Best universities for Philosophy (2026)

53 UK universities teaching Philosophy 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 Oxford Oxford, South East · TEF Gold	73	£50.5k	90%	91%	200
2	London School of Economics and Political Science Westminster, London · TEF Silver	64	£55.5k	—	84%	168
3	University of Durham County Durham, North East · TEF Silver	64	£46.5k	90%	86%	168
4	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	62	£37.5k	90%	94%	136
5	University of St Andrews Scotland	62	£33k	85%	93%	200
6	University of Warwick Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	61	£38.5k	84%	93%	152
7	University of Exeter Exeter, South West · TEF Gold	59	£41k	86%	81%	152
8	University of Bristol Bristol, City of, South West · TEF Silver	57	£36k	86%	86%	160
9	University of Birmingham Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	57	£32k	92%	91%	136
10	King's College London Westminster, London · TEF Silver	56	£37k	86%	88%	152
11	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	56	£32.5k	90%	88%	144
12	University of Cambridge Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	55	£40k	75%	78%	184
13	UCL Camden, London · TEF Silver	55	£39.5k	80%	81%	168
14	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	55	£33k	80%	89%	136
15	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	55	£28k	90%	88%	120
16	Oxford Brookes University Oxford, South East · TEF Silver	54	£30.5k	—	94%	104
17	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	52	£30.5k	90%	83%	136
18	Bangor University Gwynedd, Wales	52	£23k	100%	90%	104
19	University of Edinburgh Scotland	51	£33k	—	82%	152
20	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	51	£30.5k	85%	87%	120
21	University of Sussex Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	51	£30k	80%	92%	120
22	University of Lincoln Lincoln, East Midlands · TEF Gold	51	£25.5k	85%	91%	104
23	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	50	£32k	80%	89%	120
24	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	50	£32k	85%	81%	152
25	University of Dundee Scotland	50	£27.5k	90%	89%	136
26	University of Aberdeen Scotland	49	£28.5k	80%	94%	136
27	University of East Anglia Norwich, East of England · TEF Silver	49	£28.5k	85%	94%	104
28	Swansea University Swansea, Wales	49	£26.5k	85%	91%	104
29	University of Nottingham Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Silver	48	£34k	80%	83%	120
30	St Mary's University, Twickenham Richmond upon Thames, London · TEF Silver	48	£28k	80%	93%	104
31	Coventry University Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	48	£27.5k	—	90%	104
32	York St John University York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	48	£23k	95%	89%	112
33	University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham, South West · TEF Silver	47	£27.5k	90%	90%	72
34	University of Stirling Scotland	47	£27k	82%	86%	160
35	Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	47	£26k	—	92%	88
36	Liverpool Hope University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	47	£25k	95%	84%	104
37	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	47	£25k	85%	86%	104
38	University of Essex Colchester, East of England · TEF Silver	46	£29k	85%	88%	88
39	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	46	£28.5k	86%	82%	120
40	University of Winchester Winchester, South East · TEF Silver	46	£26.5k	90%	81%	112
41	Birmingham Newman University Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	46	£25.5k	80%	96%	104
42	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	45	£32k	75%	84%	144
43	Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland	45	—	85%	80%	136
44	SOAS University of London Camden, London · TEF Silver	44	£32.5k	80%	77%	120
45	Royal Holloway, University of London Runnymede, South East · TEF Silver	44	£31k	80%	83%	104
46	University of the West of England, Bristol South Gloucestershire, South West · TEF Silver	43	£28.5k	80%	89%	96
47	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	42	£27.5k	—	77%	104
48	Birkbeck, University of London Camden, London · TEF Bronze	42	£27.5k	95%	81%	96
49	University of Keele Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands · TEF Gold	42	£26.5k	70%	89%	104
50	University of the Highlands and Islands Scotland	41	£22k	90%	92%	136

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 Philosophy?

On our measures University of Oxford ranks first for Philosophy, followed by London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Durham, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Philosophy graduates earn the most?

London School of Economics and Political Science: typical earnings of £55.5k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).