Oxford and Cambridge Drop in UK University Rankings 2026: LSE Tops List

Oxford and Cambridge have dropped from the top 3 in the UK University Rankings for the first time, placing jointly fourth in the Times Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) retained the top spot, with the University of St Andrews in second place and Durham University in third.

Durham was also named University of the Year 2026, climbing two places from last year. The guide attributed Durham's success to academic performance, teaching quality, and student experience.

The rankings evaluate institutions based on various factors like student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects. LSE received accolades, including University of the Year and Academic Performance.