The University of Oxford has placed fifth in The Times’s 2027 UK university rankings, falling from joint fourth with the University of Cambridge last year. This marks Oxford’s lowest ranking in the guide’s 33-year history and only the second time the University has not been in the top three.
For the third year running, the University of St Andrews and the London School of Economics (LSE) topped the ranking, achieving first and second place respectively. Imperial College London has risen from sixth place to third in the most recent ranking, marking the first time that Imperial has overtaken Oxford or Cambridge. Imperial College London is also named University of the Year 2027 by the paper.
Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said that this year saw “an emphasis on preparing students for future careers. Universities have tailored their campuses to suit hands-on learning… But, for this next generation of students and the higher education sector at large, this is a challenging time with institutions struggling with their own finances, and the toughest graduate jobs market in more than a decade.
There are hard questions to ask: can I afford it? What will I get from a degree? Is it worth it?”
Since the National Student Survey, which informs this ranking, was conducted earlier this year, universities across the country have announced budget cuts to humanities divisions. Severe financial cuts at the University of Exeter, which placed 16th in this year’s chart, caused controversy within the university and national media.
A printed, supplementary guide containing “An analysis of the rising cost of higher education and its long-term value” and “Is Oxbridge losing its prestige?” will be published with The Sunday Times on 20th September.
Despite ranking poorly in The Times’s national survey, Oxford topped the paper’s league table of all southeastern universities (not including London). The Times also named Oxford runner-up for University of the Year for Scholarships and Bursaries 2027, behind Manchester Metropolitan University.
The annual guide produced by The Times ranks universities based on factors including academic achievement and employment prospects. Based on each category, universities receive a total score that informs the overall ranking.
In The Guardian’s UK rankings, Oxford retained its top spot, ranking first since 2025. Within the same survey, St Andrews dropped from second to fourth place while Cambridge gained a spot from third to second. Different metrics used by papers are understood to produce differing rankings.
The Times Higher Education’s World Rankings 2027 will be published on 30th September.
