Best universities for Physical geographical sciences (2026)

46 UK universities teaching Physical geographical sciences 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 St Andrews Scotland	65	£39.5k	90%	91%	216
2	University of Exeter Exeter, South West · TEF Gold	63	£38k	85%	89%	152
3	Loughborough University Charnwood, East Midlands · TEF Gold	63	£36k	90%	96%	136
4	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	63	£33k	95%	97%	152
5	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	62	£32.5k	100%	87%	152
6	University of Bristol Bristol, City of, South West · TEF Silver	61	£44.5k	78%	88%	152
7	University of Durham County Durham, North East · TEF Silver	61	£38.5k	87%	89%	168
8	University of York York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	59	£34k	95%	88%	136
9	King's College London Westminster, London · TEF Silver	57	£35.5k	85%	88%	152
10	University of Southampton Southampton, South East · TEF Silver	57	£34.5k	88%	91%	136
11	UCL Camden, London · TEF Silver	56	£41k	70%	91%	136
12	University of Edinburgh Scotland	55	£34.5k	90%	89%	184
13	University of Brighton Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	55	£32k	100%	94%	104
14	University of Birmingham Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	54	£34.5k	88%	88%	136
15	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	54	£34.5k	85%	88%	136
16	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	54	£30.5k	95%	93%	104
17	University of Ulster Northern Ireland	54	—	90%	89%	120
18	University of Nottingham Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Silver	53	£38.5k	80%	90%	120
19	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	53	£36k	80%	88%	136
20	University of the West of England, Bristol South Gloucestershire, South West · TEF Silver	53	£30k	90%	98%	120
21	University of Sussex Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	51	£31.5k	95%	86%	104
22	Aberystwyth University Ceredigion, Wales	51	£29k	95%	93%	104
23	University of Lincoln Lincoln, East Midlands · TEF Gold	51	—	90%	86%	104
24	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	50	£33.5k	85%	93%	104
25	University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, South East · TEF Gold	50	£30.5k	90%	83%	104
26	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	50	£30k	90%	87%	120
27	University of Hull Kingston upon Hull, City of, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	50	£28.5k	95%	86%	104
28	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	49	£31k	85%	83%	120
29	University of Northumbria at Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	49	£30.5k	95%	88%	120
30	University of Plymouth Plymouth, South West · TEF Gold	49	£30k	87%	86%	112
31	University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham, South West · TEF Silver	49	£29k	95%	91%	104
32	Royal Holloway, University of London Runnymede, South East · TEF Silver	46	£32k	85%	85%	120
33	University of Leicester Leicester, East Midlands · TEF Gold	46	£32k	80%	94%	88
34	Kingston University Kingston upon Thames, London · TEF Gold	45	£30k	85%	86%	88
35	University of Keele Newcastle-under-Lyme, West Midlands · TEF Gold	45	£29k	85%	86%	104
36	Bangor University Gwynedd, Wales	45	£26.5k	90%	91%	104
37	University of Stirling Scotland	44	£30k	85%	86%	168
38	Swansea University Swansea, Wales	43	£29.5k	80%	89%	104
39	University of East Anglia Norwich, East of England · TEF Silver	40	£31.5k	80%	79%	120
40	Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	40	£27.5k	70%	95%	104
41	University of Aberdeen Scotland	39	£32k	68%	80%	152
42	Leeds Beckett University Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Bronze	38	£29.5k	—	89%	96
43	University of the Highlands and Islands Scotland	36	£24k	95%	90%	152
44	University of Cumbria Cumberland, North West · TEF Silver	34	£24.5k	75%	95%	104
45	University of Salford Salford, North West · TEF Silver	33	£27k	92%	78%	88
46	York St John University York, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	31	—	85%	74%	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 Physical geographical sciences?

On our measures University of St Andrews ranks first for Physical geographical sciences, followed by University of Exeter, Loughborough University, University of Sheffield. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Physical geographical sciences graduates earn the most?

University of Bristol: typical earnings of £44.5k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).