Best universities for Design studies (2026)

101 UK universities teaching Design studies 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	Loughborough University Charnwood, East Midlands · TEF Gold	70	£34k	89%	86%	168
2	University of Warwick Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	70	£33k	90%	89%	152
3	University of Strathclyde Scotland	65	—	88%	91%	192
4	Kingston University Kingston upon Thames, London · TEF Gold	63	£30.5k	90%	86%	128
5	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	62	£30k	92%	89%	120
6	Bangor University Gwynedd, Wales	62	£29.5k	85%	99%	112
7	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	62	£29k	87%	88%	152
8	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	61	£31k	—	79%	152
9	Farnborough College of Technology Rushmoor, South East · TEF Bronze	61	£27k	100%	93%	—
10	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	61	£27k	95%	83%	136
11	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	60	£32.5k	85%	91%	120
12	University of Edinburgh Scotland	60	£27.5k	95%	89%	152
13	University of Dundee Scotland	60	£26.5k	95%	92%	152
14	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	58	£27.5k	90%	91%	120
15	Edinburgh Napier University Scotland	58	£27.5k	95%	85%	152
16	University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, South East · TEF Gold	58	£26.5k	91%	88%	120
17	Leeds Arts University Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	57	£26k	95%	86%	136
18	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	57	£25k	92%	86%	136
19	University of the Arts, London Southwark, London · TEF Bronze	56	£29.5k	85%	87%	136
20	University of Winchester Winchester, South East · TEF Silver	56	£28k	100%	85%	104
21	Falmouth University Cornwall, South West · TEF Silver	56	£26.5k	90%	87%	136
22	University of Lincoln Lincoln, East Midlands · TEF Gold	56	£25.5k	90%	86%	120
23	University of Suffolk Ipswich, East of England · TEF Silver	56	£25.5k	100%	95%	104
24	South Essex College of Further and Higher Education Southend-on-Sea, East of England · TEF Silver	56	£22.5k	95%	95%	—
25	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama Camden, London · TEF Silver	55	£29.5k	90%	79%	120
26	University of Brighton Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	55	£29k	—	81%	120
27	Abertay University Scotland	55	£27.5k	90%	82%	160
28	Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	55	£26.5k	90%	84%	120
29	Futureworks Salford, North West · TEF Silver	55	£23k	95%	98%	120
30	Arts University Bournemouth, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	54	£27k	86%	81%	136
31	Oxford Brookes University Oxford, South East · TEF Silver	54	£27k	82%	86%	128
32	University of Westminster Westminster, London · TEF Silver	54	£26.5k	90%	89%	104
33	De Montfort University Leicester, East Midlands · TEF Silver	54	£25k	89%	90%	120
34	Norwich University of the Arts Norwich, East of England · TEF Gold	54	£24.5k	91%	86%	120
35	Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	54	£24k	100%	87%	120
36	Bournemouth University Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	53	£33.5k	75%	83%	96
37	Southampton Solent University Southampton, South East · TEF Gold	53	£25.5k	90%	87%	104
38	Robert Gordon University Scotland	53	£25k	88%	94%	136
39	University of South Wales/Prifysgol De Cymru Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales	53	£25k	90%	86%	120
40	London South Bank University Southwark, London · TEF Silver	52	£30k	80%	87%	104
41	Ravensbourne University London Greenwich, London · TEF Silver	52	£28k	81%	89%	112
42	Coventry University Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	52	£27.5k	83%	82%	120
43	Bath Spa University Bath and North East Somerset, South West · TEF Silver	52	£26.5k	—	84%	120
44	University of Greenwich (Part of London and South East University Group) Greenwich, London · TEF Gold	52	£26.5k	75%	83%	120
45	University of the West of England, Bristol South Gloucestershire, South West · TEF Silver	52	£26k	89%	84%	120
46	University of Plymouth Plymouth, South West · TEF Gold	52	£25k	88%	76%	128
47	University of Salford Salford, North West · TEF Silver	52	£24.5k	90%	88%	120
48	Teesside University Middlesbrough, North East · TEF Gold	52	£22k	95%	89%	112
49	Goldsmiths' College Thurrock, East of England · TEF Bronze	51	£27.5k	75%	90%	136
50	Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury, South East · TEF Silver	51	£25k	95%	87%	104

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 Design studies?

On our measures Loughborough University ranks first for Design studies, followed by University of Warwick, University of Strathclyde, Kingston University. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Design studies graduates earn the most?

Loughborough University: typical earnings of £34k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).