Oxford and Cambridge Drop From Top 3 in UK University Rankings for First Time
- Oxford and Cambridge have lost their long-held dominance in the UK university rankings, jointly falling to fourth place for the first time in 32 years
- The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) retained the top spot, while Durham University surged to third and was named University of the Year 2026
- The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 reflects shifting academic strengths and evolving student priorities across the UK
The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge have been jointly placed fourth in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, marking the first time in the guide’s 32-year history that neither institution has featured in the top three.
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) retained its top spot for the second consecutive year, followed by the University of St Andrews in second place and Durham University in third.
Source: Getty Images
Durham was also named University of the Year 2026 after climbing two places from fifth in last year’s rankings.
Helen Davies, editor of the guide, described Durham’s rise as “a significant achievement” in a “very competitive top 10”.
She added:
“In doing so it has outdone both Oxford and Cambridge, helping to push both of them out of the top three in our league table for the first time in the Good University Guide’s history.”
Durham University praised for academic excellence
The guide attributed Durham’s success to “stellar academic performance” and notable improvements in teaching quality and student experience. Professor Karen O’Brien, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said:
“Durham is an outstanding place to study. We ensure that every student can grow and thrive here. Our loyal, engaged alumni are testament to the impressive career prospects that await our graduates.”
The Times and The Sunday Times have published university rankings since 1993 and 1998 respectively. The guide evaluates institutions based on student satisfaction with teaching and experience, entry standards, research quality, sustainability and graduate prospects.
Speaking with Legit.ng, Imaan Muhammad, an educationist based in Nigeria, shared her thoughts on the UK latest ranking:
“Oxbridge dropping from the top three shows that prestige alone is not enough. Now student's experience, teaching quality and outcome matter more. For Nigeria, it is a reminder that that our universities must focus less on legacy, and more on impact.”
LSE dominates with multiple accolades
In addition to topping the overall league table, LSE received several accolades including University of the Year for Academic Performance, Russell Group University of the Year, and joint runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment.
The Guardian University Guide 2026, released last week, offered a contrasting view by placing Oxford first and Cambridge third, highlighting the differing methodologies and criteria used across rankings.
Source: UGC
UK university rankings 2026: top 10
Imperial College London ranked sixth in the new table, followed by the University of Bath, the University of Warwick, University College London and the University of Bristol. The University of Strathclyde narrowly missed the top 10 but was named runner-up University of the Year.
Regional universities of the year included LSE for London, Durham for the North and North East, Cambridge for the East, Warwick for the Midlands, Bath for the South West, Oxford for the South East and Queen’s Belfast University for Northern Ireland.
Ms Davies noted shifting student preferences, stating:
“Many more undergraduates are choosing to stay at home and commute. It is why this year we have an award for the top university in each region and the best for scholarships and bursaries.”
Oxford named best university in world rankings
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 ranked Oxford University in the United Kingdom as the number one tertiary institution of learning in the world.
Oxford University held on to the top spot for the ninth consecutive year with this latest rankings. The 2025 World University Rankings ranked more than 2,000 institutions from 115 countries and territories.
Source: Legit.ng
