Best universities for Applied psychology (2026)

48 UK universities teaching Applied psychology as a full-time degree, ranked on graduate pay, jobs, student satisfaction, students staying on and entry points.

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#	University	Score	Salary 5 yrs on	Working or studying	Satisfied	Typical UCAS
1	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	67	£32k	93%	84%	168
2	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	62	£30.5k	95%	89%	112
3	Royal Holloway, University of London Runnymede, South East · TEF Silver	61	£31.5k	87%	83%	136
4	University of St Mark & St John Plymouth, South West · TEF Gold	61	—	100%	91%	88
5	University of Leicester Leicester, East Midlands · TEF Gold	59	£28.5k	86%	83%	120
6	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	59	£25.5k	95%	86%	136
7	University of Greenwich (Part of London and South East University Group) Greenwich, London · TEF Gold	58	£28.5k	100%	78%	104
8	University of the Arts, London Southwark, London · TEF Bronze	57	£31.5k	—	84%	120
9	University of Worcester Worcester, West Midlands · TEF Silver	57	£26.5k	95%	88%	136
10	Regent's University Westminster, London · TEF Silver	56	£43.5k	—	72%	—
11	Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury, South East · TEF Silver	56	£28k	80%	93%	104
12	University of Winchester Winchester, South East · TEF Silver	55	£26.5k	82%	94%	104
13	Kingston University Kingston upon Thames, London · TEF Gold	54	£26.5k	95%	82%	88
14	Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	54	£25k	—	88%	128
15	University of Chichester Chichester, South East · TEF Gold	54	£25k	85%	87%	104
16	Liverpool Hope University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	54	£24.5k	90%	87%	120
17	Aberystwyth University Ceredigion, Wales	54	£23.5k	90%	90%	104
18	Coventry University Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	52	£26.5k	77%	90%	104
19	University of Central Lancashire Preston, North West · TEF Silver	52	£24k	90%	90%	104
20	Edge Hill University West Lancashire, North West · TEF Silver	51	£28.5k	—	79%	120
21	Southampton Solent University Southampton, South East · TEF Gold	51	£25.5k	83%	82%	104
22	University of Law Camden, London · TEF Silver	50	£33.5k	—	85%	72
23	Brunel University of London Hillingdon, London · TEF Bronze	50	£29.5k	—	82%	136
24	University of Essex Colchester, East of England · TEF Silver	49	£27.5k	83%	87%	104
25	St Mary's University, Twickenham Richmond upon Thames, London · TEF Silver	49	£27.5k	—	78%	104
26	Buckinghamshire New University Buckinghamshire, South East · TEF Silver	49	£27k	75%	96%	88
27	Roehampton University Wandsworth, London · TEF Silver	48	£28k	—	85%	88
28	University of Chester Cheshire West and Chester, North West · TEF Silver	48	£25k	88%	78%	120
29	Birkbeck, University of London Camden, London · TEF Bronze	47	£32k	80%	87%	104
30	University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham, South West · TEF Silver	47	£25k	90%	78%	104
31	York St John University York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	47	£25k	85%	82%	104
32	University of Sunderland Sunderland, North East · TEF Silver	47	£22.5k	90%	91%	104
33	Bournemouth University Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	46	£28k	90%	79%	80
34	London South Bank University Southwark, London · TEF Silver	46	£27.5k	95%	79%	104
35	University of Northampton West Northamptonshire, East Midlands · TEF Silver	46	£27k	79%	83%	88
36	University of West London Ealing, London · TEF Silver	46	£26.5k	80%	71%	120
37	University of Derby Derby, East Midlands · TEF Gold	46	£24.5k	90%	71%	104
38	Glasgow Caledonian University Scotland	46	£22.5k	90%	81%	152
39	Bath Spa University Bath and North East Somerset, South West · TEF Silver	45	£26.5k	—	75%	104
40	University of Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands · TEF Silver	45	£23k	75%	82%	120
41	University of Salford Salford, North West · TEF Silver	44	£23.5k	75%	80%	104
42	Birmingham Newman University Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	44	£22.5k	85%	91%	88
43	University of Cumbria Cumberland, North West · TEF Silver	43	£23k	80%	88%	104
44	Lincoln Bishop University Lincoln, East Midlands · TEF Silver	40	£22k	85%	88%	72
45	University of East London Newham, London · TEF Silver	39	£25.5k	65%	77%	104
46	University of Bradford Bradford, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	39	£22k	60%	85%	120
47	University of Bedfordshire Luton, East of England · TEF Bronze	38	£25k	65%	85%	104
48	University of Greater Manchester Bolton, North West · TEF Silver	32	£21.5k	—	80%	88

How the score works: universities are compared within each subject on salary five years after graduating (27%), the share in work or further study (18%), student satisfaction (18%), students staying on (13.5%), typical UCAS points (13.5%, compared within each nation) and the TEF rating (10%, England). 50 is typical. Figures: Discover Uni (Office for Students, HESA), National Student Survey, Graduate Outcomes, HMRC LEO earnings; full-time first degrees.

Questions

What is the best university for Applied psychology?

On our measures Cardiff University ranks first for Applied psychology, followed by University of Reading, Royal Holloway, University of London, University of St Mark & St John. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Applied psychology graduates earn the most?

Regent's University: typical earnings of £43.5k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).