Best universities for Performing arts (2026)

140 UK universities teaching Performing arts 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 Warwick Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	69	£33k	90%	90%	152
2	University of Oxford Oxford, South East · TEF Gold	68	£35.5k	87%	82%	184
3	University of Durham County Durham, North East · TEF Silver	67	£31k	90%	91%	184
4	University of Cambridge Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	67	—	95%	87%	216
5	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	64	£30.5k	92%	86%	160
6	Royal Academy of Music Westminster, London · TEF Gold	64	—	100%	84%	152
7	University of Bristol Bristol, City of, South West · TEF Silver	63	£30k	90%	84%	168
8	University of Exeter Exeter, South West · TEF Gold	63	£28.5k	—	82%	152
9	University of Glasgow Scotland	63	£28.5k	95%	80%	216
10	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	63	£24k	100%	92%	160
11	University of Birmingham Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	62	£29k	95%	84%	152
12	Royal Holloway, University of London Runnymede, South East · TEF Silver	62	£28k	92%	91%	152
13	University of Surrey Guildford, South East · TEF Silver	61	£28.5k	95%	82%	152
14	Guildhall School of Music & Drama City of London, London · TEF Gold	61	£28k	95%	80%	144
15	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	60	£29k	88%	86%	168
16	University of Edinburgh Scotland	59	£27k	90%	90%	184
17	University of Sussex Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	59	£24k	100%	92%	136
18	University of Kent (Part of London and South East University Group) Canterbury, South East · TEF Silver	58	£27.5k	95%	92%	136
19	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	58	£27.5k	92%	83%	152
20	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	58	£27k	100%	85%	120
21	Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Scotland	58	£26.5k	95%	83%	184
22	Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts Southwark, London	58	—	90%	91%	136
23	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	57	£27k	85%	86%	136
24	Momentum Performing Arts Academy Ealing, London	57	£26k	—	83%	152
25	London Studio Centre Barnet, London	57	£25k	—	90%	136
26	University of Hull Kingston upon Hull, City of, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	57	£25k	—	93%	104
27	Bournemouth University Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	56	£33.5k	85%	74%	120
28	King's College London Westminster, London · TEF Silver	56	£28.5k	100%	72%	136
29	University of Huddersfield Kirklees, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	56	£25k	100%	79%	120
30	London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Hammersmith and Fulham, London	56	—	100%	85%	104
31	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	55	£29k	80%	85%	120
32	Queen Mary University of London Tower Hamlets, London · TEF Silver	55	£27k	—	78%	152
33	Slough Borough Council Ealing, London	55	£25.5k	—	95%	128
34	Performance Preparation Academy Leicester, East Midlands	55	£25k	—	92%	136
35	Drama Studio London Ealing, London	55	£24.5k	90%	83%	152
36	University of Greenwich (Part of London and South East University Group) Greenwich, London · TEF Gold	55	£24k	—	88%	120
37	Norwich University of the Arts Norwich, East of England · TEF Gold	55	£23.5k	90%	90%	120
38	University of Chichester Chichester, South East · TEF Gold	55	£23.5k	90%	89%	136
39	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	54	£27.5k	72%	87%	160
40	University of East Anglia Norwich, East of England · TEF Silver	54	£27k	90%	86%	120
41	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	54	£27k	85%	80%	152
42	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	54	£26k	75%	85%	152
43	University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, South East · TEF Gold	54	£24k	95%	88%	104
44	Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Scotland	54	—	95%	82%	168
45	Royal Northern College of Music Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	54	—	94%	81%	112
46	University of Aberdeen Scotland	53	£26.5k	90%	82%	168
47	City St George's, University of London Islington, London · TEF Silver	53	£25k	80%	91%	144
48	Leeds Arts University Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	53	£25k	90%	90%	120
49	Bangor University Gwynedd, Wales	53	£25k	95%	85%	120
50	Millennium Performing Arts Worcester, West Midlands	53	£24k	—	83%	152

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 Performing arts?

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

Which university's Performing arts graduates earn the most?

University of Oxford: typical earnings of £35.5k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).