Best Universities
The UK’s best universities ranked by badges earned. Each badge represents proven excellence in a specific area – teaching quality, research strength, student satisfaction, or graduate outcomes. Unlike traditional rankings that force universities into a single hierarchy, our badge system helps you identify institutions that excel in the areas that matter most to you. Universities earn badges based on official data from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), Research Excellence Framework (REF), and National Student Survey (NSS).
QUICK GUIDE:
Sort the table below by badges to find universities that excel in those areas. Each in the table represents a university strength. Hover or click over any badge to see what it means.
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University | Badges | |
|---|---|---|
University of St Andrews | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Student Favourite
Criteria: 4 percentage points or more above benchmark in NSS categories T1 or T2
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 8 |
University of Cambridge | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Student Favourite
Criteria: 4 percentage points or more above benchmark in NSS categories T1 or T2
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 8 |
Guildhall School of Music & Drama | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Specialist Institution
Criteria: Focused expert teaching in a specific field
Student Favourite
Criteria: 4 percentage points or more above benchmark in NSS categories T1 or T2
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 8 |
University of Warwick | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
University of Oxford | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
University of Liverpool | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
University of Birmingham | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
Royal College of Music | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Specialist Institution
Criteria: Focused expert teaching in a specific field
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
London School of Economics and Political Science | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
Imperial College London | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
Durham University | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 7 |
Northern School of Contemporary Dance | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Specialist Institution
Criteria: Focused expert teaching in a specific field
Student Favourite
Criteria: 4 percentage points or more above benchmark in NSS categories T1 or T2
| 6 |
UWE Bristol | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Specialist Institution
Criteria: Focused expert teaching in a specific field
Student Favourite
Criteria: 4 percentage points or more above benchmark in NSS categories T1 or T2
| 6 |
University of Southampton | High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 6 |
University of Sheffield | High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 6 |
University of Leicester | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
| 6 |
University of Exeter | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 6 |
University of Bristol | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 6 |
University of Bath | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Satisfied Students
Criteria: Positive performance above benchmark in National Student Survey (NSS) categories T1 and T2
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
| 6 |
University College London | Outstanding Teaching
Criteria: Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
High Quality Teaching
Criteria: Gold or Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
Research Power
Criteria: Produced 4-star research recognized in REF 2021 (Research Excellence Framework)
Global Leader
Criteria: Ranked in ARTU (Aggregate Ranking Of Top Universities) top 400
International Mix
Criteria: 25% or higher international student population
Prestigious
Criteria: Ancient universities, Russell Group members, or Specialist Prestigious Institutions
| 6 |
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Data Source:
Last Updated: January 2025 | Our Data Sources: TEF, NSS, REF 2021
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