London School of Economics Leads UK Universities in 2026 Times Guide

Historic Shift in UK University Rankings: Oxbridge Falls Behind LSE, St Andrews, and Durham

For the first time in 32 years, the UK university rankings by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 saw Oxford University UK and Cambridge University UK not featured among the top three. Instead, the London School of Economics( LSE) secured the top position for the second consecutive year, followed by the University of St. Andrews in second position and Durham University in third position, which was also awarded University of the Year after rising from fifth.

It was said that Oxford and Cambridge were tied at fourth place, a historic turn of events in the rankings. Oxford had been in third place last year while Cambridge had slipped to fourth. The improvement in LSE, which jumped from fourth last year to first, and the stable performance of St Andrews, facilitated this turnaround in the league table. The guide pointed out that LSE's international standing and competitive entry requirements rank it amongst the world's best universities, with no clearing participation. Durham's ascent was attributed to enhanced teaching quality and student experience, propelling it ahead of Oxbridge universities. Guide editor Helen Davies said that Durham's academic performance and student satisfaction were central to its success.

She further emphasized that higher education institutions throughout the UK are evolving to counter new issues, such as increased fees and possible charges on overseas students, which might affect research and teaching. New undergraduate programs, such as in robotics and AI policy, are being created to address contemporary student interests and facilitate more advanced education in England.

According to a recent Times Higher Education survey, almost one in ten courses had been axed over the previous year, with lower-tariff institutions bearing the brunt. Social sciences were one of the most frequently abandoned subjects, prompting fears about course choice. The Times rankings are produced on a combination of measures that include student satisfaction, quality of teaching, entry standards, research quality, sustainability, and graduate destinations. By way of contrast, The Guardian University Guide 2026 ranked Oxford as number one and Cambridge number three, with some inconsistency between different world university rankings.

LSE also picked up several other awards, including Academic Performance University of the Year, Russell Group University of the Year, and joint runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment. The revised top UK universities list saw Imperial College London ranked sixth, then Bath, Warwick, University College London, and Bristol. Strathclyde narrowly fell short of the top 10 but was declared the runner-up University of the Year.

Local prizes were also distributed among institutions like LSE in London, Durham in the north-east, Cambridge in the east, Warwick in the Midlands, Bath in the south-west, Oxford in the south-east, and Queen's Belfast University in Northern Ireland. These awards would make the region's excellence visible and assist students who prefer doing studies close to home. Professor Karen O'Brien, Durham University's Vice Chancellor, remarked that the institution is an exceptional place to learn, where students feel encouraged to mature and flourish. Further, he noted that the alumni network speaks volumes in favour of the good careers that graduates have. Overall, the new rankings show changing scenarios in UK higher education as new players come in.

Editor’s Note

For the first time in more than thirty years, and for the first time in history, neither Oxford University UK nor Cambridge University UK is in the top three of the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, which has just been released. The changing scene in higher education in England and becoming increasingly competitive is a significant landmark. At the head of the list, the London School of Economics remains impressive, retaining first position for the second consecutive year. Its high level of academic performance as well as its attractiveness across the globe, has established it as one of the top universities in the UK and a leading performer on the global university league tables. At the same time, the rise of Durham University to third position and the award as University of the Year attest to the way enhancements in student experience and teaching can bring huge success. These league tables remind us that a university's strength is not simply a matter of tradition, but also a question of how successfully it can respond to the needs of students today. With fresh courses in robotics and AI, and increasing pressure on lower-tariff institutions, the guide captures both opportunity and challenge throughout the sector.

As per Skoobuzz, with increasing competition, particularly among the Russell Group universities in the UK, students have greater options than ever before when considering the best universities globally.

FAQs

1. Why did Oxford and Cambridge fall in the UK university rankings?
Oxford and Cambridge fell in the UK university rankings because other universities made strong improvements in areas like teaching quality, student satisfaction, and academic performance. Durham University, in particular, climbed two places due to better scores in teaching and student experience, which helped it move ahead of both Oxford and Cambridge. This shift led to both Oxbridge institutions being placed jointly in fourth position for the first time in 32 years.

2. Which universities replaced Oxford and Cambridge in the top three?
The universities that took the top three spots in the latest rankings are the London School of Economics (LSE), which remained in first place for the second year in a row, the University of St Andrews in second place, and Durham University in third. Durham was also named University of the Year, thanks to its improved academic performance and student satisfaction.

3. Is Oxford University still among the best in the world?
Yes, Oxford University is still considered one of the best universities in the world. Although it dropped to joint fourth in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, it was ranked first in The Guardian University Guide 2026. Oxford continues to perform well in global rankings such as the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education rankings, maintaining its reputation for excellence in research and teaching.

4. How does Cambridge rank compared to other UK universities?
Cambridge University was placed joint fourth in The Times and Sunday Times rankings, alongside Oxford. However, in The Guardian University Guide 2026, Cambridge was ranked third. This shows that Cambridge remains one of the top UK universities, continuing to offer high-quality education and strong graduate outcomes despite the shift in rankings.

5.What are the top 10 UK universities in 2025?
According to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, the top 10 UK universities for 2025 are:

• London School of Economics (LSE)
• University of St Andrews
• Durham University
• Oxford University
• Cambridge University
• Imperial College London
• University of Bath
• University of Warwick
• University College London (UCL)
• University of Bristol

These universities are recognised for their academic strength, student satisfaction, and graduate success, making them top choices for higher education in the UK.