Best universities in the UK for computer science 2025
Discover the UK computer science rankings featuring 63 universities across the UK. The UK ranking is derived from the Times Higher Education University Rankings by Subject 2025: Computer Science, released in January 2025.
The list is based on a comprehensive assessment that scores top UK universities for computer science in areas such as teaching, research and international outlook for studying computer science. The methodology is designed by Times Higher Education’s in-house data team, and it is trusted by students, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders worldwide.
March 6 2025
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Top UK universities for computer science
| UK Computer Science Rank 2025 | World Computer Science Rank 2025 | University | Overall | Teaching | Research Environment | Research Quality | Industry | International Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | University of Oxford | 98.3 | 99.4 | 92.4 | 95.5 | 98.7 | 99.2 |
| 2 | 2 | University of Cambridge | 97.3 | 95.6 | 99.5 | 96.1 | 100 | 95.8 |
| 3 | 8 | Imperial College London | 93.6 | 95.1 | 89.7 | 96.1 | 95.5 | 90.7 |
| 4 | 29 | University of Edinburgh | 84.1 | 89.9 | 91.8 | 95.2 | 78.3 | 79.2 |
| 5 | 34 | UCL | 81.6 | 88 | 71.6 | 96.8 | 79.4 | 76.4 |
| 6 | 68 | University of Manchester | 67.6 | 75.2 | 84.9 | 95.7 | 57.8 | 57.7 |
| 7 | 91 | King’s College London | 60.8 | 85.1 | 66.6 | 96.4 | 41.1 | 46 |
| =8 | 101–125 | University of Bristol | 55.3–59.0 | 78.2 | 68.4 | 89.3 | 38.2 | 41.4 |
| =8 | 101–125 | University of Warwick | 55.3–59.0 | 86.1 | 68.2 | 95.8 | 40 | 38.3 |
| =10 | 126–150 | Queen Mary University of London | 53.1–55.2 | 94.4 | 65.6 | 96.8 | 26.9 | 29.3 |
| =10 | 126–150 | University of Surrey | 53.1–55.2 | 97 | 72.2 | 96.7 | 28.7 | 25.5 |
| =12 | 151–175 | University of Glasgow | 51.1–53.0 | 74.2 | 66.1 | 94 | 33.7 | 36.6 |
| =12 | 151–175 | University of Sheffield | 51.1–53.0 | 73.1 | 71.8 | 93.7 | 31.8 | 36.9 |
| =12 | 151–175 | University of Southampton | 51.1–53.0 | 76.1 | 71.3 | 95.3 | 36.1 | 31.3 |
| =15 | 176–200 | University of Birmingham | 49.3–51.0 | 74.1 | 62.5 | 96.9 | 30.5 | 33.4 |
| =15 | 176–200 | University of Liverpool | 49.3–51.0 | 77.8 | 55.9 | 98.8 | 28.3 | 29.2 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Brunel University of London | 47.0–49.2 | 87.1 | 57.1 | 96 | 21.2 | 18.8 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Cardiff University | 47.0–49.2 | 86.8 | 67.2 | 96.4 | 19.7 | 19.8 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Lancaster University | 47.0–49.2 | 77.9 | 68 | 92.6 | 26.6 | 24 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Loughborough University | 47.0–49.2 | 81.5 | 69.4 | 91.1 | 20.6 | 22.5 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Newcastle University | 47.0–49.2 | 73.6 | 75.6 | 93.6 | 26.1 | 26.4 |
| =17 | 201–250 | Swansea University | 47.0–49.2 | 92.8 | 53.8 | 94.8 | 18.8 | 17.2 |
| =17 | 201–250 | University of Essex | 47.0–49.2 | 80.3 | 67.6 | 98.5 | 18.8 | 24.8 |
| =17 | 201–250 | University of Leeds | 47.0–49.2 | 72.3 | 66.8 | 98 | 26 | 25.8 |
| =17 | 201–250 | University of Leicester | 47.0–49.2 | 86.8 | 51.8 | 99 | 22.3 | 18.4 |
| =17 | 201–250 | University of Nottingham | 47.0–49.2 | 66.1 | 70.5 | 92.2 | 30.4 | 28.2 |
| =17 | 201–250 | University of York | 47.0–49.2 | 59.1 | 65.6 | 89.6 | 31.7 | 34.8 |
| 28 | 251–300 | University of Bradford | 45.2–46.9 | 89.4 | 58.1 | 95.8 | 15.4 | 16.2 |
| =29 | 301–400 | Aston University | 41.0–45.1 | 84.1 | 45.8 | 95.4 | 16.6 | 15 |
| =29 | 301–400 | City, University of London | 41.0–45.1 | 69.9 | 59.8 | 93.1 | 17.9 | 22.4 |
| =29 | 301–400 | De Montfort University | 41.0–45.1 | 86.8 | 36 | 98.3 | 10.3 | 14 |
| =29 | 301–400 | Durham University | 41.0–45.1 | 65.8 | 48.1 | 96.4 | 21.8 | 27.2 |
| =29 | 301–400 | Heriot-Watt University | 41.0–45.1 | 71.9 | 66.3 | 92.3 | 20.4 | 24.6 |
| =29 | 301–400 | Northumbria University | 41.0–45.1 | 83.2 | 47 | 94.8 | 15.7 | 15.2 |
| =29 | 301–400 | Queen’s University Belfast | 41.0–45.1 | 76.6 | 63.1 | 95.9 | 18.6 | 16.2 |
