Best universities for Languages and area studies (2026)

52 UK universities teaching Languages and area 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	University of Bath Bath and North East Somerset, South West · TEF Gold	66	£41.5k	90%	86%	152
2	University of Cambridge Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	66	£39.5k	85%	84%	200
3	University of St Andrews Scotland	65	£38.5k	85%	93%	184
4	University of Oxford Oxford, South East · TEF Gold	64	£42.5k	84%	80%	184
5	Heriot-Watt University Scotland	64	£29.5k	100%	92%	200
6	University of Warwick Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	62	£35k	87%	89%	152
7	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	61	£31k	95%	88%	136
8	University of Surrey Guildford, South East · TEF Silver	60	£40k	75%	94%	120
9	University of Exeter Exeter, South West · TEF Gold	60	£36k	86%	84%	152
10	University of Bristol Bristol, City of, South West · TEF Silver	59	£37.5k	84%	84%	152
11	University of Sussex Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	57	£33k	95%	88%	120
12	University of Durham County Durham, North East · TEF Silver	56	£38.5k	86%	80%	168
13	University of Leicester Leicester, East Midlands · TEF Gold	56	£30.5k	85%	93%	136
14	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	55	£35.5k	82%	88%	136
15	University of Strathclyde Scotland	54	£34k	75%	89%	184
16	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	54	£31.5k	88%	83%	152
17	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	53	£32k	81%	86%	152
18	UCL Camden, London · TEF Silver	52	£42.5k	77%	77%	152
19	University of Birmingham Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	52	£34k	81%	88%	136
20	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	51	£34k	87%	81%	136
21	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	51	£34k	85%	85%	120
22	University of London institute in Paris England	51	£31.5k	80%	88%	136
23	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	51	£27.5k	90%	85%	136
24	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	50	£30.5k	89%	80%	136
25	University of Glasgow Scotland	50	£29k	85%	83%	200
26	Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland	50	—	85%	79%	152
27	King's College London Westminster, London · TEF Silver	49	£34k	85%	78%	136
28	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	49	£32k	75%	91%	136
29	Royal Holloway, University of London Runnymede, South East · TEF Silver	49	£31k	80%	86%	120
30	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	48	£31k	85%	76%	152
31	University of Chester Cheshire West and Chester, North West · TEF Silver	48	£27.5k	95%	83%	104
32	Swansea University Swansea, Wales	48	£26.5k	90%	85%	104
33	University of Edinburgh Scotland	47	£36.5k	80%	75%	168
34	Queen Mary University of London Tower Hamlets, London · TEF Silver	47	£31k	80%	84%	136
35	University of Kent (Part of London and South East University Group) Canterbury, South East · TEF Silver	47	£30.5k	75%	90%	120
36	University of Aberdeen Scotland	47	£30k	85%	89%	152
37	University of Stirling Scotland	46	£26.5k	85%	92%	168
38	Oxford Brookes University Oxford, South East · TEF Silver	45	£29.5k	88%	81%	104
39	University of East Anglia Norwich, East of England · TEF Silver	45	£29k	90%	82%	104
40	University of Northumbria at Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	45	£28k	—	85%	112
41	Bangor University Gwynedd, Wales	45	£24.5k	95%	85%	104
42	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	44	£28.5k	80%	87%	104
43	Aberystwyth University Ceredigion, Wales	44	£24.5k	70%	93%	120
44	University of Dundee Scotland	43	£27k	85%	84%	168
45	University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, South East · TEF Gold	42	£29k	75%	82%	88
46	University of Essex Colchester, East of England · TEF Silver	40	£28k	85%	85%	104
47	De Montfort University Leicester, East Midlands · TEF Silver	40	£24.5k	84%	83%	104
48	SOAS University of London Camden, London · TEF Silver	39	£29.5k	75%	83%	120
49	University of Westminster Westminster, London · TEF Silver	39	£28.5k	75%	85%	104
50	Birkbeck, University of London Camden, London · TEF Bronze	38	£29.5k	80%	88%	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.

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Questions

What is the best university for Languages and area studies?

On our measures University of Bath ranks first for Languages and area studies, followed by University of Cambridge, University of St Andrews, University of Oxford. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Languages and area studies graduates earn the most?

University of Oxford: typical earnings of £42.5k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).