretical Physics

#592 in Europe

#1970 in the World

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

69. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Theoretical Physics

#593 in Europe

#1975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Theoretical Physics

#594 in Europe

#1977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

71. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Theoretical Physics

#604 in Europe

#2031 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

72. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Theoretical Physics

#608 in Europe

#2091 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

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 Engineering138

Applied/Engineering Physics65

Astrobiology64

Astrophysics and Astronomy129

Atomic and Molecular physics73

Biophysics78

Condensed Matter Physics85

Optical Engineering131

Quantum and Particle physics141