100 Best universities for Psychology 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 Psychology. A graph of 51.3M citations received by 1.56M academic papers made by 151 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 College London

England | London

For Psychology

#1 in Europe

#2 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Psychology

#2 in Europe

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Psychology

#3 in Europe

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. King's College London

England | London

For Psychology

#5 in Europe

#28 in the World

Founded: 1829

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Psychology

#10 in Europe

#53 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Psychology

#11 in Europe

#67 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Psychology

#13 in Europe

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Psychology

#20 in Europe

#96 in the World

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

9. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Psychology

#25 in Europe

#103 in the World

Founded: 1900

10. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Psychology

#27 in Europe

#106 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Psychology

#29 in Europe

#109 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Psychology

#32 in Europe

#115 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Psychology

#34 in Europe

#122 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Psychology

#35 in Europe

#125 in the World

Founded: 1904

15. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Psychology

#38 in Europe

#139 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Psychology

#45 in Europe

#158 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#48 in Europe

#161 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Psychology

#49 in Europe

#168 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Psychology

#64 in Europe

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

20. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Psychology

#76 in Europe

#241 in the World

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

21. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Psychology

#77 in Europe

#243 in the World

Founded: 1495

22. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#79 in Europe

#248 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

23. University of York

For Psychology

#81 in Europe

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

24. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Psychology

#84 in Europe

#257 in the World

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

25. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#86 in Europe

#262 in the World

Founded: 1733

26. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Psychology

#94 in Europe

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

27. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Psychology

#100 in Europe

#300 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

28. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Psychology

#102 in Europe

#304 in the World

Founded: 1968

29. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Psychology

#113 in Europe

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

30. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Psychology

#117 in Europe

#332 in the World

Founded: 1967

31. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Psychology

#120 in Europe

#336 in the World

Founded: 1893

32. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Psychology

#121 in Europe

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

33. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Psychology

#127 in Europe

#360 in the World

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

34. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Psychology

#128 in Europe

#361 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

35. Durham University

England | Durham

For Psychology

#131 in Europe

#366 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

36. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Psychology

#136 in Europe

#374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

37. University of Bath

For Psychology

#142 in Europe

#394 in the World

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

38. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Psychology

#145 in Europe

#401 in the World

Founded: 1892

39. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Psychology

#146 in Europe

#403 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

40. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Psychology

#149 in Europe

#412 in the World

Founded: 1964

41. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Psychology

#155 in Europe

#431 in the World

Founded: 1965

42. Keele University

England | Keele

For Psychology

#168 in Europe

#461 in the World

Founded: 1962

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Psychology

#169 in Europe

#462 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#172 in Europe

#474 in the World

Founded: 1823

45. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Psychology

#175 in Europe

#481 in the World

Founded: 1964

46. Bangor University

For Psychology

#177 in Europe

#485 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

47. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Psychology

#178 in Europe

#489 in the World

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

48. City, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#186 in Europe

#507 in the World

Founded: 1966

49. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Psychology

#190 in Europe

#515 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

50. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Psychology

#195 in Europe

#532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

51. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Psychology

#203 in Europe

#544 in the World

Founded: 1849

52. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Psychology

#209 in Europe

#558 in the World

Founded: 1954

53. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Psychology

#212 in Europe

#567 in the World

Founded: 1895

54. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Psychology

#217 in Europe

#581 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Psychology

#218 in Europe

#584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

56. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Psychology

#220 in Europe

#593 in the World

Founded: 1992

57. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Psychology

#223 in Europe

#608 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#225 in Europe

#617 in the World

Founded: 1904

59. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Psychology

#226 in Europe

#618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Psychology

#231 in Europe

#628 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Psychology

#233 in Europe

#631 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

62. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Psychology

#236 in Europe

#641 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

63. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Psychology

#241 in Europe

#659 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

64. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Psychology

#251 in Europe

#699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

65. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Psychology

#262 in Europe

#732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

66. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Psychology

#271 in Europe

#760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

67. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Psychology

#272 in Europe

#763 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

68. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Psychology

#276 in Europe

#777 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

69. Middlesex University

England | London

For Psychology

#291 in Europe

#826 in the World

Founded: 1973

70. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Psychology

#293 in Europe

#828 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

71. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Psychology

#296 in Europe

#835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

72. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Psychology

#301 in Europe

#857 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Psychology

#307 in Europe

#870 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Psychology

#315 in Europe

#901 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Psychology

#324 in Europe

#929 in the World

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

76. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Psychology

#328 in Europe

#938 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. University of East London

England | London

For Psychology

#335 in Europe

#960 in the World

Founded: 1992

78. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Psychology

#337 in Europe

#968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

79. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Psychology

#348 in Europe

#1003 in the World

Founded: 1858

80. University of Westminster

England | London

For Psychology

#349 in Europe

#1005 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

81. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#354 in Europe

#1031 in the World

Founded: 1791

82. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Psychology

#355 in Europe

#1034 in the World

Founded: 1966

83. London South Bank University

England | London

For Psychology

#358 in Europe

#1044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

84. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Psychology

#359 in Europe

#1049 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

85. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Psychology

#361 in Europe

#1057 in the World

Founded: 1890

86. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Psychology

#372 in Europe

#1091 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Psychology

#374 in Europe

#1099 in the World

Founded: 1841

88. London Business School

England | London

For Psychology

#379 in Europe

#1119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

89. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Psychology

#381 in Europe

#1127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

90. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Psychology

#385 in Europe

#1150 in the World

Founded: 1848

91. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Psychology

#388 in Europe

#1162 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

92. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Psychology

#397 in Europe

#1184 in the World

Founded: 2005

93. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Psychology

#398 in Europe

#1185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

94. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Psychology

#399 in Europe

#1188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

95. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Psychology

#406 in Europe

#1202 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

96. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Psychology

#409 in Europe

#1218 in the World

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

97. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Psychology

#414 in Europe

#1241 in the World

Founded: 1872

98. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Psychology

#423 in Europe

#1285 in the World

Founded: 2006

99. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Psychology

#429 in Europe

#1315 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

100. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Psychology

#454 in Europe

#1402 in the World

Founded: 1992

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

Psychology subfields in the United Kingdom

Child Psychology130

Clinical Psychology124

Cognitive Science128

Education Majors135

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution103

Neuroscience137

Occupational Therapy82

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology80

Social Psychology140

Special Education100