100 Best universities for Psychology 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 Psychology. A graph of 69.7M citations received by 1.75M 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

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. King's College London

England | London

For Psychology

#4 in Europe

#27 in the World

Founded: 1829

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Psychology

#10 in Europe

#51 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Psychology

#11 in Europe

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. Imperial College London

England | London

For Psychology

#12 in Europe

#68 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

8. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Psychology

#21 in Europe

#99 in the World

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

9. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Psychology

#23 in Europe

#101 in the World

Founded: 1900

10. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Psychology

#25 in Europe

#104 in the World

Founded: 1948

11. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Psychology

#30 in Europe

#113 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

12. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Psychology

#32 in Europe

#119 in the World

Founded: 1905

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Psychology

#34 in Europe

#124 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Psychology

#36 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1904

15. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Psychology

#39 in Europe

#142 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

16. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Psychology

#48 in Europe

#165 in the World

Founded: 1997

17. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Psychology

#49 in Europe

#167 in the World

Founded: 1963

18. University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#50 in Europe

#168 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

19. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Psychology

#57 in Europe

#200 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

20. University of York

For Psychology

#68 in Europe

#221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

21. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Psychology

#75 in Europe

#239 in the World

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

22. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#76 in Europe

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

23. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Psychology

#82 in Europe

#250 in the World

Founded: 1495

24. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Psychology

#83 in Europe

#253 in the World

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

25. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Psychology

#87 in Europe

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

26. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#98 in Europe

#299 in the World

Founded: 1733

27. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Psychology

#100 in Europe

#303 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

28. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Psychology

#111 in Europe

#322 in the World

Founded: 1968

29. Durham University

England | Durham

For Psychology

#112 in Europe

#324 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Psychology

#116 in Europe

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Psychology

#117 in Europe

#330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

32. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Psychology

#122 in Europe

#342 in the World

Founded: 1967

33. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Psychology

#124 in Europe

#348 in the World

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

34. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Psychology

#131 in Europe

#368 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

35. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Psychology

#138 in Europe

#386 in the World

Founded: 1893

36. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Psychology

#140 in Europe

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

37. University of Bath

For Psychology

#142 in Europe

#397 in the World

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

38. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Psychology

#143 in Europe

#400 in the World

Founded: 1892

39. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Psychology

#147 in Europe

#420 in the World

Founded: 1965

40. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Psychology

#150 in Europe

#427 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

41. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Psychology

#160 in Europe

#451 in the World

Founded: 1964

42. Keele University

England | Keele

For Psychology

#165 in Europe

#459 in the World

Founded: 1962

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Psychology

#167 in Europe

#462 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#170 in Europe

#475 in the World

Founded: 1823

45. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Psychology

#172 in Europe

#480 in the World

Founded: 1964

46. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Psychology

#176 in Europe

#489 in the World

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

47. Bangor University

For Psychology

#182 in Europe

#505 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

48. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Psychology

#191 in Europe

#522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

49. City, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#192 in Europe

#523 in the World

Founded: 1966

50. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Psychology

#193 in Europe

#524 in the World

Founded: 1895

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Psychology

#200 in Europe

#544 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Psychology

#206 in Europe

#550 in the World

Founded: 1849

53. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Psychology

#213 in Europe

#571 in the World

Founded: 1954

54. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Psychology

#215 in Europe

#584 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Psychology

#216 in Europe

#585 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Psychology

#217 in Europe

#593 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

57. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Psychology

#218 in Europe

#602 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

58. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Psychology

#221 in Europe

#613 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Psychology

#224 in Europe

#631 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

60. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Psychology

#227 in Europe

#640 in the World

Founded: 1967

61. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#233 in Europe

#653 in the World

Founded: 1904

62. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Psychology

#237 in Europe

#664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

63. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Psychology

#251 in Europe

#698 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

64. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Psychology

#257 in Europe

#727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

65. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Psychology

#259 in Europe

#730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

66. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Psychology

#274 in Europe

#773 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

67. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Psychology

#278 in Europe

#786 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

68. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Psychology

#279 in Europe

#787 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

69. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Psychology

#281 in Europe

#798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

70. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Psychology

#298 in Europe

#845 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

71. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Psychology

#302 in Europe

#859 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. Middlesex University

England | London

For Psychology

#304 in Europe

#867 in the World

Founded: 1973

73. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Psychology

#311 in Europe

#901 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Psychology

#318 in Europe

#921 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

75. University of East London

England | London

For Psychology

#325 in Europe

#945 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Psychology

#330 in Europe

#955 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Psychology

#335 in Europe

#984 in the World

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

78. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Psychology

#338 in Europe

#996 in the World

Founded: 1858

79. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Psychology

#339 in Europe

#997 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

80. University of Westminster

England | London

For Psychology

#351 in Europe

#1025 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

81. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Psychology

#360 in Europe

#1068 in the World

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

82. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Psychology

#364 in Europe

#1081 in the World

Founded: 1890

83. London South Bank University

England | London

For Psychology

#368 in Europe

#1108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

84. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Psychology

#372 in Europe

#1116 in the World

Founded: 1966

85. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Psychology

#373 in Europe

#1118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

86. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Psychology

#379 in Europe

#1140 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Psychology

#383 in Europe

#1156 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

88. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Psychology

#384 in Europe

#1162 in the World

Founded: 1791

89. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Psychology

#388 in Europe

#1181 in the World

Founded: 1841

90. London Business School

England | London

For Psychology

#390 in Europe

#1186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

91. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Psychology

#398 in Europe

#1212 in the World

Founded: 2005

92. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Psychology

#399 in Europe

#1213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

93. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Psychology

#400 in Europe

#1214 in the World

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

94. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Psychology

#406 in Europe

#1229 in the World

Founded: 1848

95. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Psychology

#409 in Europe

#1235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

96. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Psychology

#416 in Europe

#1274 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

97. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Psychology

#420 in Europe

#1301 in the World

Founded: 1872

98. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Psychology

#426 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Founded: 2006

99. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Psychology

#443 in Europe

#1382 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2011

100. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Psychology

#450 in Europe

#1404 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 Psychology131

Clinical Psychology126

Cognitive Science128

Education Majors136

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution101

Neuroscience138

Occupational Therapy87

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology73

Social Psychology141

Special Education100