The University of Cambridge has retained its number one position in the UK according to the annual Complete University Guide 2027 league tables, released on June 2, 2026.
The rankings reveal significant shifts among institutions across the country.
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The University of Oxford secured second place, followed by the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of St Andrews, and Imperial College London rounding out the top five.
Lancaster University ranked 10th nationally and first among the 12 higher education institutions in north-west England.
Welsh universities faced a challenging landscape, with six of the eight institutions dropping in the overall standings amid a gloomy financial and employment outlook.
Cardiff University fell five places to tie for 27th nationally but remained the top-ranked institution in Wales. Swansea University dropped one spot to 41st.
Two Welsh institutions bucked the trend: Bangor University rose six places to 49th, and the University of Wales Trinity St David soared 12 positions to 99th.
Wrexham University placed last among Welsh institutions at 130th nationally.
The league tables are compiled using 10 metrics, including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, and graduate prospects.
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The proportion of students continuing from first to second year rose to 91.1% from 89.7%, and 72% of graduates transitioned into professional roles or postgraduate education within 15 months.
Twenty-nine universities in the top 40 expanded UK undergraduate recruitment, with 27 introducing more flexible entry requirements.
Business and management studies, nursing and midwifery, and computer science remained the top three most popular fields of study over the last decade.
Professor Amanda Chetwynd, chair of the CUG advisory board, congratulated Cardiff University for retaining the top position in Wales and all Welsh universities for supporting their students.
She noted that the methodology draws on independent measures reflecting student priorities such as teaching quality and graduate outcomes.
Lancaster University Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Decent attributed the institution's success to staff dedication, stating that the university's ongoing success is written by the care and commitment of its employees.
The guide also highlighted subject-level excellence in Wales, with Aberystwyth University ranking third for agriculture and forestry, Swansea University second for complementary medicine, and Bangor University second for health studies.
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Several institutions outside the top tier, including Harper Adams University and the University of Buckingham, delivered outstanding employment outcomes.