| =29 | 301–400 | Royal Holloway, University of London | 41.0–45.1 | 61 | 61.5 | 94.4 | 21 | 23.1 |
| =29 | 301–400 | University of Aberdeen | 41.0–45.1 | 69.6 | 70.9 | 97.6 | 19.5 | 24.7 |
| =29 | 301–400 | University of Bath | 41.0–45.1 | 63.4 | 59 | 89.8 | 19.8 | 27.2 |
| =29 | 301–400 | University of Exeter | 41.0–45.1 | 82.3 | 52.7 | 94.6 | 16.5 | 20.8 |
| =29 | 301–400 | University of Reading | 41.0–45.1 | 75.2 | 57.9 | 92.5 | 19.1 | 22.8 |
| =29 | 301–400 | University of Salford | 41.0–45.1 | 83.3 | 47.4 | 95.1 | 11.4 | 18 |
| =29 | 301–400 | University of Strathclyde | 41.0–45.1 | 72.5 | 66.9 | 85.8 | 21.3 | 20.5 |
| =43 | 401–500 | Edinburgh Napier University | 37.5–40.9 | 76.2 | 35.9 | 92.9 | 12.6 | 15.7 |
| =43 | 401–500 | Liverpool John Moores University | 37.5–40.9 | 81.1 | 42.5 | 87.3 | 11.2 | 14.6 |
| =43 | 401–500 | Manchester Metropolitan University | 37.5–40.9 | 88.7 | 32.1 | 83.2 | 11.1 | 12.6 |
| =43 | 401–500 | Nottingham Trent University | 37.5–40.9 | 78.6 | 26.9 | 93 | 9.6 | 14.3 |
| =43 | 401–500 | University of Kent | 37.5–40.9 | 59.1 | 58.9 | 93.4 | 15.6 | 20.5 |
| =43 | 401–500 | University of Lincoln | 37.5–40.9 | 74.2 | 44.2 | 88.9 | 12.3 | 13.6 |
| =43 | 401–500 | University of Plymouth | 37.5–40.9 | 71.3 | 56.4 | 92.9 | 15.4 | 14.8 |
| =43 | 401–500 | University of Portsmouth | 37.5–40.9 | 74.8 | 40.2 | 94.4 | 10 | 18.2 |
| =43 | 401–500 | University of Sussex | 37.5–40.9 | 63.3 | 48 | 93.4 | 18.2 | 20.8 |
| =52 | 501–600 | Middlesex University | 34.8–37.2 | 69.1 | 38.6 | 94.5 | 10.1 | 15.5 |
| =52 | 501–600 | University of Greenwich | 34.8–37.2 | 71.6 | 28.1 | 97.6 | 9.6 | 12.1 |
| =52 | 501–600 | University of Huddersfield | 34.8–37.2 | 58.4 | 38.6 | 92.9 | 15.9 | 18.3 |
| =55 | 601–800 | Birmingham City University | 28.7–34.7 | 64.3 | 24.8 | 94.6 | 10 | 14.1 |
| =55 | 601–800 | Bournemouth University | 28.7–34.7 | 54.8 | 38.3 | 91.8 | 8.3 | 12.9 |
| =55 | 601–800 | Coventry University | 28.7–34.7 | 63.2 | 32.5 | 88.1 | 10.6 | 12.1 |
| =55 | 601–800 | Teesside University | 28.7–34.7 | 64.6 | 26.3 | 91.3 | 7.7 | 9.8 |
| =55 | 601–800 | The Open University | 28.7–34.7 | 59.9 | 37.8 | 62.5 | 12.8 | 17.3 |
| =55 | 601–800 | Ulster University | 28.7–34.7 | 41.1 | 69.3 | 78 | 12.6 | 12.7 |
| =55 | 601–800 | University of Hertfordshire | 28.7–34.7 | 59.9 | 36.6 | 95.6 | 8.2 | 10.7 |
| =55 | 601–800 | University of St Andrews | 28.7–34.7 | 30.2 | 50.2 | 84.5 | 17.5 | 29.8 |
| =55 | 601–800 | University of the West of England | 28.7–34.7 | 64 | 37.8 | 85.7 | 9.7 | 13.8 |
Highlights of the Computer Science Rankings for the UK 2025
- The University of Oxford holds the top position both in the UK and globally, with the highest teaching score.
- While the University of Cambridge remains second in the UK, it rose from seventh to second place in the global rankings, showing significant improvements in its ability to drive innovation and collaborate with businesses through research, consultancy, and technology transfer.
- Four London universities appear in the top 10 best institutions in the UK for computer science, led by Imperial College London which takes the third place postition.
- Scotland also shows strong representation with four universities included in the rankings. The University of Edinburgh is rthe top-ranked Scottish university and is the only to feature in the top 10, coming in at number four.
- Wales and Northern Ireland also feature in the rankings, with Cardiff University and Queen’s University Belfast standing out as their top institutions.
Choosing the right UK university for computer science
The data from the table offers valuable insights for those students considering undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in computer science in the UK. These rankings evaluate excellence across multiple computer science disciplines including:
- Software development and engineering
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Data science and analytics
- Information systems
- Cybersecurity and networks
- Theoretical computing
The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page.
