England’s best universities for the upcoming academic year have been named, and one Leeds institution has made the cut.
And this is a very important title too, as it’s all according to current students.
It’s that time of year when higher education institutions nationwide await their annual rankings, and thankfully, Uni Compare has now released its highly-anticipated 2026 league tables ahead of the upcoming academic year, ready for prospective students to get the insight needed before choosing where to study.
Since launching its rankings back in 2020, the platform has become a trusted resource for students across England – with this year’s data drawing from the largest review database yet.
Images: Leeds Beckett University
Uni Compare has amassed over 151,000 reviews and ratings since its inception, creating one of the UK’s most comprehensive student-led review databases focused exclusively on the university experience, and the 2026 rankings represent the culmination of 28,430 verified student reviews and ratings collected across 209 universities in England.
The annual league tables focus exclusively on institutions in England, ranking them across five key student experience areas.
Accommodation, course quality, and student social life are just some of the student experience areas taken into consideration, and then the percentage score indicates the proportion of students who said they would recommend their university to others.
The only Leeds university to make the top 10 list is Leeds Beckett University, claiming a respectable eighth place with a 99% overall recommendation score.
Unlike many other round-up lists, northern cities – and particularly North West-based universities – dominate the top 10, with institutions such as Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University, the University of Salford, and Newcastle University all claiming spots within the coveted lineup.
Best Universities in England 2026
Middlesex University
Liverpool John Moores University
Nottingham Trent University
Newcastle University
Edge Hill University
University of Liverpool
University of Derby
Leeds Beckett University
University of Salford
University of Sheffield
Not only that, but the University of Liverpool and the University of Sheffield also rank highly, but despite all this, the north hasn’t claimed the top spot – that has gone to Middlesex University.
“What stands out this year is just how competitive the top positions are,” commented Uni Compare founder, Owen O’Neill.
“The rankings reveal what students are actually experiencing day-to-day, from the quality of their accommodation, to how well they’re being prepared for their careers.
“Recommendation rates tell a compelling story too – when 95% to 100% of students say they’d recommend their university, that speaks volumes.”
Newly-appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shared plans for a brand-new Health and Social Care 'North' in Leeds as one of his first big plans as leader.
Set to be based right here in the city centre, the new Yorkshire base for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will serve as a Northern hub for the crucial cog in the public sector.
This comes not long after Andy Burnham announced and opened 'No. 10 North' at his previous base over in Greater Manchester, which took barely a week to get up and running.
Headed up by current Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, the initiative will be building on the vision outlined not only by Burnham but on the groundwork laid by her predecessor and now Defence Minister, Wes Streeting.
The new Defence Minister, Wes Streeting, says that social care has been ignored for too long and needs a clear long-term plan.
Mr Streeting, who was Health and Social Care Secretary until earlier this year, reflected on new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham's, first few days in… pic.twitter.com/Udnd1EwcsE
As per a report by LBC, an insider close to Cooper - the Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley - told the outlet that this big step for the North "will help bring decision-making closer to the communities we serve and strengthen our ability to improve health outcomes across the country."
"She has asked the Department to draw up plans that would complement the plans for Number 10 North on the other side of the Pennines", they continued, "allowing Ministers to work from Quarry House [in LS2] in the North, and strengthening DHSC operations in other parts of the country."
With confirmation now coming that the old 'Quarry on the Hill' has been chosen as the satellite station for the soon-to-be-overhauled Department, the selection makes sense given its current government operations.
As well as being a major headquarters for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it also has offices reporting to DHSC, NHS staff and other parts of the civil service.
In addition, it's also worth noting that the PM has just announced another big change to the education sector, too, essentially trying to redress the balance between "academic and technical" training.
Great news for everyone looking to seek out solid and hopefully more stable careers across the nation.
Building on Leeds' existing offices, the idea is that this will ensure more considered development across more regions and specific communities, West Yorkshire being just one of them.
Many localities still understandably feel like they fall foul of being somewhat overlooked, especially up in this part of the country.
But, as alluded to above, the hope is that this continued sense of devolution and efforts to work more directly with local governments should help bridge the gap between Whitehall, Westminster and the rest.
As the PM said in his first speech at his new Northern premises, he said a big part of his ethos is about "putting power in every postcode" and making a change from things just feeling "like an argument with people in the centre of government and people having a to and from all of the time."
While official opening dates etc for Health and Social Care North are still yet to be revealed, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester has insisted that he will be working from No.10 North at least once a week. What do you make of it all, Leeds?
DMA’S announce VERY intimate Leeds gig ahead of major tour
Daisy Jackson
DMA'S have just announced details of some of their most intimate gigs yet, with the Aussie trio set to perform at record stores and tiny music venues around the UK.
The indie-rock heavyweights have just announced a handful of very intimate shows this summer, ahead of their much larger tour in 2027.
DMA'S will be treating fans to up-close acoustic gigs in cities including Leeds, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Dundee and Bristol.
The shows are to celebrate the release of their self-titled fifth album, which is due for release on 21 August.
DMA'S will be playing the outstore gigs the week after the album is released, kicking things off in Kingston on 24 August.
Then they'll head out to some of the nation's finest record stores and intimate event spaces, including a stop at The Wardrobe in Leeds.
DMA'S' Leeds gig will take place at The Wardrobe in partnership with Crash Records, giving fans the chance to catch the trio in one of the city's best-loved intimate live music venues.
The announcement follows the release of the band’s latest single, Killing Time, a fast-paced, euphoric and instantly infectious anthem that continues to build anticipation for the album.
This is a rare chance to see DMA'S – Johnny Took, Matt Mason and Tommy O’Dell – in an intimate setting, when they normally dominate some of the biggest stages in the world.
DMA’S have accrued more than 500 million streams across their catalogue, four multi-platinum singles, multiple ARIA Award nominations, and 13 songs in triple j’s coveted Hottest 100.
These intimate outstores mean fans won't have to wait all the way until 2027 to see the boys live again, when they'll be heading out on a much bigger UK tour.
Clementine Hall -
10th June 2025 
