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.
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.”
Read the full rankings here.
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Featured image – Leeds Beckett University
