Best universities for Microbiology and cell science (2026)

21 UK universities teaching Microbiology and cell science as a full-time degree, ranked on graduate pay, jobs, student satisfaction, students staying on and entry points.

Filter by your grades, subjects and region →All universities

#	University	Score	Salary 5 yrs on	Working or studying	Satisfied	Typical UCAS
1	Imperial College London Westminster, London · TEF Gold	64	£43k	83%	89%	200
2	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	59	£33k	100%	87%	136
3	University of St Andrews Scotland	59	£32.5k	94%	88%	216
4	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	58	£38k	92%	89%	152
5	UCL Camden, London · TEF Silver	57	£42.5k	88%	86%	136
6	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	56	£33.5k	87%	88%	152
7	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	55	£34.5k	100%	78%	168
8	University of Glasgow Scotland	54	£29.5k	90%	88%	216
9	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	51	£35.5k	86%	86%	136
10	University of Strathclyde Scotland	51	£31k	90%	85%	184
11	University of East Anglia Norwich, East of England · TEF Silver	51	£29.5k	86%	94%	120
12	University of Bristol Bristol, City of, South West · TEF Silver	50	£36k	75%	92%	152
13	University of Dundee Scotland	49	£31k	85%	90%	184
14	University of Keele Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands · TEF Gold	49	£29k	90%	86%	120
15	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	48	£29.5k	85%	89%	104
16	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	45	£26.5k	90%	84%	104
17	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	43	£29k	80%	90%	104
18	Edinburgh Napier University Scotland	42	£27.5k	80%	91%	168
19	Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland	42	—	75%	83%	136
20	University of Salford Salford, North West · TEF Silver	38	£22.5k	88%	93%	88
21	Aberystwyth University Ceredigion, Wales	35	£27k	85%	86%	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 Microbiology and cell science?

On our measures Imperial College London ranks first for Microbiology and cell science, followed by University of Liverpool, University of St Andrews, University of Leeds. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Microbiology and cell science graduates earn the most?

Imperial College London: typical earnings of £43k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).