Best universities for Linguistics (2026)

26 UK universities teaching Linguistics 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 Cambridge Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	67	£40k	85%	79%	216
2	University of Warwick Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	66	£33.5k	90%	91%	152
3	University of Oxford Oxford, South East · TEF Gold	64	£39k	85%	76%	200
4	UCL Camden, London · TEF Silver	62	£38.5k	82%	89%	152
5	University of Ulster Northern Ireland	58	—	90%	91%	120
6	University of Edinburgh Scotland	57	£34.5k	85%	79%	168
7	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	54	£31k	90%	81%	136
8	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	53	£33k	85%	85%	136
9	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	53	£29k	85%	82%	136
10	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	53	£29k	80%	84%	152
11	Swansea University Swansea, Wales	52	£26.5k	85%	92%	120
12	Queen Mary University of London Tower Hamlets, London · TEF Silver	51	£31.5k	80%	88%	120
13	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	51	£30.5k	90%	79%	136
14	Bangor University Gwynedd, Wales	51	£24.5k	92%	89%	104
15	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	50	£30k	85%	83%	136
16	University of Aberdeen Scotland	49	£26.5k	85%	86%	168
17	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	48	£29k	83%	82%	120
18	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	46	£29k	75%	80%	136
19	University of Westminster Westminster, London · TEF Silver	46	£29k	75%	90%	104
20	University of Greenwich (Part of London and South East University Group) Greenwich, London · TEF Gold	44	£27.5k	—	79%	104
21	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	43	£27k	83%	77%	104
22	University of Essex Colchester, East of England · TEF Silver	41	£28k	80%	83%	104
23	SOAS University of London Camden, London · TEF Silver	40	£29k	75%	80%	120
24	York St John University York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	39	£26.5k	70%	87%	104
25	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	37	£26.5k	70%	80%	104
26	Birkbeck, University of London Camden, London · TEF Bronze	29	£29.5k	70%	77%	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 Linguistics?

On our measures University of Cambridge ranks first for Linguistics, followed by University of Warwick, University of Oxford, UCL. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Linguistics graduates earn the most?

University of Cambridge: typical earnings of £40k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).